Amon-Ra St. Brown shared an emotional message after Kalif Raymond agreed to join the Chicago Bears, calling him the “greatest teammate” he’s ever had
17:57 ET, 10 Mar 2026
St. Brown and Raymond arrived in Detroit at the same time in 2021
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Amon-Ra St. Brown and Kalif Raymond arrived in Detroit at the same time in 2021(Image: Getty)
Detroit Lions star Amon-Ra St. Brown delivered an emotional message after learning longtime teammate Kalif Raymond would be leaving for an NFC North rival.
News broke Tuesday that Raymond agreed to a one-year contract with the Chicago Bears, reuniting him with head coach Ben Johnson and wide receivers coach Antwaan Randle El. The move adds speed and special teams value to Chicago’s roster, but it also means Detroit is losing a respected locker room presence.
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Shortly after the signing surfaced, St. Brown took to social media to share his reaction. The Lions wide receiver, who was punched in the face after performing a Donald Trump gesture last season, made it clear how much Raymond meant to him both on and off the field.
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“Greatest teammate I’ve ever had. Lockermate since rookie year… love you brother,” St. Brown wrote.
St. Brown and Raymond arrived in Detroit at the same time in 2021, with Raymond signing as a free agent and St. Brown being selected in the fourth round of that year’s draft.
Over the next several seasons, the pair developed chemistry in Detroit’s offense and became key figures during the franchise’s turnaround.
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While St. Brown emerged as one of the league’s top wide receivers, Raymond carved out an important role as a complementary target and elite return specialist.
Since joining the Lions, Raymond totaled 171 receptions for 2,185 yards and eight touchdowns. Though his offensive numbers were modest compared to Detroit’s star receivers, his versatility and speed made him a valuable contributor in multiple phases of the game.
Raymond’s biggest impact came on special teams. He developed into one of the NFL’s most dangerous punt returners and earned second-team All-Pro honors in both 2022 and 2024.
Raymond joined the Lions in 2021 and was a second-team All-Pro punt returner in 2022 and 2024
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Raymond joined the Lions in 2021 and was a second-team All-Pro punt returner in 2022 and 2024(Image: Getty)
During the 2024 season, Raymond led the entire league with 413 punt return yards, further cementing his reputation as one of the most explosive return specialists in football. In 2025, he also set Detroit’s franchise record for career punt return yards with 1,485.
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Now, Raymond will bring that experience to a Chicago team looking to reshape its offense under Johnson.
Johnson served as Detroit’s offensive coordinator during Raymond’s most productive seasons with the Lions before taking the Bears’ head coaching job. That familiarity could help Raymond transition quickly into Chicago’s system.
The Bears were also seeking additional speed and depth at wide receiver after changes to their receiving corps this offseason, including trading DJ Moore to the Buffalo Bills. Raymond’s ability to line up in the slot and contribute on special teams makes him a versatile addition.