Arizona Cardinals and Dallas Cowboys players: who played for both

Who played for both the Cardinals and Cowboys?

86 players were on both the Arizona Cardinals and the Dallas Cowboys rosters between 1960 and 2026, including Jackie Smith, Emmitt Smith, Mike Nugent and Steve Beuerlein. 31 of them were with the Cardinals first and 50 with the Cowboys first; 5 joined both in the same season.

Did you know?

  • Charlie Granger is the earliest on this list to complete the pair: Cardinals first, then the Cowboys from 1961.
  • Jonathan Bullard is the most recent: Cardinals first, then the Cowboys from 2026.
  • Jackie Smith spent the most seasons across the two: 15 with the Cardinals and 1 with the Cowboys.
  • 5 of them had two or more separate spells with one of the teams, such as Alfred Morris.
  • Most common positions on this list: DB (14), OL (11), DL (10), RB (8).

How many can you name?

Name players who were on both the Cardinals and the Cowboys. The surname is enough. 0 / 86

All 86 players, most seasons first

Seasons on each roster (1960–2026). A gap of a season or more starts a new spell.
PlayerPosCardinalsCowboys
Jackie SmithTE1963–19771978
Emmitt SmithRB2003–20041990–2002
Mike NugentK20202017
Steve BeuerleinQB1993–19941991–1992
Cliff StoudtQB1986–19881990–1991
Jay NovacekTE1985–19891990–1996
Leonard DavisG2001–20062007–2010
Paul DicksonDL19711960
Derek KennardOL1986–19901994–1996
Gary HogeboomQB19891980–1985
Jonathan BullardDL20192026
Jordan PhillipsDL2020–20212024
Alan BallCB20162007–2011
Bobby Joe ConradWR1960–19681969
C.J. GoodwinDB20172018–2025
Garth JaxLB1989–19951986–1988
Geoff SwaimTE20232015–2018
Jack CrawfordDL20212014–2016
Alfred MorrisRB20192016–2017, 2019
Benson MayowaDL20182016–2017
Carlos WatkinsDL20232021–2022, 2024
Dennis ThurmanDB19861978–1985
John PhillipsTE20182009, 2011–2012
Jordan MillsOL20192015, 2020
Michael DownsDB19891981–1988
Mike JenkinsCB20162008–2012
Nick VigilLB20222024
Oliver RossT2005–20061998
Sonny RandleWR1960–19661968
Caraun ReidDL20192018
Dale MemmelaarOL1960–19611962–1963
Jalen ThompsonDB2019–20252026
Kevin R. WilliamsWR19971993–1996
Mark HiggsRB1994–19951988
Corey ClementRB2022–20232021
Micheal SpurlockWR20062013
Pat McQuistanT20122006–2009
Rob AwaltTE1987–19891990–1991
Robert WilliamsDB19921987–1993
Teddy WilliamsDB20132010
Antwaun WoodsDL20222018–2020
Buddy HumphreyQB1963–19651961
Chris CooperDT2006–20072004
Eric SmithOL20212020
Jonathan CooperOL2014–20152016–2017
Nick LeverettOL2024–20252025–2026
Peppi ZellnerDE20041999–2002
Sean HarlowOL2021–20222023
Simi FehokoWR2025–20262021–2022
Trayvon MullenDB20222022
Trysten HillDL20222019–2022
Al JohnsonC20072004–2006
Bene' BenwikereDB20182017
Chris GreisenQB1999–20012010–2011
Corey WhiteCB20152015
Craig BaynhamRB19721967–1969
Danny SpradlinLB19851981–1982
Derek WareTE1992–19941996
Jerry NortonDB1960–19611962
John RoachQB19601964
Reginald SwintonWR20052001–2003
Troy HambrickRB20042000–2003
Zach MooreDE20182016
Bruce ThorntonDL19821979–1981
Bryan McCannCB20132010–2011
Christian MatthewDB2022–20232025
Dave SimmonsLB1965–19661968
Duane CarrellP19771974
Emari DemercadoRB2023–20252026
Jalen BrooksWR2025–20262023–2025
Roland WoolseyDB19781975
Ron BurtonLB19891987–1989
Broderick SargentRB1986–19871989
Darryl HardyLB1994–19951995, 1997
Jack HouserOL19631960–1961
Jeremy ClarkDT20092010
Marcus HenryOL20212020
Matt WileP20162016
Zac DysertQB20162017
Brandon WilliamsOLB20112010
Charles WrightDB19871988
Johnny HollowayDB19871986
Monty HunterDB19831982
William SweetOL20192020
Charlie GrangerOL19611961
Craig KuppQB19911991

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

Dallas Cowboys and…

Browns 107Dolphins 93Saints 93Bears 8949ers 83Commanders 81Raiders 79Titans 78Colts 77Rams 76

All team pairs

Questions

How many players have played for both the Arizona Cardinals and the Dallas Cowboys?

86 in the nflverse roster files from 1960 to 2026, including Jackie Smith, Emmitt Smith, Mike Nugent and Steve Beuerlein. 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?

Charlie Granger: Arizona Cardinals first, then the Dallas Cowboys from 1961.

Who has played for both recently?

Jonathan Bullard, C.J. Goodwin, Jalen Thompson, Nick Leverett, Simi Fehoko and Christian Matthew and 2 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