Detroit Lions bringing back WR Tom Kennedy, making him longest-tenured player on roster

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Allen Park — Following the recent release of offensive tackle Taylor Decker, the Detroit Lions’ newest longest-tenured player on the roster is wide receiver Tom Kennedy.

The Lions are re-signing the veteran who first joined the team back in 2019. The news was first reported by Pride of Detroit.

A former football and lacrosse standout at Bryant, Kennedy was signed by the team’s former regime and proved enough that first offseason to earn a practice squad spot. He’s been a steady fixture the seven years since, bouncing between the active roster and the practice squad.

Kennedy has appeared in 30 regular season games, including six last season, catching 18 passes for 231 yards during his career. He’s added value on special teams as a return man, averaging 16.7 yards on punts and 27.9 yards on kickoffs last season.

With Kalif Raymond departing this offseason, Kennedy will be in position to compete for the return role to open the 2026 campaign.

“He’s a football player,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said last season. “He’s instinctive. He can play all the (receiver) positions. Every time he had a chance to make a play or get in position to make a play, he made a play. He’s always done that. There’re all these circumstances that come into play and the guy’s overcome a ton. And he knows, and I’ve said it, there’s an argument you’ve earned your right. Every year on the roster, you’ve earned that right.

“…To his credit, he just continues to go back to work,” Campbell said. “He gets on the vet squad, he kicks ass in practice, gives a great look, we throw him in on our offense. If one of our guys needs a break, he goes in at the F, he goes in at the Z, he goes in at the X with (Jared) Goff, and he crushes it, right? So, when his number’s called, we don’t miss a beat. We trust him.”

Beyond Kennedy, the only other player on Detroit’s roster to be brought in before the arrival of general manager Brad Holmes is punter Jack Fox.

In addition to Kennedy, the Lions are also re-signing linebacker Trevor Nowaske, according to Pride of Detroit.

The Michigan native and former undrafted free agent out of Saginaw Valley State, has developed into a key special teams performer for the Lions, playing a career-high 330 snaps with those groups last season.