Kalif Raymond Bio
Kalif Raymond (born August 8, 1994) is an American professional football wide receiver and return specialist for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Holy Cross Crusaders and signed with the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2016. Raymond has also spent time with the New York Jets, the New York Giants, and the Tennessee Titans during his NFL career. He joined the Lions in 2021 and was named a second-team All-Pro punt returner in both 2022 and 2024.
Known for his speed in the return game, Raymond led the league in punt return yards in 2024 even though he missed five games. His career has been defined by perseverance after going undrafted, bouncing between practice squads and active rosters before establishing himself as one of the most reliable return men in the league.
Early Life and Background
Kalif Raymond was born in Lawrenceville, Georgia, and grew up in the greater Atlanta area. He is of half Chinese descent, with an African-American father and a Chinese mother. He attended Greater Atlanta Christian School in Norcross, Georgia, where he developed into a multi-sport athlete and a dynamic playmaker on the football field.
As a prep prospect, Raymond stood out for his speed and elusiveness, traits that would later define his professional career. His multicultural background and Atlanta-area upbringing helped shape his competitive drive, and he committed to play college football at the College of the Holy Cross in Massachusetts.
Path to Professional Football
Raymond played college football for the Holy Cross Crusaders from 2012 to 2015, competing in the Patriot League at the FCS level. Although he did not face top-tier competition on a weekly basis, his big-play ability on returns and as a receiver drew attention from NFL scouts. Coming out of Holy Cross, he was not selected in the 2016 NFL Draft but earned an opportunity as an undrafted free agent.
On May 3, 2016, the Denver Broncos signed Raymond as an undrafted free agent. He was released during final roster cuts in September but was later signed to the practice squad, then promoted to the active roster on December 2, 2016. That sequence of cuts and recalls became a familiar pattern early in his career and forced him to develop resilience.
Kalif Raymond Career
Early Career (2016–2017)
Raymond began his NFL journey with the Denver Broncos in 2016, bouncing between the practice squad and the active roster during his rookie season. He was waived by the Broncos on September 2, 2017, and was claimed off waivers by the New York Jets on September 3, 2017. With the Jets, he served as both kickoff and punt returner in the season opener against the Buffalo Bills before being waived on September 19, re-signed to the practice squad, and ultimately released later that month.
On October 11, 2017, Raymond was signed to the New York Giants’ practice squad. He moved between the practice squad and active roster throughout the fall, including a release on October 31 and a quick re-signing the following day. He was promoted to the active roster on November 14, 2017, but was waived on September 1, 2018, as the Giants trimmed their roster before the regular season.
Tennessee Titans Era (2018–2020)
Raymond signed with the Tennessee Titans’ practice squad in late 2018 and eventually secured a future contract. He was promoted to the active roster on October 26, 2019, and quickly made an impact. During Week 10 against the Kansas City Chiefs, he caught a 52-yard reception from Ryan Tannehill and returned three kicks for 46 yards in a 35–32 victory. Three weeks later, he scored his first NFL touchdown on a 40-yard pass from Tannehill in a 31–17 road win over the Indianapolis Colts, and he gave the game ball to his mother in attendance.
Raymond finished the 2019 season with nine receptions for 170 receiving yards and one touchdown across eight games. In the divisional round of the playoffs against the Baltimore Ravens, he caught a 45-yard touchdown during a 28–12 road victory, giving him a postseason highlight. In 2020, he had three receptions for 118 yards in a Week 3 win over the Minnesota Vikings before a stint on the reserve/COVID-19 list in December limited his availability.
Detroit Lions Era (2021–Present)
On March 25, 2021, Kalif Raymond signed with the Detroit Lions, a move that stabilized his career. On October 3, 2021, he scored two touchdowns in a 24–14 loss to the Chicago Bears, signaling his offensive role. On March 18, 2022, he signed a two-year, $9.5 million contract extension with the Lions, recognizing his value as a returner and complementary receiver.
On December 18, 2022, Raymond ran 47 yards for his first career punt-return touchdown in a 20–17 win against his former team, the New York Jets, and was named second-team All-Pro for the 2022 season. On August 11, 2023, he signed another two-year contract extension with the Lions, reinforcing his long-term role in Detroit.
