A different cat: Detroit Lions' Raymond talks trust, relentless drive and selfless desire to help potential replacements
Allen Park — Kalif Raymond is a pass-catching dichotomy, crafted by his unique NFL experience.
On one hand, he’s unceasingly urgent, fully believing his professional tomorrow is never promised. That’s contrasted against a perpetual zen-like demeanor, curated through meditation and a genuine contentment rooted in knowing he can’t give more than his best.
Raymond, 31, is entering his fifth season with the Lions. It’s stability he couldn’t have dreamed of when he initially signed a one-year deal with the team in 2021, making it his sixth stop in as many seasons after going undrafted out of Holy Cross in 2016.
That journeyman past is why he relentlessly pushes to preserve his future.
“You never know,” Raymond said. “Up until I got here, I never knew. It's not something that comes naturally. That never goes away.”