Detroit Lions and Indianapolis Colts players: who played for both

Who played for both the Lions and Colts?

117 players were on both the Detroit Lions and the Indianapolis Colts rosters between 1960 and 2026, including Joe Ferguson, Josh Johnson, Earl Morrall and Dwight Freeney. 50 of them were with the Lions first and 60 with the Colts first; 7 joined both in the same season.

Did you know?

  • Jim Martin is the earliest on this list to complete the pair: Lions first, then the Colts from 1963.
  • Joe Bachie is the most recent: Colts first, then the Lions from 2026.
  • Greg Landry spent the most seasons across the two: 11 with the Lions and 3 with the Colts.
  • 4 of them had two or more separate spells with one of the teams, such as Dan Orlovsky.
  • Most common positions on this list: LB (18), DB (14), QB (12), RB (12).

How many can you name?

Name players who were on both the Lions and the Colts. The surname is enough. 0 / 117

All 117 players, most seasons first

Seasons on each roster (1960–2026). A gap of a season or more starts a new spell.
PlayerPosLionsColts
Joe FergusonQB1985–19871990
Josh JohnsonQB20192015
Earl MorrallQB1960–19641968–1971
Dwight FreeneyDE20172002–2012
Greg LandryQB1968–19781979–1981
Cory ReddingDE2003–20082012–2014
Marcus PollardTE2005–20061995–2004
Drew StantonQB2008–20112012
Ameer AbdullahRB2015–20182025
Bob GaglianoQB1989–19901988
Dan OrlovskyQB2005–2008, 2014–20162011
Trevor MatichOL19891992–1993
Bradford BantaTE2001–20031994–1999
Gail CogdillWR1960–19681968
Paul ButcherLB1986–19881993–1994
Stan WhiteLB1980–19821972–1979
Zefross MossOL1995–19961989–1994
Dave AhrensLB19881985–1987
Don MajkowskiQB1995–19961993–1994
Freddie ScottWR1978–19831974–1977
Herb OrvisDL1972–19771978–1981
Joe EhrmannDL1981–19821973–1980
Jon BosticLB20162017
Ray OldhamDB1980–19821973–1978
Ricky Jean FrancoisDE20182013–2014
Tavon WilsonDB2016–20192020
Al-Quadin MuhammadDL2024–20252018–2021
Arthur MauletDB20252018
Bubba ParisOL19911991
Don MorrisonOL19791978
Doug WidellOL1994–19951996–1997
Gosder CherilusT2008–20122013–2014
Jerome FeltonFB2008–20102011
Jim WelchDB19681960–1967
Justin ForsettRB20162008
Pete MitchellTE20012003
Bill SaulLB19701962–1963
Caraun ReidDL2014–2015, 20172017
Dylan GandyG2009–20132005–2007
Eric EbronTE2014–20172018–2019
Ernie SimsOLB2006–20092011
Jamon MeredithT20102014
Jonathan WilliamsRB20202018–2019
Karl BaldischwilerOL1978–19821983, 1985–1986
Kelvin SheppardMLB20182013
Lamont WarrenRB2001–20021994–1998
Mike BadgleyK2022–20242021, 2025
Mike WellsDL1994–19972001
Rashaan MelvinDB20192016–2017
Reese McCallTE1983–19851978–1982
Rock Ya-SinDB2025–20262019–2021
Tom NowatzkeRB1965–19691970–1972
Tre FlowersDB20252024
Troy WaltersWR20072002–2005
Brian StableinWR1998–20001994–1997
Byron DarbyDL19891987–1988
Corey HilliardT2009–20142007
Dennis GaubatzLB1963–19641965–1969
Joe BachieLB20262025
Joe SchmiesingDL19721973
Joique BellRB2011–20162010
Rick DeMullingG2005–20062001–2004
Rusty HilgerQB19881990–1991
Anthony MadisonCB20112009
Cassius VaughnCB20142012–2013
Darrell DanielsTE20232017
Derrel LuceLB19801975–1978
Donald ThomasG20102013
Grant StuardLB20252022–2024
Idrees BashirFS20072001–2004
Josh ThomasCB20142015
Ray McElroyDB20011995–1998
Robbie MartinWR1981–19841985–1986
Ross TravisTE20212017–2019
Shane BonhamDL1994–19971999
Steve Mike-MayerK19771979–1980
Vernon MaxwellLB1985–19871983–1984
Alvin MooreRB1985–19861983–1984
Dan DickelLB19781974–1977
Ed MooneyLB1968–19711973
Gilbert GardnerOLB20082004–2006
Gino TorrettaQB1994–19951997
Isaiah JohnsonDB20152019
Jerry GolsteynQB19791979
Joe Don LooneyRB1965–19661964
Lenny DunlapDB19751971
Reggie PinkneyDB1977–19781979–1981
Rolan MilliganDB20172018–2020
Tony UgohT20102007–2009
Autry DensonRB20022002
Charles BensonDL19871985
Cory SauterQB1999–20002002–2003
Dave SimmonsLB19801982
Dave SimonsonOL19771974
George WinnRB2014–20162017
Jacob LaceyCB20122009–2011
Jeff DelaneyDB19811982–1983
Jim MartinLB1960–19611963
Jim O'BrienWR19731970–1972
Monte LeeLB1963–19641965
Thomas McLemoreTE19921995
Tracy PorterWR1981–19821983–1984
Will HoldenOL20212020
Bobby FeltsRB1965–19671965
Chris GambolOL19891988
Jack LinnOL1992–19931991
Mike EcholsCB20042004
Rashod BerryLB20212022
Ricky PorterRB19821983
Trevor BatesLB20182016
Buster DavisMLB20072008
Eugene RileyTE19911990
John StandefordWR20082006
June JamesLB19851987
Lenzy PipkinsDB20182018
Tim KearseWR19861987
Titus DixonWR19891989

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

Detroit Lions and…

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

Indianapolis Colts and…

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

All team pairs

Questions

How many players have played for both the Detroit Lions and the Indianapolis Colts?

117 in the nflverse roster files from 1960 to 2026, including Joe Ferguson, Josh Johnson, Earl Morrall and Dwight Freeney. 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?

Jim Martin: Detroit Lions first, then the Indianapolis Colts from 1963.

Who has played for both recently?

Ameer Abdullah, Al-Quadin Muhammad, Arthur Maulet, Mike Badgley, Rock Ya-Sin and Tre Flowers 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