Arizona Cardinals and Houston Texans players: who played for both

Who played for both the Cardinals and Texans?

58 players were on both the Arizona Cardinals and the Houston Texans rosters between 1960 and 2026, including Josh McCown, Brian Hoyer, Johnathan Joseph and Andre Roberts. 32 of them were with the Cardinals first and 25 with the Texans first; 1 joined both in the same season.

Did you know?

  • Chad Stanley is the earliest on this list to complete the pair: Cardinals first, then the Texans from 2002.
  • Evan Brown is the most recent: Cardinals first, then the Texans from 2026.
  • J.J. Watt spent the most seasons across the two: 2 with the Cardinals and 10 with the Texans.
  • 6 of them had two or more separate spells with one of the teams, such as Antonio Smith.
  • Most common positions on this list: DL (8), OL (7), WR (6), DB (6).

How many can you name?

Name players who were on both the Cardinals and the Texans. The surname is enough. 0 / 58

All 58 players, most seasons first

Seasons on each roster (1960–2026). A gap of a season or more starts a new spell.
PlayerPosCardinalsTexans
Josh McCownQB2002–20052020
Brian HoyerQB20122015
Johnathan JosephCB20202011–2019
Andre RobertsWR2010–20132021
Antonio SmithDE2004–20082009–2013, 2016
DeAndre HopkinsWR2020–20222013–2019
Eric WinstonT20132006–2011
J.J. WattDL2021–20222011–2020
Jason BabinDE20152004–2006
Neil RackersK2003–20092010–2011
Tyrann MathieuDB2013–20172018
Chris MooreWR20242021–2022
Alan BallCB20162012
Angelo BlacksonDL2020, 20242017–2019
Brooks ReedOLB20192011–2014
Jeff DriskelQB20232021–2022
Oday AboushiOL20182015–2016
Bryant JohnsonWR2003–20072011
Carlos WatkinsDL20232017–2020
Christian KirkWR2018–20212025
Evan BrownOL2024–20252026
Jonathan OwensDB20182019–2022
Kamu Grugier-HillLB20222021–2022
Pharaoh BrownTE20252020–2022
Senio KelemeteOL20122018–2020
Chad StanleyP20012002–2006
D.J. SwearingerDB2015–2016, 2018–20192013–2014
Darren FellsTE2014–20162019–2020
David JohnsonRB2015–20192020–2021
Ezekiel TurnerLB2018–20232024
Hjalte FroholdtOL2023–20262020
Nick NovakK20052015–2016
Stephen AndersonTE20222016–2017
Corey SearsDE1999–20002002–2004
Eddie PleasantDB20182012–2017
Josh JonesOL2020–20222023
K'Von WallaceDB20232025
Kris BoydDB20232023–2024
Matt LeinartQB2006–20092010–2011
Steven SimsWR20252023–2024
Xavier WilliamsDL2015–20172021
Cameron SpikesG2003–20042002
Charlie HeckOL20242020–2023
Leki FotuDL2020–20232025
Milford BrownG20062002–2005
Naquan JonesDL2023–20242025
Roy LopezDL2023–2024, 20262021–2023
Tim BulmanDE20052006–2009, 2011
Andre EllingtonRB2013–20172017
Michael DogbeDL2019–20222023
Michael StoneSS2001–2002, 20042006
Cole TonerOL20162021
Eno BenjaminRB2020–20222022
Jordan ThomasTE20202018–2019
Evan BaylisTE20202017
Matt AmmendolaK20222023
Myjai SandersLB2022–20232023
Shane BoydQB20062007

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).Texans seasons start in 2002; the Houston Oilers (1960–96) are Titans seasons.

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More “played for both” lists

Arizona Cardinals and…

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

Houston Texans and…

Browns 90Titans 75Dolphins 66Commanders 65Patriots 64Jaguars 63Jets 61Bills 60Broncos 60Bears 59

All team pairs

Questions

How many players have played for both the Arizona Cardinals and the Houston Texans?

58 in the nflverse roster files from 1960 to 2026, including Josh McCown, Brian Hoyer, Johnathan Joseph and Andre Roberts. 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?

Chad Stanley: Arizona Cardinals first, then the Houston Texans from 2002.

Who has played for both recently?

Christian Kirk, Evan Brown, Pharaoh Brown, Hjalte Froholdt, K'Von Wallace and Steven Sims and 3 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). Texans seasons start in 2002; the Houston Oilers (1960–96) are Titans seasons.

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