Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions players: who played for both

Who played for both the Cowboys and Lions?

69 players were on both the Dallas Cowboys and the Detroit Lions rosters between 1960 and 2026, including Eddie Murray, Jon Kitna, Rodney Peete and Jake McQuaide. 36 of them were with the Cowboys first and 26 with the Lions first; 7 joined both in the same season.

Did you know?

  • Bob Grottkau is the earliest on this list to complete the pair: Lions first, then the Cowboys from 1961.
  • Payton Turner is the most recent: Cowboys first, then the Lions from 2026.
  • Eddie Murray spent the most seasons across the two: 2 with the Cowboys and 12 with the Lions.
  • 7 of them had two or more separate spells with one of the teams, such as Eddie Murray.
  • Most common positions on this list: DL (10), DB (9), OL (7), QB (5).

How many can you name?

Name players who were on both the Cowboys and the Lions. The surname is enough. 0 / 69

All 69 players, most seasons first

Seasons on each roster (1960–2026). A gap of a season or more starts a new spell.
PlayerPosCowboysLions
Eddie MurraySPEC1993, 19991980–1991
Jon KitnaQB2009–2011, 20132006–2008
Rodney PeeteQB19941989–1993
Jake McQuaideLS2021–20222023
Matt CasselQB20152018
Brock MarionFS1993–19972004
Everson GriffenDE20202020
Leonard DavisG2007–20102011
Garry CobbLB1988–19891979–1984
John JettP1993–19961997–2003
Justin DurantOLB2013–2014, 2016–20172011–2012
Robert BaileyDB19951997–1999, 2001
Ryan McNeilCB20001993–1996
Broderick ThomasLB1996–19981994
Dan CampbellTE2003–20052006–2008
Kyle KosierG2006–20112005
Alonzo SpellmanDL1999–20002001
Anthony HenryCB2005–20082009
Daryl WorleyDB20202021
Kerry HyderDL20192015–2018
Aveion CasonRB20032001–2002, 2006–2008
Caraun ReidDL20182014–2015, 2017
Ernie SimsOLB2012–20132006–2009
Jayron KearseDB2021–20232020
Roy WilliamsWR2008–20102004–2008
Stephen PetermanG20052006–2012
Amos MarshRB1961–19641965–1967
Angelo KingLB1981–19831984–1987
Burton LawlessOL1975–19791980
Corey BallentineDB20252021
Datone JonesDE2017–20182017
John GonzagaOL19601961–1965
Micheal SpurlockWR20132013
Aaron GibsonT2001–20021999–2001
Amani OruwariyeDB20242019–2022
Bobby CarpenterILB2006–20092010–2011
Bryant WestbrookCB20021997–2001
Caleb BenenochOL20192019
Derek TennellTE19921991
Eric FramptonSS20122007
Josh ThomasCB2015–20162014
Kellen MooreQB2015–20172012–2014
Kevin BrooksDL1985–19881989–1990
Kevin OgletreeWR2009–20122013–2014
Marcus MartinOL20182020
Payton TurnerDL20252026
Rod HillDB1982–19831986
Christian RingoDL20182017
Damone ClarkLB2022–20252026
James HoustonDL2025–20262022–2024
Landon CohenDT20132008–2009
Parker EhingerOL20182021
Quinton BohannaDL2021–20222023
Reginald SwintonWR2001–20032003–2004
Rolan MilliganDB20162017
Marvin WhiteFS20092009
Tyrus WheatDL2023–2024, 20262025
Akwasi Owusu-AnsahSS2010–20112013
Andy JonesWR20162017–2018
Curvin RichardsRB1991–19921993
Drew HensonQB2004–20052008
Emmett ClearyOL20162017
Mitch HoopesP19751977
Paul PalmerRB19891989
Saivion SmithDB20202021–2022
Bob GrottkauOL19611960
Chris GreenwoodDB20132013
Rodney CoeDL20162017
Shaun ChapasRB20112012

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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More “played for both” lists

Dallas Cowboys and…

Browns 107Dolphins 93Saints 93Bears 89Cardinals 8649ers 83Commanders 81Raiders 79Titans 78Colts 77

Detroit Lions and…

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

All team pairs

Questions

How many players have played for both the Dallas Cowboys and the Detroit Lions?

69 in the nflverse roster files from 1960 to 2026, including Eddie Murray, Jon Kitna, Rodney Peete and Jake McQuaide. 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?

Bob Grottkau: Detroit Lions first, then the Dallas Cowboys from 1961.

Who has played for both recently?

Corey Ballentine, Payton Turner, Damone Clark, James Houston and Tyrus Wheat, 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