Kalif Raymond Makes NFL History with Touchdowns for the Lions
Wide receiver Kalif Raymond played a crucial role in the Detroit Lions’ dominating 52-14 victory over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, achieving a significant milestone in NFL history.
Raymond excelled in both offense and special teams, returning a punt for a remarkable 90-yard touchdown and catching a touchdown pass from quarterback Jared Goff. As highlighted by Jeff Risdon of USA Today’s Lions Wire, Raymond became the first player ever to achieve both a punt return touchdown and a receiving touchdown in the same game.
Following the game, Raymond expressed his readiness for the moment. “I’ve been anticipating that feeling for a long time,” he told reporters. “It’s surreal, like, ‘Oh wow, it’s happening!’ and thinking, ‘Don’t mess up, don’t mess up.’ But when you have teammates who can play a few snaps on defense, force a punt, and then block on special teams, it’s incredible.”
Kalif Raymond Receives the Game Ball
Raymond’s two touchdowns capped off an impressive performance as the Lions cruised past the Titans. He ignited the second half with his 90-yard punt return and scored again just six minutes later on a six-yard pass from Goff.
After the game, Lions head coach Dan Campbell praised Raymond, awarding him the game ball. Campbell reminisced about how he and general manager Brad Holmes discovered Raymond as he was about to enter free agency with the Titans, recognizing his potential.
“I told the team that (Kalif) ‘Leaf’ (Raymond) got a game ball, and I shared the story of Brad coming into my office in 2021,” Campbell said. “In early spring, when we were new to the job, he mentioned, ‘Check out this guy from Tennessee. He’s mainly a returner, but do you think he could contribute on offense?’ I watched about ten plays and immediately thought, ‘Absolutely, we need this guy,’ and it’s been a blessing to have Leaf here.”
Campbell noted that Raymond has demonstrated professionalism and versatility, allowing him to adapt to various positions on the team.
Areas for Growth
Despite the commanding victory, Campbell acknowledged that there are still aspects that require improvement, particularly in the passing game. However, he emphasized that the strong performance from special teams compensated for those areas.
“When all three units are performing well together, it’s challenging to beat us,” Campbell remarked. “I’m pleased with our progress; this is win number six. We’re set for a great matchup at Lambeau this week, and I know the guys are excited. Overall, it was a solid win.”
