Detroit Lions and New England Patriots players: who played for both

Who played for both the Lions and Patriots?

90 players were on both the Detroit Lions and the New England Patriots rosters between 1960 and 2026, including Jon Morris, Henry Thomas, Matt Cassel and Danny Amendola. 36 of them were with the Lions first and 46 with the Patriots first; 8 joined both in the same season.

Did you know?

  • Pat Studstill is the earliest on this list to complete the pair: Lions first, then the Patriots from 1972.
  • Kindle Vildor is the most recent: Lions first, then the Patriots from 2026.
  • Jon Morris spent the most seasons across the two: 3 with the Lions and 11 with the Patriots.
  • 8 of them had two or more separate spells with one of the teams, such as Kyle Van Noy.
  • Most common positions on this list: DB (17), OL (14), WR (12), LB (12).

How many can you name?

Name players who were on both the Lions and the Patriots. The surname is enough. 0 / 90

All 90 players, most seasons first

Seasons on each roster (1960–2026). A gap of a season or more starts a new spell.
PlayerPosLionsPatriots
Jon MorrisOL1975–19771964–1974
Henry ThomasDL1995–19961997–2000
Matt CasselQB20182005–2008
Danny AmendolaWR2019–20202013–2017
Kyle Van NoyLB2014–20162016–2019, 2021
Otis SmithCB20031996, 2000–2002
Shawn JeffersonWR20031996–1999
Damien WoodyG2004–20071999–2003
Mike ComptonG1993–20002001–2003
Riley ReiffOL2012–20162023
Trevor MatichOL19891985–1988
Duron HarmonDB20202013–2019
Jalen MillsDB2025–20262021–2023
Pat StudstillWR1961–1962, 1964–19671972
Zefross MossOL1995–19961997–1999
Akeem SpenceDL20172020
Jamie CollinsLB2020–20212013–2016, 2019, 2021–2022
Jon BosticLB20162015
Joshua DobbsQB2022, 20262025
Mike MontlerOL19781969–1972
Mohamed SanuWR20202019
Ricky Jean FrancoisDE20182017
Tavon WilsonDB2016–20192012–2015
Bill SchroederWR2002–20031995
Carlton Davis IIIDB20242025–2026
David RichardsOL19931996
Derrick RamseyTE19871983–1985
James IhedigboSS2014–20152011
Johnson BademosiDB20162017
LeGarrette BlountRB20182013–2016
Marlin BriscoeWR19751976
Ray JarvisWR1974–19781979
Trey FlowersDL2019–20212015–2018, 2023
Bear PascoeTE20152016
Bert EmanuelWR20012001
Brandon CopelandLB2015–20172020
Chris BoardLB20222023
Clay HarborTE20162016
Corwin BrownDB1999–20001993–1996
Danny SheltonDL20202018–2019
Jahlani TavaiLB2019–20202021–2025
Justin ColemanDB2019–20202015–2016
Lamont WarrenRB2001–20021999
Larry TharpeOL1992–1994, 1997–19981996
Mike JacksonDB20192020
Walter StanleyWR19891992
Willie ClayDB1992–19951996–1998
Chidi IwuomaCB20012006
Corey BallentineDB20212025
Kindle VildorDB2023–20242026
LaAdrian WaddleOL2013–20152015–2018
Leigh BoddenCB20082009
Matthew MulliganTE20162013
Prentice McCrayDB19801974–1980
Russell BodineOL20202019
Bo RobinsonRB1979–19801984
Caleb BenenochOL20192019–2020
Donald ThomasG20102011–2012
Harry ColonDB1992–1994, 19971991
Justin HerronOL20252020–2022
Marcus MartinOL20202020
Mike HaggertyOL19731971
Stephen StarringWR19881983–1987
Devine OzigboRB20232021
Josh TavesDE19951997
Landon CohenDT2008–20092010
Monty RiceLB20252024
Steve DoigLB1982–19841986–1987
Aaron DobsonWR20162013–2016
Darius KilgoDL20192016
Dee VirginDB2018–20202020
Ishmaa'ily KitchenNT20152015
Marquis FlowersLB20182017
Mike FarrWR1990–19921993
Paul GipsonRB19711973
Ricky SmithDB19871982–1984
Timothy WrightTE2015–20162014
Willie GermanyDB19731976
Chris GambolOL19891990
Don OvertonRB1991–19921990
Eric LeeDL20182017
Khyri ThorntonDL2015–20172015
Leonard MyersCB20032001–2002
Michael MatthewsTE20092009
Nicholas GrigsbyLB20182017–2018
Rashod BerryLB20212020
Trevor BatesLB20182017
Junior RobinsonDB19921990
Malik CunninghamQB20252023
Scott LockwoodRB19921992–1993

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.Patriots seasons include the Boston Patriots (1960–70).

What next? Play today's NFL Grid

Fill a 3×3 board of team pairs like this one, with nine guesses and a rarity score. New board every day.

Play the NFL GridCareer path gameLions player gamePatriots player game

More “played for both” lists

Detroit Lions and…

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

New England Patriots and…

Dolphins 133Jets 120Browns 116Raiders 109Giants 105Broncos 103Bills 102Eagles 98Colts 93Titans 90

All team pairs

Questions

How many players have played for both the Detroit Lions and the New England Patriots?

90 in the nflverse roster files from 1960 to 2026, including Jon Morris, Henry Thomas, Matt Cassel and Danny Amendola. 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?

Pat Studstill: Detroit Lions first, then the New England Patriots from 1972.

Who has played for both recently?

Jalen Mills, Joshua Dobbs, Carlton Davis III, Jahlani Tavai, Corey Ballentine and Kindle Vildor 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. Patriots seasons include the Boston Patriots (1960–70).

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