The rare athlete who mastered both professional lacrosse and NFL football
In short: Most professional athletes spend their entire lives perfecting a single sport. Tom Kennedy, however, has navigated the distinct worlds of professional lacrosse and the NFL, becoming one of only two players to ever compete in both professional lacrosse and football games.
Tom Kennedy's journey is defined by a unique dual-sport capability. After initially stepping away from football following his freshman year at Bryant University to focus on lacrosse, he achieved significant success on the field. In 2017, he was named a first-team All-Northeast Conference selection as a midfielder, helping his team reach the NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship.
His return to football during his senior year proved equally productive. He earned another All-NEC honor after recording 57 receptions for 888 yards and nine touchdowns, while adding 66 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 12 carries. This versatility allowed him to enter the professional ranks in two different arenas. After being picked by the Boston Cannons in the 2018 Major League Lacrosse Draft's third round, he competed in six matches before heading back to Bryant for his concluding year of collegiate football.
Kennedy's NFL career with the Detroit Lions has been a complex cycle of roster movements. Since signing as an undrafted free agent on May 12, 2019, he has frequently moved between the active roster and the practice squad. A standout moment occurred on January 9, 2022, when he recorded his first NFL touchdown via a 75-yard trick play pass to Kalif Raymond during a 37–30 victory over the Green Bay Packers.
Kennedy remains a rare figure in professional sports history. He is one of only two individuals, the other being Chris Hogan, to have played in both a professional lacrosse game and a professional football game.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Tom Kennedy (wide receiver)
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