Chicago Bears and Dallas Cowboys players: who played for both

Who played for both the Bears and Cowboys?

89 players were on both the Chicago Bears and the Dallas Cowboys rosters between 1960 and 2026, including Jason Peters, Andy Dalton, Mike Nugent and Mike Ditka. 43 of them were with the Bears first and 43 with the Cowboys first; 3 joined both in the same season.

Did you know?

  • Merrill Douglas is the earliest on this list to complete the pair: Bears first, then the Cowboys from 1961.
  • Xavier Woods is the most recent: Cowboys first, then the Bears from 2026.
  • Jay Ratliff spent the most seasons across the two: 2 with the Bears and 8 with the Cowboys.
  • 9 of them had two or more separate spells with one of the teams, such as Vinson Smith.
  • Most common positions on this list: LB (12), DB (11), TE (8), DL (7).

How many can you name?

Name players who were on both the Bears and the Cowboys. The surname is enough. 0 / 89

All 89 players, most seasons first

Seasons on each roster (1960–2026). A gap of a season or more starts a new spell.
PlayerPosBearsCowboys
Jason PetersT20212022
Andy DaltonQB20212020
Mike NugentK20172017
Mike DitkaTE1961–19661969–1972
Robert QuinnDE2020–20222019
Brent UrbanDL2019–20202021
James AndersonOLB20132014
Jonathan BullardDL2016–20182026
Steve WalshQB1994–19951989–1990
Vinson SmithLB1993–19961990–1992, 1997
Alan BallCB20152007–2011
Dwayne HarrisWR20202011–2014
Eric SaubertTE2019–20202023
Jay RatliffNT2013–20142005–2012
Kyle OrtonQB2005–20082012–2013
Lee Roy CaffeyLB19701971
Martellus BennettTE2013–20152008–2011
Xavier WoodsDB20262017–2020
Alonzo SpellmanDL1992–19971999–2000
Andy FrederickOL1983–19851977–1981
Jay SaldiTE1983–19841976–1982
Jordan MillsOL2013–20142015, 2020
Kai ForbathK20202019
Lemanski HallOLB19981999
Marc ColomboT2002, 2004–20052005–2010
Mark SanchezQB20172016
Terrance MitchellDB2014–20152015
Tom MyslinskiOL1993–19941999
Tony ParrishSS1998–20012006
Jason McKieFB2003–20092002
Joe ThomasLB20222018–2020
Keith JenningsTE1991–19971989
Lousaka PoliteFB20072004–2006
Mac PercivalK1967–19731974
Roy WilliamsWR20112008–2010
Anthony ThomasRB2001–20042005
Bruce HutherLB19821977–1981, 1983
Danny McCrayFS20142010–2013, 2015–2016
Dennis McKinnonWR1983–1985, 1987–19891990
Deonte ThompsonWR2015–20172018
Golden RichardsWR1978–19791973–1978
John DavisTE2001–20021995
Marion BarberRB20112005–2010
Neville GallimoreDL20262020–2023
Stephen PaeaNT2011–20142017
Tank JohnsonDT2004–20062007–2008
Teddy WilliamsDB20142010
Aaron GibsonT2002–20042001–2002
Aviante CollinsOL20232022
Chris BoniolSPEC19991994–1996
Cyril PinderRB1971–19721973
Devante BondLB2019–20202022
Gregg BriggsDB19961992, 1995
Henry MeltonDT2010–20132014
Jim SchwantzLB1992, 19981994–1996
Nahshon WrightDB20252021–2023
Taco CharltonDL20222017–2019
Tyler CluttsFB20112013–2016
Tyrone HughesDB19971998
Bob AsherOL1972–19751970
Craig BaynhamRB19701967–1969
Dick DanielsDB1969–19701966–1968
Gary BarnesWR19641963
Jack SanbornLB2022–2024, 20262025
James ParrishOL19961993–1994
John RoperLB1989–19921993
Landon CohenDT20132013
Maury YoumansDL1960–19621964–1965
Mickey PruittLB1988–19901991–1992
Phil ClarkDB19701967–1969
Ameer SpeedDB20242026
Buddy JohnsonLB20232023–2025
Christian MatthewDB20232025
Macey BrooksWR1998–20001997
Robert ChanceyRB19981999
Tony FiammettaFB20132011
Alex TaylorOL20212022
Chad HutchinsonQB20042002–2003
Isaiah FreyCB2013–20142016
James MartenT20092007
John BabineczLB19751972–1973
Merrill DouglasRB19601961
Reddy StewardDB20242025–2026
Sean SmithDL1987–19881989
Andre SmithTE20112013
Jermaine JonesCB19992002
Kelly BlackwellTE19921993
Marq CerquaLB20022001
Tron LaFavorDT20032004

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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Questions

How many players have played for both the Chicago Bears and the Dallas Cowboys?

89 in the nflverse roster files from 1960 to 2026, including Jason Peters, Andy Dalton, Mike Nugent and Mike Ditka. 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?

Merrill Douglas: Chicago Bears first, then the Dallas Cowboys from 1961.

Who has played for both recently?

Jonathan Bullard, Xavier Woods, Neville Gallimore, Nahshon Wright, Jack Sanborn and Ameer Speed 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. 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