TK #85

Tom Kennedy

Wide Receiver · Bryant

An undrafted survivor who has outlasted nearly every teammate from his rookie class to become one of the longest-tenured Lions on the roster.

Tom Kennedy has carved out a career in Detroit by doing whatever the roster needs, whether that means running routes as a depth receiver or fielding kicks on special teams. Signed as an undrafted free agent out of Bryant in 2019, he has become a locker room fixture through sheer staying power.

★ Threw a 75-yard trick-play touchdown pass in 2022

★ Longest-tenured player on the Lions roster after signing as an undrafted free agent in 2019

★ 90 catches for 1,298 yards and 10 touchdowns at Bryant

Path to the league

Kennedy played college football at Bryant, a small program in Rhode Island, where he caught 90 passes for 1,298 yards and 10 touchdowns over his career. He went unselected in the 2019 NFL Draft and signed with the Lions as an undrafted free agent, a path that required him to make the roster the hard way every summer since.

Career highlights

Kennedy has appeared in 30-plus regular season games for Detroit, mostly in a depth and special teams role. His signature moment came on January 9, 2022, when he threw a 75-yard touchdown pass to fellow receiver Kalif Raymond on a trick play in a win over the Green Bay Packers. He was also a standout lacrosse player at Bryant before focusing fully on football.

2025 season recap

Kennedy played in six regular season games for the Lions in 2025, catching four passes for 36 yards while contributing on special teams, including 447 yards on 16 kick returns and 50 yards on three punt returns. His role remained that of a depth receiver and return specialist rather than a primary offensive target.