Lions WR Kalif Raymond continues to re-write his incredible NFL journey, and game against the Tennessee Titans is his best work yet.
It’s been written before that Kalif Raymond’s journey to the Detroit Lions was one wrought with struggles and strife. His first two years were spent on three different teams, and after getting cut by the third team (the New York Giants), he thought his career was over after just two seasons. After muffed punts and minimal impact, no one would’ve been surprised if his career—like so many others—ended before given the chance to really develop.
“2016, oh goodness gracious, I was struggling,” Raymond said Sunday night, after his record-breaking performance against the Tennessee Titans. “I had a lot of fear, a lot of doubt. I remember I was walking off the field, I want to say I was playing for the Giants, I was like, ‘I just played my last NFL game.’”
But instead of letting that moment define his career, he let the struggles fuel his fire.
“I had a choice during that offseason: I was like, ‘I could either go in the tank and kinda quit, or I could give everything that I have,’” Raymond said.
He chose the latter, and with the help of his extremely supportive family, he landed on the Titans in 2018. He would stay there for the next three seasons. Though he didn’t play in 2018, he had 23 game appearances over the next two seasons in Tennessee, helping them reach the AFC Championship in 2019.
Entering free agency in 2021, the Lions were in desperate need of a receiver, and when general manager Brad Holmes showed the tape of Raymond to coach Dan Campbell, they immediately saw the potential.
“Brad coming into my office in 2021, and early spring we were fresh on the job, and he said, ‘Hey, take a peek at this guy from Tennessee. He’s really a returner, kind of gadget. You think there’s a place for him on offense?’” Campbell recalled. “And I watched about 10 plays, and I was like, ‘Yeah. Absolutely there is, you know. Take this guy in a heartbeat,’ and it’s been a blessing ever since to get Leaf [Raymond] here.”
The Lions signed him to a one-year deal. Then they signed him to a two-year deal. And just before entering that second year, they gave him another two years. It’s been six years since he thought his NFL career was over, and he’s thriving more than ever.
He’s been part of the Lions’ rebuild from the beginning, and while he may not be a weekly top contributor, he has built a reputation for one of the hardest working players on the team.
“Guys love him—coaches, players,” Campbell said. “Man, you talk about reliable, and he’s consistent, and the way he prepares, the way he works, and he does everything for us, man.”
And against the Titans—his former team, earning him “guest captain” this week—Raymond had his best career game. He became the first ever Lions player to notch a punt return touchdown and a receiving touchdown in the same game. And his 38.0 punt return average against Tennessee is the highest since the 1970 AFL/NFL merger (minimum five attempts). It will, undoubtedly, earn him NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors—which would be the second time he’s been named that since becoming a Lion.
Last week against the Vikings, the Lions got Raymond more involved in the offense, hauling in three catches for 27 yards and a touchdown. That was a fun game for the 30-year-old receiver. But this one likely topped it.
“The last two that we played I was telling some of the guys, Minnesota’s like top five (most fun) game all time, then to come follow it up with this one—just to be playing such a team game is so fun,” Raymond said. “Special teams, defense takeaways, offense pushing it in—it’s just really fun to be part of a football team like that.”
