Arizona Cardinals and Cincinnati Bengals players: who played for both

Who played for both the Cardinals and Bengals?

84 players were on both the Arizona Cardinals and the Cincinnati Bengals rosters between 1960 and 2026, including Carson Palmer, Clyde Simmons, Domata Peko and Johnathan Joseph. 36 of them were with the Cardinals first and 42 with the Bengals first; 6 joined both in the same season.

Did you know?

  • Phil Spiller is the earliest on this list to complete the pair: Cardinals first, then the Bengals from 1968.
  • Andrew Billings is the most recent: Bengals first, then the Cardinals from 2026.
  • Rich Braham spent the most seasons across the two: 1 with the Cardinals and 13 with the Bengals.
  • 9 of them had two or more separate spells with one of the teams, such as Boomer Esiason.
  • Most common positions on this list: DB (12), DL (11), LB (10), QB (8).

How many can you name?

Name players who were on both the Cardinals and the Bengals. The surname is enough. 0 / 84

All 84 players, most seasons first

Seasons on each roster (1960–2026). A gap of a season or more starts a new spell.
PlayerPosCardinalsBengals
Carson PalmerQB2013–20172003–2010
Clyde SimmonsDL1994–19951998
Domata PekoNT20202006–2016
Johnathan JosephCB20202006–2010
Mike NugentK20202010–2016
Boomer EsiasonQB19961984–1992, 1997
Bryan RobinsonDE2008–20102005–2007
Jeff BlakeQB20031994–1999
Karlos DansbyILB2004–2009, 2013, 20172016
Andre SmithT20182009–2015, 2017–2019
Frostee RuckerDE2013–20172006–2011
Randy KirkLB1989, 1994–19951992–1993
Rich BrahamC19941994–2006
A.J. GreenWR2021–20222011–2020
Eric WinstonT20132014–2017
Evan MathisG20162008–2010
Garrison HearstRB1993–19951996
Josh BynesLB2017–20182020
Neil RackersK2003–20092000–2002
Andrew BillingsDL20262016–2019
Jay SchroederQB19941993
Clinton McDonaldDT20192010
Dexter JacksonFS20032006–2008
Dre KirkpatrickDB20202012–2019
Jeff DriskelQB20232016–2019
Matt BarkleyQB2015, 20172018
Tim KearneyLB1976–19811972–1974
Al BeauchampLB19761968–1975
Erik WilhelmQB19921989–1991, 1993–1997
Jalen DavisDB20192020–2026
Jermaine GreshamTE2015–20182010–2014
Kevin MinterLB2013–20162017
Michael BankstonDL1992–19971998–2000
Nick VigilLB20222016–2019
Steve BushTE2001–20031997–2000
Darqueze DennardDB20212014–2019
Michael BrimDB19881993–1995
Sam WycheQB19761968–1970
Zach KerrDL2019, 20212021
Akeem Davis-GaitherLB20252020–2024
Brandon JohnsonOLB2006–20072008–2011
Carl CarterDB1986–19891990–1991
Cody FordOL20222023–2025
Justin MurrayOL2019–20212017
Pharoh CooperWR2018–2019, 20222019
Xavier WilliamsDL2015–20172020
Al ChandlerTE1978–19791973–1974
Bill AckerDL1980–19811983
Brad OatesOL1976–1977, 1979–19801981
David BraxtonLB1990–19931994
Jonah WilliamsOL2024–20252020–2023
Keith RuckerDL1992–19931994–1995
Langston MooreDT2005–20062003–2004
Victor HobsonOLB20082008
Alex StepanovichC2004–20062007
Billy PriceOL20222018–2020
Brett WallerstedtLB19931994–1996
Darryl BlackstockOLB2005–20072008
Derek WareTE1992–19941994–1995
Elston RidgleDL19901992
Ifeanyi OhaleteSS20042005
Josh ShawDB20192015–2017
Marco WilsonDB2021–20232024–2025
Markus BaileyLB20242020–2023
Rod SaddlerDL1987–19911991
Tito PaulDB1995–19971997
Zachary CarterDL2025–20262022–2024
Michael BarberWR19891990–1991
Mitchell PriceDB19921990–1993
Ty HowardDB1997–19981999
Barney CottonOL1980–19811979
Dontay MochOLB20132011
Jim GallerySPEC19871989
Lamont GaillardOL2019–20202022
Willie ShelbyRB19781976–1977
Angel RubioDL19991998
Greg HorneP1987–19881987
Lawrence HamiltonWR20042003
Mike BrennanOL19911990–1991
Patrick RobinsonWR19941993
Phil SpillerDB19671968
Richard FainDB19911991
Kevin JordanWR19961996
Steve ConleyRB19721972

From the nflverse roster files (CC BY 4.0), refreshed 2026-10-06. A season counts when the player was on the roster: from 2002 on, at least one regular-season or playoff week as active, injured reserve or inactive (practice squad alone does not count); 1960–2001 use the season rosters.Cardinals seasons include the St. Louis Cardinals (1960–87) and the Phoenix Cardinals (1988–93).

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More “played for both” lists

Arizona Cardinals and…

Lions 116Bears 107Commanders 107Giants 104Chargers 100Vikings 100Titans 100Eagles 9949ers 99Browns 97

Cincinnati Bengals and…

Browns 74Commanders 72Buccaneers 7149ers 67Chargers 66Jets 65Raiders 64Patriots 64Dolphins 61Bills 60

All team pairs

Questions

How many players have played for both the Arizona Cardinals and the Cincinnati Bengals?

84 in the nflverse roster files from 1960 to 2026, including Carson Palmer, Clyde Simmons, Domata Peko and Johnathan Joseph. Players whose time with one of the teams was practice squad only, or before 1960, are not counted.

Who was the first player on this list to play for both?

Phil Spiller: Arizona Cardinals first, then the Cincinnati Bengals from 1968.

Who has played for both recently?

Andrew Billings, Jalen Davis, Akeem Davis-Gaither, Cody Ford, Jonah Williams and Marco Wilson and 1 more, with a season on one of the two rosters in 2025 or 2026.

Does a player count if the team has moved or changed its name?

Yes. Seasons count for today's franchise, the way the league keeps team history. Cardinals seasons include the St. Louis Cardinals (1960–87) and the Phoenix Cardinals (1988–93).

Rosters from nflverse (CC BY 4.0). Team logos are trademarks of their respective teams (logos via TheSportsDB). Independent and not affiliated with the NFL or any team. Credits