Kalif Raymond (born August 8, 1994) is an American professional football wide receiver and punt returner for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He was born in Lawrenceville, Georgia, U.S. to an African-American father and a Chinese mother. He played college football at Holy Cross and was signed by the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2016.

Kalif Raymond
refer to caption
Raymond with the Titans in 2019
No. 11 – Detroit Lions
Position:Wide receiver / Punt returner
Personal information
Born: (1994-08-08) August 8, 1994 (age 30)
Lawrenceville, Georgia, U.S.
Height:5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Weight:180 lb (82 kg)
Career information
High school:Greater Atlanta Christian
(Norcross, Georgia)
College:Holy Cross (2012–2015)
Undrafted:2016
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of Week 7, 2024
Receptions:160
Receiving yards:2,198
Return yards:2,596
Total touchdowns:8
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Professional career

edit

Denver Broncos

edit

On May 3, 2016, the Denver Broncos signed Raymond as an undrafted free agent.[1] He was released on September 3, 2016, during the final roster cuts and was later signed to the practice squad.[2][3] He was promoted to active roster on December 2, 2016.[4]

On September 2, 2017, Raymond was waived by the Broncos.[5]

New York Jets

edit

Raymond was claimed off waivers by the New York Jets on September 3, 2017.[6]

In the season opener against the Buffalo Bills, Raymond was the kickoff and punt returner in his Jets debut.[7]

Raymond was waived on September 19, 2017, and was re-signed to the practice squad.[8][9] He was released by the team on September 26, 2017.[10]

New York Giants (first stint)

edit

On October 11, 2017, Raymond was signed to the New York Giants' practice squad.[11] He was released on October 31, but re-signed the next day.[12][13] He was promoted to the active roster on November 14.[14]

On September 1, 2018, Raymond was waived by the Giants.[15]

Tennessee Titans

edit

On September 25, 2018, Raymond was signed to the Tennessee Titans' practice squad.[16] He was released on October 2.[17]

New York Giants (second stint)

edit

On October 16, 2018, Raymond was signed to the Giants practice squad, but was released two days later.[18][19]

Tennessee Titans (second stint)

edit
 
Raymond after scoring a touchdown in a game against the Indianapolis Colts in 2019

On December 24, 2018, Raymond was signed to the Titans practice squad.[20] He signed a reserve/future contract with the Titans on December 31, 2018.[21]

On September 7, 2019, Raymond was waived by the Titans and was re-signed to the practice squad.[22] He was promoted to the active roster on October 26, 2019.[23] During Week 10 against the Kansas City Chiefs, Raymond caught a 52-yard reception from Ryan Tannehill and returned three kicks for 46 yards in a 35–32 victory. On December 1, 2019, he scored his first NFL touchdown on a 40-yard pass from Tannehill in a 31–17 road victory over the Indianapolis Colts. Raymond gave the football to his mother who was in attendance at the Week 13 game.[24] On the 2019 season, Raymond totaled nine receptions for 170 receiving yards and one touchdown in eight games.[25] In the divisional round of the playoffs against the Baltimore Ravens, he caught a 45-yard touchdown during the 28–12 road victory.[26]

In Week 3 of the 2020 season, Raymond had three receptions for 118 yards in the 31–30 victory over the Minnesota Vikings.[27] He was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list by the Titans on December 19, 2020,[28] and activated on December 25.[29]

Detroit Lions

edit

On March 25, 2021, Raymond signed with the Detroit Lions.[30] On October 3, 2021, he scored two touchdowns in a 24–14 loss to the Chicago Bears.[31]

On March 18, 2022, Raymond signed a two-year, $9.5 million contract extension with the Lions.[32] On December 18, 2022, he ran 47 yards for his first career punt-return touchdown in a 20–17 win against his former team, the Jets.[33]

On August 11, 2023, Raymond signed a two-year contract extension with the Lions.[34]

In Week 8 of the 2024 season, Raymond had a 90-yard punt return touchdown along with a seven-yard touchdown catch in a 52-14 win over the Tennessee Titans, earning NFC Special Teams Player of the Week.[35]

