Kalif Raymond
American football player (born 1994)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kalif Raymond (born August 8, 1994) is an American professional football wide receiver and return specialist for the Chicago Bears 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 joined the Lions in 2021 and was a second-team All-Pro punt returner in 2022 and 2024. He was also the NFL punt return yards leader in 2024, despite missing five games. Raymond has also been a member of the Tennessee Titans, New York Jets, New York Giants, and Detroit Lions.
Lawrenceville, Georgia, U.S.
Raymond with the Tennessee Titans in 2019 | |||||||||||||
| Chicago Bears | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Wide receiver / Return specialist | ||||||||||||
| Roster status | Active | ||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||
| Born | August 8, 1994 Lawrenceville, Georgia, U.S. | ||||||||||||
| Listed height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) | ||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 180 lb (82 kg) | ||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||
| High school | Greater Atlanta Christian (Norcross, Georgia) | ||||||||||||
| College | Holy Cross (2012–2015) | ||||||||||||
| NFL draft | 2016: undrafted | ||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||
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* Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||||||
| Awards and highlights | |||||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics as of 2025 | |||||||||||||
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Early life
Raymond was born in Lawrenceville, Georgia, to an African-American father and a Chinese mother.[1] He played college football and track for the Holy Cross Crusaders from 2012 to 2015. On the football field he was a two time All-Patriot League first team performer, amassing 4,059 all purpose yards and 18 touchdowns in his four year career. For the Track team, Raymond was a two time All-New England selection, highlighted by a 2nd place finish in the 100-meter dash at the 2015 New England outdoor championships.[2][3]
Professional career
Denver Broncos
On May 3, 2016, the Denver Broncos signed Raymond as an undrafted free agent.[4] He was released on September 3 during final roster cuts and was later signed to the practice squad.[5][6] Raymond was promoted to active roster on December 2.[7]
On September 2, 2017, Raymond was waived by the Broncos.[8]
New York Jets
Raymond was claimed off waivers by the New York Jets on September 3, 2017.[9] In the season opener against the Buffalo Bills, Raymond was the kickoff and punt returner in his Jets debut.[10]
Raymond was waived on September 19 and was re-signed to the practice squad.[11][12] He was released on September 26.[13]
New York Giants (first stint)
On October 11, 2017, Raymond was signed to the New York Giants' practice squad.[14] He was released on October 31,[15] but was re-signed the next day.[16] He was promoted to the active roster on November 14.[17]
On September 1, 2018, Raymond was waived by the Giants.[18]
Tennessee Titans (first stint)
On September 25, 2018, Raymond was signed to the Tennessee Titans' practice squad.[19] He was released on October 2.[20]
New York Giants (second stint)
On October 16, 2018, Raymond was signed to the Giants' practice squad,[21] but was released two days later.[22]
Tennessee Titans (second stint)
On December 24, 2018, Raymond was signed to the Titans practice squad.[23] He signed a reserve/future contract with the Titans on December 31.[24]
On September 7, 2019, Raymond was waived by the Titans and was re-signed to the practice squad.[25] He was promoted to the active roster on October 26, 2019.[26] 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 the 35–32 victory. Three weeks later, 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.[27] On the 2019 season, Raymond totaled nine receptions for 170 receiving yards and one touchdown in eight games.[28] In the divisional round of the playoffs against the Baltimore Ravens, he caught a 45-yard touchdown during the 28–12 road victory.[29]
In Week 3 of the 2020 season, Raymond had three receptions for 118 yards in the 31–30 victory over the Minnesota Vikings.[30] He was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list by the Titans on December 19,[31] and was activated six days later.[32]
Detroit Lions
On March 25, 2021, Raymond signed with the Detroit Lions.[33] On October 3, he scored two touchdowns in a 24–14 loss to the Chicago Bears.[34]
On March 18, 2022, Raymond signed a two-year, $9.5 million contract extension with the Lions.[35] On December 18, he ran 47 yards for his first career punt-return touchdown in a 20–17 win against his former team, the Jets.[36] Raymond was named second-team All-Pro for the 2022 season.[37]
On August 11, 2023, Raymond signed a two-year contract extension with the Lions.[38]
In Week 8 of the 2024 season, Raymond had a 90-yard punt return touchdown along with a seven-yard touchdown reception during a 52–14 victory over the Titans, his former team, earning NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors.[39] Raymond finished the season with 30 punt returns for 413 yards, leading the league in punt return yards despite missing five games due to injury. As a receiver, he had 17 receptions for 215 yards and two touchdowns.[40][41] Raymond was named second-team All-Pro as a punt returner.[42]
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.[43]
Chicago Bears
On March 11, 2026, Raymond signed a one-year, $5.1 million contract with the Chicago Bears.[44]
NFL career statistics
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Led the league | |
| Bold | Career-high |
Regular season
| 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 | 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 |
| 2024 | DET | 12 | 2 | 17 | 215 | 12.6 | 38 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0.0 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 26 | 26.0 | 26 | 0 | 30 | 413 | 13.8 | 90 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 | DET | 15 | 3 | 24 | 289 | 12.0 | 30 | 1 | 2 | 19 | 9.5 | 10 | 0 | 6 | 161 | 26.8 | 44 | 0 | 32 | 241 | 7.5 | 65T | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Career | 112 | 33 | 190 | 2,554 | 13.4 | 75T | 9 | 25 | 149 | 6.0 | 40 | 0 | 62 | 1,338 | 21.6 | 52 | 0 | 188 | 1,948 | 10.4 | 90 | 3 | 11 | 4 | |
