Lions ‘Pitbull’ WR Is Trustworthy, Longest Tenured Player

Detroit Lions wide receiver Tom Kennedy is embarking on his eighth NFL season.

His improbable run with the team is based on earned trust and dedication to meeting his potential. The 29-year-old signed as an undrafted free agent back in 2019.

Steadily, the former Bryant football and lacrosse player gained the trust of his teammates and the Lions' coaching staff.

“He’s invaluable. I can get in any game with him, no matter if he hasn’t had a (practice) rep, do a five-minute crash course on our entire offense, and he can go play it to a tee. But it’s not that he can just go play it, every time he gets in, he makes a play," said receivers coach Scottie Montgomery. "The guys that can play the game from an FBI (football intelligence standpoint), football IQ, and timing standpoint without practicing. Those guys are always going to be valuable.

“The one thing that I can think of, there’s no better term than pitbull. He is a pitbull, 100%. He is going to be as efficient as he possibly can be, but he is going to fight through the echo of the whistle. And there’s skill there," Montgomery added further. "That’s what people don’t realize. When you say pitbull, you think it’s just ferocity and tenacity. No, there’s a tremendous amount of skill. I’m proud as hell of him. I know who he is. I don’t have to worry about anything with him. I know exactly what he’s going to do.”

Additional Detroit Lions NFL Insider Analysis: 2026 Training Camp Primer