Cincinnati Bengals and Indianapolis Colts players: who played for both

Who played for both the Bengals and Colts?

60 players were on both the Cincinnati Bengals and the Indianapolis Colts rosters between 1960 and 2026, including Joe Flacco, Josh Johnson, Lyle Blackwood and Ashley Ambrose. 29 of them were with the Bengals first and 24 with the Colts first; 7 joined both in the same season.

Did you know?

  • John Shinners is the earliest on this list to complete the pair: Colts first, then the Bengals from 1973.
  • Cam Taylor-Britt is the most recent: Bengals first, then the Colts from 2026.
  • Bernard Whittington spent the most seasons across the two: 2 with the Bengals and 7 with the Colts.
  • 6 of them had two or more separate spells with one of the teams, such as Josh Johnson.
  • Most common positions on this list: DB (14), DL (6), CB (5), RB (5).

How many can you name?

Name players who were on both the Bengals and the Colts. The surname is enough. 0 / 60

All 60 players, most seasons first

Seasons on each roster (1960–2026). A gap of a season or more starts a new spell.
PlayerPosBengalsColts
Joe FlaccoQB2025–20262024
Josh JohnsonQB2013, 20262015
Lyle BlackwoodDB1973–19751977–1980
Ashley AmbroseCB1996–19981992–1995
Lawrence GuyDL20242012–2013
Jeff BurrisCB2002–20031998–2001
Bernard WhittingtonDT2001–20021994–2000
Brian BladosOL1984–19911991
Jay LeeuwenburgOL19991996–1998
John ShinnersOL1973–19771972
Margus HuntDL2013–2016, 20202017–2019
Mike HiltonDB2021–20242025
Mike McGlynnG20112012–2013
Carl PowellDE2003–20051997–1998
Jamon MeredithT20142014
Larry MooreG2004–20051998–2001
Tre FlowersDB2021–20222024
Zach KerrDL20212014–2016
Akeem Davis-GaitherLB2020–20242026
Brett RypienQB20252025
Chase CoffmanTE2009–20102016
Chris CarterOLB2014–20152014, 2016
Germaine PrattLB2019–20242025
Joe BachieLB2021–20242025
John SimmonsDB1981–19861987
Keiwan RatliffCB2004–2007, 2009–20102007–2008
Khalid KareemDL2020–20222022
Mike PollakG2013–20142008–2011
Paul JustinQB19981995–1997
Skip McClendonDL1987–19911992–1993
Clif GroceRB1998–20001995–1998
Corey LynchSS20082013
Jamaal AndersonDE20122011
Mike DossSS20082003–2006
Sean DavisDB20212021
Thomas RandolphDB19981999
Tony BrownDB20202022–2023
Alan GrantDB19931990–1991
Cam Taylor-BrittDB2022–20252026
Cliff CrosbyCB19992000–2003
Dan HerronRB20122013–2015
Malik JeffersonLB20182021
Ryan HewittTE2014–20172018
Zack MossRB20242022–2023
Ben UtechtTE20082005–2007
Matt LengelTE2016, 20182019
De De DorseyRB2007–20082006
Garry HoweDL19931994
Jack LinnOL19931991
James WrightWR2014, 20162018
Marvell TellDB20232019–2020
Morgan TrentCB2009–20112011
Quan CosbyWR2009–20102011
Rico ClarkDB19991997–1998
Clifton DawsonRB20072007–2008
Keyon WhitesideMLB20032003–2004
Lee DavisDB19851987
Reggie ThorntonWR19931991
Ric MathiasDB1998–19991998
Winston RoseDB20202016

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.Colts seasons include the Baltimore Colts (1960–83).

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More “played for both” lists

Cincinnati Bengals and…

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

Indianapolis Colts and…

Lions 117Commanders 104Browns 102Dolphins 100Jets 97Titans 95Raiders 94Seahawks 94Patriots 93Saints 92

All team pairs

Questions

How many players have played for both the Cincinnati Bengals and the Indianapolis Colts?

60 in the nflverse roster files from 1960 to 2026, including Joe Flacco, Josh Johnson, Lyle Blackwood and Ashley Ambrose. 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?

John Shinners: Indianapolis Colts first, then the Cincinnati Bengals from 1973.

Who has played for both recently?

Joe Flacco, Josh Johnson, Mike Hilton, Akeem Davis-Gaither, Brett Rypien and Germaine Pratt and 2 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. Colts seasons include the Baltimore Colts (1960–83).

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