Cleveland Browns and Detroit Lions players: who played for both

Who played for both the Browns and Lions?

111 players were on both the Cleveland Browns and the Detroit Lions rosters between 1960 and 2026, including Josh Johnson, Josh McCown, Lomas Brown and Mike Tomczak. 54 of them were with the Browns first and 46 with the Lions first; 11 joined both in the same season.

Did you know?

  • Bill Glass is the earliest on this list to complete the pair: Lions first, then the Browns from 1962.
  • Michael Burton is the most recent: Lions first, then the Browns from 2026.
  • Lomas Brown spent the most seasons across the two: 1 with the Browns and 11 with the Lions.
  • 11 of them had two or more separate spells with one of the teams, such as Al Baker.
  • Most common positions on this list: DL (14), OL (12), QB (11), LB (10).

How many can you name?

Name players who were on both the Browns and the Lions. The surname is enough. 0 / 111

All 111 players, most seasons first

Seasons on each roster (1960–2026). A gap of a season or more starts a new spell.
PlayerPosBrownsLions
Josh JohnsonQB20122019
Josh McCownQB2015–20162006
Lomas BrownT19991985–1995
Mike TomczakQB19922000
Kevin ZeitlerOL2017–20182024
Ty DetmerQB1999–20002001–2003
Al BakerDL1987, 1989–19901978–1982
Drew StantonQB2018–20192008–2011
Jerry BallDL1993, 19991987–1992
Pepper JohnsonLB1993–19951996
Chris HubbardOL2018–20222025
Cornelius LucasOL20252014–2016
Michael BurtonRB20262015–2016
Mike LucciLB1962–19641965–1973
Shaun RogersDT2008–20102001–2007
Terry TaylorDB1992–19931989–1991
Za'Darius SmithLB2023–20242024
Chris SpielmanLB19991988–1995
Dave LloydLB1960–19611962
Duron HarmonDB20232020
Floyd PetersDL1960–19621963
Gary DanielsonQB1985, 1987–19881976–1978, 1980–1984
Jeff GarciaQB20042005
Ryan McNeilCB19991993–1996
Ben DavisDB1967–19731974–1976
C.J. MosleyDT20092013–2014
Dennis NorthcuttWR2000–20062009
Earl HolmesMLB20022003–2005
James JonesDL1991–19941999–2000
Jamie CollinsLB2016–20182020–2021
Jeff DriskelQB20232019
Jim NinowskiQB1962–19661960–1961
Joshua DobbsQB20222022, 2026
Mike JohnsonLB1986–19931994–1995
Milt PlumQB1960–19611962–1967
Quinton JeffersonDL20242025
Anthony HenryCB2001–20042009
Barry StokesT2002–20032006–2007
Bill GlassDL1962–19681960–1961
Cedric PeermanRB20092009
Corey WilliamsDT2008–20092010–2012
Evan BrownOL20202020–2022
Johnson BademosiDB2012–20152016
Ken EllisDB19771979
KhaDarel HodgeWR2019–20202021
Mike FordDB2023–20242018–2020
Reuben DroughnsRB2005–20062000–2001
Roger ShoalsOL1963–19641965–1970
Bob WhitlowOL19681961–1965
Danny SheltonDL2015–20172020
Darius HollandDT1999–20001998
Darren FellsTE20182017, 2021
Jesse JamesTE20222019–2020
Jim PyneOL1999–20001998
John OwensTE20052002–2004, 2007–2008
Nick PietrosanteRB1966–19671960–1965
Ross VerbaT2001–2002, 20042006
Tommy VardellRB1992–19951997–1998
Daniel ThomasDB20262025
Eric WrightCB2007–20102011
Ernie PriceDL19791973–1978
Jovan HayeDT20062011
Kevin JohnsonWR1999–20032005
Leigh BoddenCB2003–20072008
Leonard BurtonOL19911992, 1994
Mike FurreyWR20092006–2008
Reggie RaglandLB20222020
Tom WatkinsRB19611962–1965, 1967
Wali RainerMLB1999–20012003–2005
Anthony MadisonCB20092011
Austin SeibertK2019–20202021–2022
Brandon McDonaldCB2007–20092010–2011
Derek TennellTE1987–19891991
Elijah LeeLB2020–20212020
Greg RobinsonOL2018–20192017
Marcus MartinOL20172020
Marvin HallWR20202019–2020
Michael GainesTE20092008
Riley PattersonK2023–20242021, 2023
Anthony ZettelDL20182016–2017
Corey LemonierOLB20162016
Damion CookG20042008
Drew ForbesOL2019–20232022
Eddie PaytonRB19771977
Eric KingCB20102010
James HoustonDL20242022–2024
James-Michael JohnsonOLB20122015
Jamie MederDL2014–20172019
Orson CharlesTE20182016
Terry GreerWR19861990
Armonty BryantDE2013–20162016
Ben StilleDL20222026
Brian RobiskieWR2009–20112012
Donovan Peoples-JonesWR2020–20232023
Gabe WrightDT20162015
Hopalong CassadyRB19621960–1961, 1963
Ishmaa'ily KitchenNT2012–20142015
Ken WebbRB19631960–1962
Mike BundraDL19641962–1963
Orien HarrisDT20062009
Thomas McLemoreTE1993–19941992
Gabe IkardC2015–20162015
Jody LittletonMLB20052003–2005
Kelly ButlerT20062004–2005
Ramzee RobinsonCB20092007–2008
Randy RichDB1978–19791977
Isaiah ThomasDL20222024
Prince MillerDB20122010
DeAngelo SmithFS20092009
John MohringLB19801980
Kingsley EguakunOL20252025

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

Cleveland Browns and…

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

Detroit Lions and…

Colts 117Cardinals 116Saints 111Falcons 110Dolphins 109Rams 108Seahawks 107Commanders 10649ers 105Buccaneers 104

All team pairs

Questions

How many players have played for both the Cleveland Browns and the Detroit Lions?

111 in the nflverse roster files from 1960 to 2026, including Josh Johnson, Josh McCown, Lomas Brown and Mike Tomczak. 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?

Bill Glass: Detroit Lions first, then the Cleveland Browns from 1962.

Who has played for both recently?

Chris Hubbard, Cornelius Lucas, Michael Burton, Joshua Dobbs, Quinton Jefferson and Daniel Thomas 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. 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