Once Kalif Raymond is medically cleared, the two-time All-Pro is expected to resume his usual role as Detroit’s primary punt returner. And for special teams coordinator Dave Fipp, juggling return duties between Raymond and Tom Kennedy is the kind of dilemma coaches don’t mind having.
“I can’t express how thrilled I am for Tom Kennedy,” Fipp said. “Nobody in this building deserves recognition more. He’s put in the work every single day he’s been here. He’s never complained about opportunities or reps, even when he believed he could do more than someone else getting the shot before him.”
Kennedy’s persistence has paid off. Fipp emphasized that great return units often begin with the player holding the ball, and Kennedy’s performance has elevated everyone around him.
“The return game starts with the returner,” Fipp said. “The great ones make the blocking better, and when a guy is producing like he has with the ball in his hands, everyone else feeds off it.”
Fipp shared a lesson from his father, a Vietnam War pilot, who stressed that while many aspects of performance can be measured, heart and instinct cannot — and that applies to football as much as it did to aviation.
Kennedy became the first Lions player since Mel Gray in 1991 to record a kick return over 30 yards, a punt return over 20, and a 20-yard reception in the same game. The following week against Dallas, he added a 21-yard punt return and totaled 120 yards on three kickoffs.
When asked whether Kennedy would stay involved in the return game as Raymond ramps back up in practice, Fipp suggested that Kennedy has earned a place on kickoff returns. But for punt returns, Raymond — when healthy — remains the top option.
Raymond has been a second-team All-Pro punt returner twice in the last three years and has scored on a punt return in three of the last four seasons, including once earlier this year. His average has dipped from 13.8 yards to 7.3 in 2024, but injuries have played a role.
“Kalif is an exceptional player for us,” Fipp said. “I see him stepping right back in as our punt returner. And I definitely see Tom Kennedy continuing to help us on kickoff returns. If we get Kalif back, he’ll handle punts, no question.”
Fipp added that leaning on Kennedy for kickoffs will also help lighten Raymond’s workload, since he plays significant snaps on offense.
“He takes a lot of reps on offense, and that adds up,” Fipp said. “He can still flip a game at any moment, but spreading out the responsibilities helps keep him fresh.”