In Week 8 of the 2024 season, Raymond exploded for a 90-yard punt return touchdown along with a seven-yard touchdown reception during a 52–14 victory over the Tennessee Titans, his former team, earning NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors. He finished 2024 with 30 punt returns for 413 yards, leading the league in punt return yards despite missing five games, and added 17 receptions for 215 yards and two touchdowns as a receiver. He was again named second-team All-Pro as a punt returner. In Week 4 of the 2025 season against the Cleveland Browns, Raymond returned a Corey Bojorquez punt 65 yards for a touchdown, helping fuel the Lions to a 34–10 victory.
Driving Style and Strengths
Raymond plays a return-game style built on acceleration, vision, and decisive field judgment. Listed at 5 feet 8 inches and 180 pounds, he uses quick cuts and burst through small creases rather than overpowering tacklers. As a receiver, he operates mainly from the slot and thrives on intermediate crossers and jet sweeps, where his open-field speed creates easy yardage for Detroit’s offense.
Notable Events and Milestones
Raymond’s first NFL touchdown, scored against the Indianapolis Colts in 2019, was followed by a 45-yard playoff score against the Baltimore Ravens in the same postseason run. His 90-yard punt return against the Tennessee Titans in 2024 stands as one of the most explosive plays of his career, and his second-team All-Pro selections in 2022 and 2024 mark him as one of the league’s most consistent return specialists of his era.
Kalif Raymond Career Wins
Kalif Raymond has accumulated career highlights primarily through big plays in the return game and key contributions on offense across multiple NFL stops. While he is not a traditional stat-sheet receiver, his touchdowns and explosive returns have defined his value to each team that has kept him on the roster. His second-team All-Pro honors and NFL punt return yards title in 2024 underscore his impact on special teams.
NFL Highlights
Raymond’s first career punt-return touchdown came on December 18, 2022, on a 47-yard runback against the New York Jets in a 20–17 Detroit win. His biggest single play arrived in 2024, when he turned a Titans punt into a 90-yard score during a 52–14 Lions victory. In the 2025 season, he added a 65-yard punt return touchdown against the Cleveland Browns in Week 4, showing he remains a perennial threat in the return game.
Other Performances
Beyond the NFL, Raymond was a four-year letterman at Holy Cross from 2012 to 2015, where he developed the return skills that have made him a long-term NFL contributor. His 52-yard reception and 40-yard touchdown catch with the Titans in 2019, plus a 45-yard playoff touchdown against the Baltimore Ravens, are the headline offensive moments outside his Lions tenure.
Kalif Raymond Family
Family Background and Heritage
Kalif Raymond was born to an African-American father and a Chinese mother, making him of half Chinese descent. His mixed background is part of his personal story, and his mother was visible in the stands when he scored his first NFL touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts in 2019, a moment he marked by giving her the game ball.
Personal Life
Raymond grew up in the greater Atlanta area and attended Greater Atlanta Christian School in Norcross, Georgia. Beyond his family heritage and his connection to his mother, Raymond keeps most of his personal life private. His professional journey from undrafted free agent to multi-year All-Pro return man reflects the family support that has helped him through roster moves and practice-squad stints across the league.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season has continued Kalif Raymond’s role as Detroit’s primary punt returner and a complementary slot receiver. In Week 4 against the Cleveland Browns, his 65-yard punt return touchdown was a key play in a 34–10 Lions victory, showcasing the same big-play ability that earned him All-Pro honors in 2024. Detroit’s offense, led by head coach Dan Campbell and his staff, has continued to design touches for Raymond on jet sweeps and quick-hitting routes.
Coming off a 2024 campaign in which he led the NFL in punt return yards despite missing five games, Raymond entered 2025 with elevated expectations and another contract in hand. Special-teams coordinator Dave Fipp has used Raymond in aggressive field-position situations, trusting his vision and acceleration to flip field position. His continued production will be a factor in Detroit’s pursuit of postseason success.
With his established chemistry in the return game and a defined offensive role, Raymond is positioned to remain a steady special-teams anchor and a situational offensive weapon for the Detroit Lions throughout the 2025 season. If he stays healthy, another All-Pro-level season in the return game is well within reach for the veteran undrafted free agent from Holy Cross.