NFL statistics

edit
Regular season statistics
Year Team Games Receiving Rushing Kick Returning Punt Returning Fumbles
GP GS Rec Yds Avg Lng TD Att Yds Avg Lng TD Ret Yds Avg Lng TD Ret Yds Avg Lng TD Fum Lost
2016 DEN 4 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 6 137 22.8 40 0 11 111 11.0 25 0 2 1
2017 NYJ 2 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 85 28.3 40 0 5 38 7.6 25 0 3 1
NYG 6 0 1 12 12.0 12 0 1 −1 −1.0 −1 0 11 186 16.9 24 0 13 61 4.7 17 0 2 0
2019 TEN 8 1 9 170 18.9 52 1 1 −5 −5.0 −5 0 18 403 22.4 45 0 4 45 11.3 14 0 1 1
2020 TEN 15 3 9 187 20.8 61 0 1 −3 −3.0 −3 0 15 275 18.3 30 0 23 208 9.0 40 0 0 0
2021 DET 16 14 48 576 12.0 75T 4 4 28 7.0 13 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 21 236 11.2 48 0 0 0
2022 DET 17 7 47 616 13.1 56 0 7 36 5.1 12 0 2 65 32.5 52 0 20 264 13.2 47 1 3 1
2023 DET 17 3 35 489 14.0 41 1 7 75 10.7 40 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 29 331 10.5 42 0 0 0
Career 85 28 149 2,050 13.8 75T 6 19 113 5.9 40 0 55 1,151 20.9 52 0 113 1,131 10.0 48 1 11 4
Postseason statistics
Year Team Games Receiving Rushing Returning Fumbles
GP GS Rec Yds Avg Lng TD Att Yds Avg Lng TD Ret Yds Avg Lng TD Fum Lost
2019 TEN 2 0 1 45 45.0 45T 1 0 0 0.0 0 0 5 77 15.4 22 0 0 0
2020 TEN 1 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 2 8 4.0 6 0 0 0
2023 DET 0 0 Did not play due to injury
Career 3 0 1 45 45.0 45T 1 0 0 0.0 0 0 7 85 12.1 22 0 0 0

