Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns players: who played for both

Who played for both the Bengals and Browns?

74 players were on both the Cincinnati Bengals and the Cleveland Browns rosters between 1960 and 2026, including Joe Flacco, Josh Johnson, Lee Johnson and Kevin Zeitler. 37 of them were with the Bengals first and 34 with the Browns first; 3 joined both in the same season.

Did you know?

  • Ernie Kellermann is the earliest on this list to complete the pair: Browns first, then the Bengals from 1972.
  • Trayveon Williams is the most recent: Bengals first, then the Browns from 2025.
  • Lee Johnson spent the most seasons across the two: 11 with the Bengals and 2 with the Browns.
  • 5 of them had two or more separate spells with one of the teams, such as Joe Flacco.
  • Most common positions on this list: DL (12), WR (11), DB (9), QB (8).

How many can you name?

Name players who were on both the Bengals and the Browns. The surname is enough. 0 / 74

All 74 players, most seasons first

Seasons on each roster (1960–2026). A gap of a season or more starts a new spell.
PlayerPosBengalsBrowns
Joe FlaccoQB2025–20262023, 2025
Josh JohnsonQB2013, 20262012
Lee JohnsonSPEC1988–19981987–1988
Kevin ZeitlerOL2012–20162017–2018
Karlos DansbyILB20162014–2015
Frostee RuckerDE2006–20112012
Randy KirkLB1992–19931991
Tom DeLeoneOL1972–19731974–1984
Walter JohnsonDL19771965–1976
Alex SmithTE2013–20142010–2012
James BrooksRB1984–19911992
Andrew BillingsDL2016–20192020–2021
Chris CrockerFS2008–20132003–2005
Bruce GradkowskiQB2011–20122008
Gerald DixonLB1996–19971992–1995
Jason CampbellQB20142013
Jeff DriskelQB2016–20192023
Michael MyersDT20072003–2004
Ralph TammOL19911990–1991
Troy HillDB20152021
Brian BrennanWR19921984–1991
Cedric PeermanRB2010–20172009
Larry OgunjobiDL20212017–2020
Shaun SmithDT2004–2006, 20092007–2008
Todd PhilcoxQB1990, 19941991–1993
Chris SmithDL20172018–2019
Eric MooreOL19941995
Eric SteinbachG2003–20062007–2010
Ernie KellermannDB19721966–1971
Kyle RichardsonP20032005
Nick HaydenDT20112016
B.W. WebbDB20192017
David DunnWR1995–19981999
Kirk ChambersT20102004–2005
Mike St. ClairDL1980–19821976–1979
Scott RehbergG2000–20031999
Trayveon WilliamsRB2019–20242025
Andrew HawkinsWR2011–20132014–2016
Austin SeibertK20202019–2020
Cleo MontgomeryWR19801981
David VerserWR1981–19841987
Hakeem AdenijiOL2020–20222024
Mike ThompsonDL1997–19981999–2001
Neal CraigDB1971–19731975–1976
Oliver DavisDB1981–19821977–1980
Reece MorrisonRB1972–19731968–1972
Tony BrownDB20202024
Anthony ZettelDL20192018
Brian HillRB20172021
Gary BrightwellRB20252024
Kevin HoganQB20202016–2017
Mack MitchellDL19791975–1978
Malik JeffersonLB20182019
Nick RomanDL1970–19711972–1974
Orson CharlesTE2012–20132018
Steve HoldenWR19771973–1976
Greg LittleWR20142011–2013
Jeff ChristensenQB19831987
Joe KingDB19911991
Matt LengelTE2016, 20182017
Orien HarrisDT2008–20092006
Cade YorkK20242022
Damon GibsonWR19981999
Darius HillaryDB20162016–2017
Derron SmithDB2015–20172017
Greg FairchildOL1976–19771978
Jordan FranksRB2018–20192021
KJ HenryDL20242025
Sedrick ShawRB19991999
Andrew StewartDL19911989
Isaiah ThomasDL20242022
Lynn JamesWR1990–19911991
Mario AlfordWR2015–20162016
Tim GeorgeWR19731974

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.The Browns keep their own history; the 1996 move to Baltimore started a new team, the Ravens.

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More “played for both” lists

Cincinnati Bengals and…

Cardinals 84Commanders 72Buccaneers 7149ers 67Chargers 66Jets 65Raiders 64Patriots 64Dolphins 61Bills 60

Cleveland Browns and…

Commanders 123Dolphins 117Patriots 116Giants 114Lions 111Cowboys 107Jets 107Colts 10249ers 101Raiders 99

All team pairs

Questions

How many players have played for both the Cincinnati Bengals and the Cleveland Browns?

74 in the nflverse roster files from 1960 to 2026, including Joe Flacco, Josh Johnson, Lee Johnson and Kevin Zeitler. 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?

Ernie Kellermann: Cleveland Browns first, then the Cincinnati Bengals from 1972.

Who has played for both recently?

Joe Flacco, Josh Johnson, Trayveon Williams, Gary Brightwell and KJ Henry, 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. The Browns keep their own history; the 1996 move to Baltimore started a new team, the Ravens.

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