Cincinnati Bengals and Houston Texans players: who played for both

Who played for both the Bengals and Texans?

42 players were on both the Cincinnati Bengals and the Houston Texans rosters between 1960 and 2026, including Josh Johnson, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Clark Harris and Johnathan Joseph. 23 of them were with the Bengals first and 19 with the Texans first.

Did you know?

  • Steve Foley is the earliest on this list to complete the pair: Bengals first, then the Texans from 2003.
  • Russ Yeast is the most recent: Texans first, then the Bengals from 2026.
  • Clark Harris spent the most seasons across the two: 14 with the Bengals and 1 with the Texans.
  • 4 of them had two or more separate spells with one of the teams, such as Josh Johnson.
  • Most common positions on this list: DL (6), QB (5), CB (4), OL (4).

How many can you name?

Name players who were on both the Bengals and the Texans. The surname is enough. 0 / 42

All 42 players, most seasons first

Seasons on each roster (1960–2026). A gap of a season or more starts a new spell.
PlayerPosBengalsTexans
Josh JohnsonQB2013, 20262017
Ryan FitzpatrickQB2007–20082014
Clark HarrisLS2009–20222008
Johnathan JosephCB2006–20102011–2019
Shayne GrahamK2003–20092012
Eric WinstonT2014–20172006–2011
Neil RackersK2000–20022010–2011
Trent BrownOL20242025–2026
DJ ReaderDL2020–20232016–2019
Randy BullockK2016–20202013–2015
Sheldon RankinsDL20242023, 2025–2026
Jeff DriskelQB2016–20192021–2022
Kevin WalterWR2003–20052006–2012
Michael ThomasDB2021–20222020
Rex BurkheadRB2013–20162021–2022
AJ McCarronQB2014–2017, 20232019–2020
Joe MixonRB2017–20232024–2025
Chris SmithDL20172021
Christian CovingtonDL20202015–2018
Jamar FletcherCB20082007
Xavier Su'a-FiloOL2020–20212014–2017
Irv SmithTE20232024–2025
Jason AllenCB20122010–2011
Max ScharpingOL2022–20232019–2021
Steve FoleyOLB1998–20012003
Xavier WilliamsDL20202021
Geno StoneDB2024–20252020
Mason SchreckTE2017–20212022
Vernon HargreavesDB20212019–2021
Frank ChamberlinMLB20032005
Hardy NickersonLB2017–20192021
Andrew BrownDL2019–20202020
Devon StillDT2012–20142016
Fred BennettCB20102007–2009
John BusingS2006–20082009
Keaton SutherlandOL2019–20212023
Russ YeastDB20262024
Tom SavageQB20182014, 2016–2017
Cobi HamiltonWR20142017
Kyries HebertSS2008–20092002
Roy ManningOLB20072006
Terrance MartinDT20042003

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.Texans seasons start in 2002; the Houston Oilers (1960–96) are Titans seasons.

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More “played for both” lists

Cincinnati Bengals and…

Cardinals 84Browns 74Commanders 72Buccaneers 7149ers 67Chargers 66Jets 65Raiders 64Patriots 64Dolphins 61

Houston Texans and…

Browns 90Titans 75Dolphins 66Commanders 65Patriots 64Jaguars 63Jets 61Bills 60Broncos 60Bears 59

All team pairs

Questions

How many players have played for both the Cincinnati Bengals and the Houston Texans?

42 in the nflverse roster files from 1960 to 2026, including Josh Johnson, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Clark Harris and Johnathan Joseph. 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?

Steve Foley: Cincinnati Bengals first, then the Houston Texans from 2003.

Who has played for both recently?

Josh Johnson, Trent Brown, Sheldon Rankins, Joe Mixon, Irv Smith and Geno Stone and 1 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. Texans seasons start in 2002; the Houston Oilers (1960–96) are Titans seasons.

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