Big plays were the name of the game in the Detroit Lions' 44-30 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday Night Football, but the game's most important play may not have come from running back Jahmyr Gibbs, quarterback Jared Goff, or wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown. It came from returner Tom Kennedy.
With just under four minutes to go in the game, Cowboys' kicker Brandon Aubrey kicked a short field goal to bring the score within a touchdown. The Cowboys had all three of their timeouts and plenty of time to march back down the field and score, just like they had throughout the second half. All they had to do was stop the Lions' offense from scoring, but Kennedy had other ideas.
On the Cowboys' ensuing kickoff, Kennedy returned the kick 42 yards before finally being brought down on the Lions' 49-yard line. Kennedy's return put the Lions just outside of kicker Jake Bates' range, and it took just two plays to get well within it. On the second play of the Lions' drive, Goff threw a pass to the hobbled St. Brown for 37 yards to reach the Cowboys' 13-yard line. On the following play, Gibbs ran for his third TD on the night, all but sealing the game for the Lions.
In total, Kennedy accounted for 120 kick return yards on three returns as well as a 21-yard punt return. That punt return came after the Cowboys were backed up after a safety call was overturned upon review, with Kennedy taking that punt all the way to the Cowboys' 42-yard line. According to Lions PR on X, Kennedy is the first player to have three kick returns of 35+ yards and a punt return of 20+ yards in a game since Josh Cribbs in 2007.
The Lions' average starting field position after a Kennedy return was their own 48.75-yard line. The Lions scored a TD on all but one of those five drives following a Kennedy return. It was an electric performance and well worthy of the game ball he received after the game.
Game balls 🏈 pic.twitter.com/OpMCObJWGU
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) December 5, 2025
Kennedy has made a huge impact in the return game in his two games
Kennedy has been with the Lions since the 2019 season, signing with them as an undrafted free agent out of Bryant University. Since then, Kennedy has endeared himself to Lions' fans, thanks to stellar preseason performances. These past two weeks have been a revelation, and it may be enough for Kennedy to finally carve himself out a spot on the 53-man roster indefinitely.
In his two games since being brought onto the active roster to fill in for the injured All-Pro returner Kalif Raymond, Kennedy has looked like an All-Pro himself. He was one of the bright spots in the Lions' Thanksgiving loss to the Green Bay Packers, and he matched that energy in the following week. He's returned six kickoffs for a total of 201 yards (33.5 yards on average). In his two punt returns, he's taken each 21 yards.
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When Kennedy is not returning, he's leading the way for Jacob Saylors and trying to clear a path for the former UFL standout. Saylors had five kick returns on the night, totaling 141 yards (28.2 yards on average). Saylors' 141 yards were his second-highest total for the season, and his average yards per return was his third-highest.
Kennedy was only on the field for five offensive snaps and was not targeted once. Yet, he was one of the most important players to put on the Lions' uniform on Sunday. Between his impact blocking on special teams for Saylors and his own returns, Kennedy consistently gave the Lions great field position. With the Lions' playoff hopes still teetering on the balance and injuries aplenty, the "no-name guys" need to step up. If Kennedy keeps this up, it may not be long before this "no-name" becomes a household name outside of Michigan.