Arizona Cardinals and New Orleans Saints players: who played for both

Who played for both the Cardinals and Saints?

87 players were on both the Arizona Cardinals and the New Orleans Saints rosters between 1960 and 2026, including Bob Young, Fred McAfee, Mark Royals and Mitch Berger. 36 of them were with the Cardinals first and 44 with the Saints first; 7 joined both in the same season.

Did you know?

  • Dave Simmons is the earliest on this list to complete the pair: Cardinals first, then the Saints from 1967.
  • Eku Leota is the most recent: Saints first, then the Cardinals from 2026.
  • Bob Pollard spent the most seasons across the two: 4 with the Cardinals and 7 with the Saints.
  • 7 of them had two or more separate spells with one of the teams, such as Fred McAfee.
  • Most common positions on this list: DB (14), OL (13), RB (12), DL (10).

How many can you name?

Name players who were on both the Cardinals and the Saints. The surname is enough. 0 / 87

All 87 players, most seasons first

Seasons on each roster (1960–2026). A gap of a season or more starts a new spell.
PlayerPosCardinalsSaints
Bob YoungOL1972–19791981
Fred McAfeeRB19941991–1993, 2000–2006
Mark RoyalsP19871997–1998
Mitch BergerP20072003–2005
Adrian PetersonRB20172017
Jeff BlakeQB20032000–2001
Ted GinnWR20142017–2019
Khalif BarnesT20172016
Terry HoageDB1994–19961984–1985
Chris OldhamDB1991–19942000–2001
Elois GroomsDL1982–19851975–1981
Ken ReavesDB1974–19771974
Tyrann MathieuDB2013–20172022–2024
Bob PollardDL1978–19811971–1977
Cedric MackDB1983–19901992–1993
Derek KennardOL1986–19901991–1993
John GilliamWR1969–19711967–1968, 1977
Jonathan BullardDL20192025
Roger FinnieOL1973–19781979
Chris BanjoDB2019–20222016–2018
Conrad DoblerOL1972–19771978–1979
Gary CuozzoQB19721967
Kendrick ClancyNT20062007–2009
Ronald McKinnonMLB1996–20042005
Andy DorrisDL19731973–1976
Cary BlanchardSPEC2000–20011992
Jim OtisRB1973–19781970
John PhillipsTE20182016–2017
Jordan MillsOL20192021
Max GarciaOL2019–20222023
Robert MasseyDB1991–19931989–1990
Senio KelemeteOL20122014–2017
Terrelle SmithFB2007–20082000–2003
Alex OkaforDL2013–2014, 20162017–2018
D.J. SwearingerDB2015–2016, 2018–20192019–2020
David JohnsonRB2015–20192022
J.J. McCleskeyDB1996–20001993–1996
Justin DrescherLS20172010–2016
Terry StieveOL1978–1979, 1981–19841976–1977
Barry WordRB19941987–1988
Ben GrahamP2008–20112008
Blake GillikinP2023–20262020–2022
Cedric SmithRB1996–19981991
Dave LongDL1966–19681969–1972
Don ShyRB19731969
Greg WestbrooksLB19781975–1977
Ike HarrisWR1975–19771978–1981
Mario BatesRB1998–19991994–1997
Matt ShaughnessyDE2013–20142016
Pat McQuistanT20122011
Randal HillWR1991–19941997
Ray OgdenTE1965–19661967
Cecil GrayOL19951993
Dan ArnoldTE2019–20202017–2019
Freddie HyattWR1968–19721973
Gerald HodgesOLB20182017
Jeff FaulknerDL1991–19921993
Nick LeckeyC2004–20072009
Terrence HoltFS20072008
Tim HightowerRB2008–20102015–2016
Bob BrownTE1969–19701972–1973
Corey WhiteCB20152012–2014
Jim ThaxtonTE19781976–1977
Mike BuckQB19951990–1993
Mike TaylorOL19731969–1970
Timm RosenbachQB1989–19921995
Tony JonesRB2023–20242020–2023
Zach ZennerRB20192019
Bobby JohnsonDB1985–19861983–1984, 1986
Dave SimmonsLB1965–19661967
Donald SchwartzDB19811978–1980
Eku LeotaLB20262025
Eno BenjaminRB2020–20222022–2023
Marcus DowdellWR1995–19961992–1993
Melvin BakerWR19761975
Mo SpencerDB19741974–1976, 1978
Nate PooleWR2002–20042005
Brian DixonCB20162014–2016
Karl DunbarDL1994–19951993
Marcus HenryOL20212016
Michael AdamsDB19891987–1988
Shawn KnightDL19891987
Wyatt DavisOL20222022
Bob WicksWR19721974
Jimmy HeidelDB19661967
PJ MustipherDL20252023
Willie WilliamsOL19911994

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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New Orleans Saints and…

Lions 11149ers 111Dolphins 105Commanders 105Falcons 102Bears 98Eagles 98Browns 94Cowboys 93Chiefs 93

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Questions

How many players have played for both the Arizona Cardinals and the New Orleans Saints?

87 in the nflverse roster files from 1960 to 2026, including Bob Young, Fred McAfee, Mark Royals and Mitch Berger. 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?

Dave Simmons: Arizona Cardinals first, then the New Orleans Saints from 1967.

Who has played for both recently?

Jonathan Bullard, Blake Gillikin, Eku Leota and PJ Mustipher, 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