References

edit
  1. ^ Mason, Andrew (May 2, 2016). "Get to know the Broncos' 21 college free agents". DenverBroncos.com. Archived from the original on October 30, 2017. Retrieved December 25, 2016.
  2. ^ Mason, Andrew (September 3, 2016). "Broncos make 23 moves to pare roster at the deadline". DenverBroncos.com. Archived from the original on August 19, 2017. Retrieved December 25, 2016.
  3. ^ Swanson, Ben (September 5, 2016). "Broncos round out practice squad with Kalif Raymond". DenverBroncos.com. Archived from the original on September 3, 2017. Retrieved December 25, 2016.
  4. ^ Swanson, Ben (December 2, 2016). "Broncos promote WR Kalif Raymond to active roster, move Janovich to injured reserve". DenverBroncos.com. Archived from the original on September 3, 2017. Retrieved December 25, 2016.
  5. ^ Mason, Andrew (September 2, 2017). "Broncos trim roster at deadline". DenverBroncos.com. Archived from the original on November 30, 2017.
  6. ^ Allen, Eric (September 3, 2017). "Jets Claim Four Including Two Receivers". NewYorkJets.com. Archived from the original on December 18, 2017.
  7. ^ "New York Jets at Buffalo Bills – September 10th, 2017". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 2, 2017.
  8. ^ Greenberg, Ethan (September 19, 2017). "Jets Waive WR-KR Kalif Raymond". NewYorkJets.com. Archived from the original on September 23, 2017.
  9. ^ Greenberg, Ethan (September 21, 2017). "Jets Add WR-KR Kalif Raymond to Practice Squad". NewYorkJets.com. Archived from the original on February 21, 2018.
  10. ^ Greenberg, Ethan (September 26, 2017). "Jets Sign CB Robert Nelson to Practice Squad". NewYorkJets.com. Archived from the original on September 28, 2017.
  11. ^ "Giants sign WR Kalif Raymond, OL Ethan Cooper to practice squad". USAToday.com. October 11, 2017.
  12. ^ Eisen, Michael (October 31, 2017). "Giants re-sign DE Devin Taylor, place DE Nordly Capi on IR". Giants.com. Archived from the original on February 10, 2018.
  13. ^ Eisen, Michael (November 1, 2017). "Giants fill Jenkins vacancy, sign DE Jordan Williams off practice squad". Giants.com. Archived from the original on November 9, 2017.
  14. ^ Eisen, Michael (November 14, 2017). "Giants roster moves: Keenan Robinson placed on IR; Three players signed". Giants.com. Archived from the original on December 19, 2017.
  15. ^ Eisen, Michael (September 1, 2018). "New York Giants announce 53-man roster". Giants.com.
  16. ^ Wyatt, Jim (September 25, 2018). "Titans Add Veteran QB Austin Davis, Place OL Kevin Pamphile on Injured Reserve". TitansOnline.com.
  17. ^ "Titans add Chad Hansen, LaTroy Lewis to practice squad". 247sports.com. October 2, 2018.
  18. ^ Eisen, Michael (October 16, 2018). "Giants sign WR Bennie Fowler, waive CB Donte Deayon among roster moves". Giants.com.
  19. ^ "Giants sign former first-round pick Corey Coleman to practice squad". BigBlueView.com. October 18, 2018.
  20. ^ Wyatt, Jim (December 24, 2018). "Titans Add a Third QB to the Roster, and Place DT Jurrell Casey on Injured Reserve". TitansOnline.com. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
  21. ^ "Titans Sign Nine Players to Futures Contracts". TitansOnline.com. December 31, 2018. Retrieved January 2, 2019.
  22. ^ Wyatt, Jim (September 7, 2019). "Titans Promote OL Aaron Stinnie to 53-Man Roster, Waive WR Kalif Raymond". TitansOnline.com. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
  23. ^ Wyatt, Jim (October 26, 2019). "Titans Promote DB Kareem Orr, WR Kalif Raymond to 53-Man Roster". TitansOnline.com. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
  24. ^ Wyatt, Jim (December 1, 2019). "Everybody Loves Raymond: Titans WR Kalif Raymond Seals Win With Late Touchdown Catch". TitansOnline.com. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
  25. ^ "Kalif Raymond 2019 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
  26. ^ "Titans stun Ravens, head to AFC title game with 28–12 win". www.espn.com. Associated Press. January 11, 2020. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
  27. ^ "Tennessee Titans at Minnesota Vikings – September 27th, 2020". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
  28. ^ Alper, Josh (December 19, 2020). "Titans put Kalif Raymond on COVID-19 list". NBCSports.com. Retrieved February 4, 2021.
  29. ^ Wyatt, Jim (December 25, 2020). "Titans Activate WR/Return Man Kalif Raymond from Reserve/COVID-19 List". TennesseeTitans.com. Retrieved February 4, 2021.
  30. ^ "Lions sign free agent WR Kalif Raymond". DetroitLions.com. March 25, 2021.
  31. ^ "Lions Kalif Raymond scores pair of touchdowns". Archived from the original on November 12, 2021. Retrieved November 12, 2021.
  32. ^ "Lions re-sign WR Kalif Raymond to contract extension through 2023 season". DetroitLions.com. March 18, 2022. Archived from the original on March 18, 2022. Retrieved March 19, 2022.
  33. ^ Woodyard, Eric (December 18, 2022). "Kalif Raymond goes 47 yards for first career punt-return touchdown". ESPN.com. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  34. ^ "Lions sign WR Kalif Raymond to contract extension through the 2025 season". DetroitLions.com. August 11, 2023.
  35. ^ Gordon, Grant (October 30, 2024). "Browns QB Jameis Winston, Falcons QB Kirk Cousins highlight Players of the Week". NFL.com.
edit