Atlanta Falcons and Detroit Lions players: who played for both

Who played for both the Falcons and Lions?

110 players were on both the Atlanta Falcons and the Detroit Lions rosters between 1960 and 2026, including Matt Prater, Dwight Freeney, Marcus Pollard and Ty Detmer. 55 of them were with the Falcons first and 51 with the Lions first; 4 joined both in the same season.

Did you know?

  • Bob Whitlow is the earliest on this list to complete the pair: Lions first, then the Falcons from 1966.
  • Za'Darius Smith is the most recent: Lions first, then the Falcons from 2026.
  • Eric Sanders spent the most seasons across the two: 6 with the Falcons and 7 with the Lions.
  • 8 of them had two or more separate spells with one of the teams, such as Tim McKyer.
  • Most common positions on this list: DB (20), WR (15), DL (12), OL (11).

How many can you name?

Name players who were on both the Falcons and the Lions. The surname is enough. 0 / 110

All 110 players, most seasons first

Seasons on each roster (1960–2026). A gap of a season or more starts a new spell.
PlayerPosFalconsLions
Matt PraterK20072014–2020
Dwight FreeneyDE20162017
Marcus PollardTE20082005–2006
Ty DetmerQB2004–20052001–2003
Andre RobertsWR20172016
Grady JacksonDT2006–20082009
John JamesP1972–19811982
Shawn JeffersonWR2000–20022003
Bob GaglianoQB19931989–1990
Bruce IrvinLB20182023
Ephraim SalaamT1998–20012009
Eric SandersOL1981–19861986–1992
Terry TaylorDB19951989–1991
Tim McKyerDB1991–1992, 19961993
Za'Darius SmithLB20262024
Aubrey MatthewsWR1986–19881990–1996
Duron HarmonDB20212020
Gail CogdillWR1969–19701960–1968
Justin DurantOLB20152011–2012
Marty CarterDB1999–20012001
Roman FortinOL1992–19971991
William WhiteDB1997–19981988–1993
Dan OwensDL1996–19971990–1995, 1998–1999
Eric BeverlyTE2004–20061997–2003
Erik KramerQB19871991–1993
Josh WilsonCB20142015–2016
Mohamed SanuWR2016–20192020
Shane DronettDL1996–20011996
Barry StokesT20052006–2007
Bill FralicOL1985–19921993
Da'Shawn HandDL20262018–2021
David RichardsOL1994–19961993
Desmond TrufantDB2013–20192020
Jamal AgnewWR20252017–2020
Jonathan ScottT20142006–2007
KhaDarel HodgeWR2022–20252021
Levine ToiloloTE2013–20172018
Mike FordDB2022, 2025–20262018–2020
Mike HughesDB2023–20262022
Rafael BushDB20102016
Ray JarvisWR1971–19721974–1978
Storm NortonOL2023–20262017
Anthony FirkserTE20222023, 2025
Bear PascoeTE20142015
Bert EmanuelWR1994–19972001
Bob WhitlowOL19661961–1965
Brandon CopelandLB20212015–2017
Charles HarrisDL20202021–2023
Darnell WalkerDB1993–19962000
Dean MarloweDB20222021
Erik ColemanSS2008–20102011
Ernie JacksonDB19781979
Garrett ReynoldsG2009–20132014, 2016
Josh WoodsLB2024–20262021–2022
Ross DwelleyTE20242025
Sam WilliamsDL1966–19671960–1965
Scott HunterQB1976–19781979
Tre FlowersDB20232025
Brandon PowellWR2019–20202018
Chris HoustonCB2007–20092010–2013
Chuck ThomasOL19851992
Frank GallagherOL19731967–1972
J.D. McKissicRB20162019
Joey HarringtonQB20072002–2005
Melvin JenkinsDB19931991–1993
Paul WorrilowLB2013–20162017
Ron RiversRB20001994–1999
T.J. DuckettRB2002–20052007
Antwan LakeDT2004–20052002
Bo RobinsonRB1981–19831979–1980
Chuck SieminskiDL1966–19671968
Darrin WallsCB20112016
Derrick MooreRB19921993–1994
Donovan GreerDB19972002
Jeff OkudahDB20232020–2022
Jim SimonOL1966–19681963–1965
John CominskyDL2019–20212022–2024
Marvin HallWR2017–2018, 20212019–2020
Riley PattersonK20242021, 2023
Albert HugginsDL20232020
Edgar FieldsDL1977–19801981
Jason PhillipsWR1991–19931989–1990
Jeff KomloQB19821979–1981
John SmallDL1970–19721973–1974
Tony DaykinLB1979–19811977–1978
Tye HillCB20092010
Wally PesuitDL19761979–1980
Courtney AndersonTE20072007
Dan WagonerDB19851982–1984
Godwin IgwebuikeRB20232021
Jammie RobinsonDB2025–20262025
Parker HesseTE2021–20232024
Paul GipsonRB1969–19701971
Rudy RedmondDB1969–19711972
Willie GermanyDB19721973
Zac KerinOL20182017
Adam JenningsWR2006–20082008
Chris CashCB20052002, 2004
Cleveland PinkneyDT20042006
Darryl FordLB19941992–1993
Dylan DrummondWR2024–20252023
Ed SmithTE1997–19981999
Garth Ten NapelLB19781976–1977
Henry TaylorDL20001998
Jared PinkneyTE20202021
Mike EcholsCB20042004
Randy WinklerOL19681967
John WrightWR19681969
Jon BrooksLB19801979
Kasey RedfernP20192017

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.

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More “played for both” lists

Atlanta Falcons and…

Saints 10249ers 102Bears 98Commanders 95Packers 93Eagles 93Titans 93Vikings 91Browns 90Cardinals 88

Detroit Lions and…

Colts 117Cardinals 116Browns 111Saints 111Dolphins 109Rams 108Seahawks 107Commanders 10649ers 105Buccaneers 104

All team pairs

Questions

How many players have played for both the Atlanta Falcons and the Detroit Lions?

110 in the nflverse roster files from 1960 to 2026, including Matt Prater, Dwight Freeney, Marcus Pollard and Ty Detmer. 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?

Bob Whitlow: Detroit Lions first, then the Atlanta Falcons from 1966.

Who has played for both recently?

Za'Darius Smith, Da'Shawn Hand, Jamal Agnew, KhaDarel Hodge, Mike Ford and Mike Hughes and 7 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. Neither of these teams has moved since 1960.

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