Buffalo Bills and San Francisco 49ers players: who played for both

Who played for both the Bills and 49ers?

84 players were on both the Buffalo Bills and the San Francisco 49ers rosters between 1960 and 2026, including Josh Johnson, Ted Washington, Frank Gore and Takeo Spikes. 44 of them were with the Bills first and 36 with the 49ers first; 4 joined both in the same season.

Did you know?

  • Henry Schmidt is the earliest on this list to complete the pair: 49ers first, then the Bills from 1965.
  • Matthew Judon is the most recent: Bills first, then the 49ers from 2026.
  • Fred Smerlas spent the most seasons across the two: 11 with the Bills and 1 with the 49ers.
  • 5 of them had two or more separate spells with one of the teams, such as Josh Johnson.
  • Most common positions on this list: WR (14), DB (12), RB (11), DL (8).

How many can you name?

Name players who were on both the Bills and the 49ers. 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.
PlayerPosBills49ers
Josh JohnsonQB20152014, 2022
Ted WashingtonNT1995–20001991–1993
Frank GoreRB20192005–2014
Takeo SpikesOLB2003–20062008–2010
Terrell OwensWR20091996–2003
Fred SmerlasDL1979–19891990
Brandin CooksWR20252026
Chidi AhanotuDE20022003
Chris DraftOLB20091999
Emmanuel SandersWR20212019
Josh NormanDB2020, 20232021
Nate ClementsCB2001–20062007–2010
Pierson PrioleauSS2001–20041999–2000
Dave WashingtonLB1972–19741975–1977
Donte WhitnerSS2006–20102011–2013
Earl EdwardsDL1973–19751969–1972
Garrison SanbornLS2009–20162019
Jordan MatthewsWR20172019–2022
Manny LawsonOLB2013–20162006–2010
Marquise GoodwinWR2013–20162017–2019
Matthew JudonLB20252026
O.J. SimpsonRB1969–19771978–1979
Reggie BushRB20162015
Sam YoungT2011–20132019
Jon FelicianoOL2019–20212023–2024
Leonard FloydLB20232024
Al CowlingsDL1970–19721979
Al RandolphDB19741966–1970, 1974
Danny AbramowiczWR19751973–1974
Dontae JohnsonDB20182014–2017, 2019–2022
Erik PearsT2010–20142015
Jeff PoseyOLB2003–20051998–2000
Karl WilsonDL19951993
Leger DouzableDT20162017
Mario ClarkDB1976–19831984
Marquez Valdes-ScantlingWR20242025
Ray-Ray McCloudWR20182022–2023
Siran NealDB2018–20232025–2026
Steve JohnsonWR2008–20132014
Tyler KroftTE2019–20202022
Bob NelsonLB1975–19771979
Jason WebsterCB20072000–2003
Jay ForemanILB1999–20012006
Jeremy KerleyWR20182016
Jim DrayTE20162016
Joe CribbsRB1980–1983, 19851986–1987
Jonas JenningsT2001–20042005–2008
Kevin R. WilliamsWR1998–19992000
Mitch WishnowskyP20252019–2024
Sean MoranDE1996–19992002–2003
Shareece WrightCB20172015
Trent SherfieldWR20232021
Blake CostanzoILB2007–20082011
Demetrius Flannigan-FowlesLB20262020–2024
Eason RamsonTE19851979–1983
Henry SchmidtDL19651960
Jordan DeveyOL20202015
Kiko AlonsoLB20132020
Matt BreidaRB20212017–2019
Spencer LongOL20192020
Travaris CadetRB20172015
Anthony DixonRB2014–20152010–2013
Greg MabinDB20172017–2018
Nick McCloudDB20212024
Oliver BarnettDL1993–19941995
Thad LewisQB20132016
Tyrell AdamsLB20172021
Vic WashingtonRB1975–19761971–1973
Bob PenchionOL1972–19731974–1975
Elston RidgleDL19891987
Justin ArmourWR1995–19961997
Phillip TannerRB20142014
Tony ClineTE1995–19971999
Brian TaylorRB19911993
Greg CollinsLB19771975
Jared MaydenDB20222020
John SaundersDB19721974–1975
Mike HolmesDB19761974–1975
Patrick EstesT20072005–2007
Randy JacksonRB19721973
Scott GarnettDL19871985
Mike SalmonDB19961996–1997
Tim AndersonDB19761975
Victor BoldenWR20182017–2018

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

Buffalo Bills and…

Dolphins 116Raiders 108Chargers 106Jets 105Patriots 102Commanders 99Broncos 92Browns 91Titans 90Cardinals 89

San Francisco 49ers and…

Commanders 126Saints 111Raiders 110Eagles 109Lions 105Falcons 102Browns 101Cardinals 99Dolphins 98Giants 95

All team pairs

Questions

How many players have played for both the Buffalo Bills and the San Francisco 49ers?

84 in the nflverse roster files from 1960 to 2026, including Josh Johnson, Ted Washington, Frank Gore and Takeo Spikes. 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?

Henry Schmidt: San Francisco 49ers first, then the Buffalo Bills from 1965.

Who has played for both recently?

Brandin Cooks, Matthew Judon, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Siran Neal, Mitch Wishnowsky and Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, 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