Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings players: who played for both

Who played for both the Lions and Vikings?

97 players were on both the Detroit Lions and the Minnesota Vikings rosters between 1960 and 2026, including Eddie Murray, Grady Alderman, Gus Frerotte and Jake McQuaide. 44 of them were with the Lions first and 48 with the Vikings first; 5 joined both in the same season.

Did you know?

  • Dave Middleton is the earliest on this list to complete the pair: Lions first, then the Vikings from 1961.
  • Tyler Conklin is the most recent: Vikings first, then the Lions from 2026.
  • Grady Alderman spent the most seasons across the two: 1 with the Lions and 14 with the Vikings.
  • 10 of them had two or more separate spells with one of the teams, such as Gus Frerotte.
  • Most common positions on this list: DB (14), QB (11), LB (10), DL (10).

How many can you name?

Name players who were on both the Lions and the Vikings. The surname is enough. 0 / 97

All 97 players, most seasons first

Seasons on each roster (1960–2026). A gap of a season or more starts a new spell.
PlayerPosLionsVikings
Eddie MurraySPEC1980–19911997
Grady AldermanOL19601961–1974
Gus FrerotteQB19992003–2004, 2008
Jake McQuaideLS20232024
Shaun HillQB2010–20132002–2005, 2015–2016
Wally HilgenbergLB1964–19661968–1979
Adrian PetersonRB20202007–2013, 2015–2016
Henry ThomasDL1995–19961987–1994
Matt CasselQB20182013–2014
Al BakerDL1978–19821988
Jerry BallDL1987–19921997–1999
Kyle Van NoyLB2014–20162026
Ameer AbdullahRB2015–20182018–2021
Charlie WestDB1974–19771968–1973
Everson GriffenDE20202010–2019, 2021
Jimmy WilliamsLB1982–19901990–1991
Mark RodenhauserOL1993–19941989
Riley ReiffOL2012–20162017–2020
Teddy BridgewaterQB2023–20242014–2017
Za'Darius SmithLB20242022
Anthony CarterWR1994–19951985–1993
Bill GayDL1978–19871988
Daunte CulpepperQB2008–20091999–2005
Nate BurlesonWR2010–20132003–2005
Tramaine BrockCB20202017
Amp LeeRB20011994–1996
Broderick ThomasLB19941995
C.J. MosleyDT2013–20142005
Colin ColeDT20032003
Jamal AdamsDB20242026
Joshua DobbsQB2022, 20262023
Keith WashingtonDE19961995
Ken SandersDL1972–19791980–1981
Al RandolphDB19721973
Jerome FeltonFB2008–20102012–2014
John HiltonTE1972–19731971
Marcus DavenportDL2024–20252023
Mike HughesDB20222018–2020
Nate AllenDB19791976–1979
Patrick RamseyQB20092010
Rich KarlisSPEC19901989
Storm NortonOL20172018
Travis TaylorWR20082005–2006
Tyler ConklinTE20262018–2021
Darius HollandDT19982002
Dwight SmithFS20082006–2007
J.T. O'SullivanQB20072005
Jayron KearseDB20202016–2019
Jessie ClarkRB19881989–1990
John HendersonWR1965–19671968–1972
Michael BrimDB19891989–1990
T.J. HockensonTE2019–20222022–2026
Thomas StrauthersDL19881989–1991
Tom HallWR1962–19631964–1966, 1968–1969
Troy WaltersWR20072000–2001
Vinny CiurciuMLB2009–20102007–2008
Wayne SmithDB1980–19821987
Benny RicardoK1976, 1978–19791983
Brandon PowellWR20182023–2024
Chris ClaiborneOLB1999–20022003–2004
D.J. WonnumLB20262020–2023
Frank GallagherOL1967–19721973
Geoff SchwartzT20162012
George JohnsonDE2014, 20172012
Walt WilliamsDB1977–19801981–1982
Bill SwainLB1968–19691964
Corey WoottonDE20162014
Derek TennellTE19911992–1993
Derrel LuceLB19801979–1980
Eric FramptonSS20072007–2011
Jeff OkudahDB2020–20222025
Leo AraguzSPEC20012003
Sean VanhorseDB1991, 19951996
Brandon ZylstraWR20222018
D.J. DozierRB19911987–1990
Eddie PaytonRB19771980–1982
Gino TorrettaQB1994–19951993
Hugh McElhennyRB19641961–1962
Jeff LockeP20172013–2016
Jonah WilliamsDL20242024
Larry VargoDB1962–19631964–1965
Matt NelsonOL2020–20232025
Tyrell JohnsonSS20122008–2011
Artose PinnerRB2003–20052006
Chris JonesDB20202020
Dan WagonerDB1982–19841984
Kyle SloterQB20192017–2018, 2021
Mel MitchellOL19771980
Mike BundraDL1962–19631964
Zac KerinOL20172015–2016
Marcus McCauleyCB20092007–2008
Abraham BeauplanLB20242023
Ben HanksLB19971996
Bill CapplemanQB19731970
Dave MiddletonDL19601961
Dovonte EdwardsCB20072005
Greg BlueSS20072006

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

Detroit Lions and…

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

Minnesota Vikings and…

Giants 104Cardinals 100Browns 93Falcons 91Saints 87Eagles 87Commanders 87Bears 86Jets 84Rams 83

All team pairs

Questions

How many players have played for both the Detroit Lions and the Minnesota Vikings?

97 in the nflverse roster files from 1960 to 2026, including Eddie Murray, Grady Alderman, Gus Frerotte 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?

Dave Middleton: Detroit Lions first, then the Minnesota Vikings from 1961.

Who has played for both recently?

Kyle Van Noy, Jamal Adams, Joshua Dobbs, Marcus Davenport, Tyler Conklin and T.J. Hockenson and 3 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. 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