Tom Kennedy (wide receiver)


Tom Kennedy is an American football wide receiver for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League and former professional lacrosse player. He played college football at Bryant. He is currently the only person to have played in both Major League Lacrosse and the NFL.

College career

Kennedy committed to play both football and lacrosse at Bryant University. He initially quit football after his freshman year in order to focus on lacrosse and was a first team All-Northeast Conference selection midfielder in 2017 as he helped the team to an appearance in the 2017 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship. He ultimately decided to return to football going into his senior year and was named first team All-NEC after catching 57 passes for 888 yards and nine touchdowns, while also rushing 66 yards and three touchdowns on 12 carries. Kennedy was again named All-NEC at midfielder in his final lacrosse season. He returned to Bryant from playing professional lacrosse to play a final season of college football and had 33 receptions for 410 yards and a touchdown.

Professional lacrosse career

Kennedy was drafted in the third round of the 2018 Major League Lacrosse Draft by the Boston Cannons. He played in six games for the team during the 2018 season before leaving to play football at Bryant as a graduate student.

Professional football career

Kennedy signed with the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent on May 12, 2019 after participating in a rookie minicamp. He was waived on August 31, 2019 as part of final roster cuts at the end of training camp but was re-signed to the team's practice squad the following day. Kennedy was promoted to the Lions' active roster on September 27, 2019. Kennedy made his NFL debut on September 29, 2019 against the Kansas City Chiefs. He was waived on October 14 and re-signed to the practice squad. On December 30, 2019, Kennedy was signed to a reserve/future contract.