Detroit Lions and New York Jets players: who played for both

Who played for both the Lions and Jets?

78 players were on both the Detroit Lions and the New York Jets rosters between 1960 and 2026, including Josh Johnson, Josh McCown, John Kidd and Nick Bellore. 34 of them were with the Lions first and 39 with the Jets first; 5 joined both in the same season.

Did you know?

  • Joe Schmiesing is the earliest on this list to complete the pair: Lions first, then the Jets from 1974.
  • Tyler Conklin is the most recent: Jets first, then the Lions from 2026.
  • Marc Spindler spent the most seasons across the two: 7 with the Lions and 2 with the Jets.
  • 6 of them had two or more separate spells with one of the teams, such as Jerry Holmes.
  • Most common positions on this list: DB (13), LB (9), WR (8), QB (7).

How many can you name?

Name players who were on both the Lions and the Jets. The surname is enough. 0 / 78

All 78 players, most seasons first

Seasons on each roster (1960–2026). A gap of a season or more starts a new spell.
PlayerPosLionsJets
Josh JohnsonQB20192021
Josh McCownQB20062017–2018
John KiddSPEC19981998
Nick BelloreLB2017–20182011–2014
Frank ReichQB1997–19981996
Andre RobertsWR20162018
Otis SmithCB20031995–1999
Pepper JohnsonLB19961997–1998
Damien WoodyG2004–20072008–2010
Laken TomlinsonOL2015–20162022–2023
Rick MirerQB20041999
Trevor MatichOL19891990–1991
Bradford BantaTE2001–20032000
Jalen MillsDB2025–20262024
C.J. MosleyDT2013–20142006–2008
Chuck ClarkDB20262023–2024
Jamal AdamsDB20242017–2019
Jerry HolmesDB1988–19891980–1983, 1986–1987
Jon McGrawFS2005–20062002–2004
Julian StanfordLB2013–20142016–2017
Kalif RaymondWR2021–20252017
Oday AboushiOL2019–20202013–2014
Quinton JeffersonDL20252023
Arthur MauletDB20252019–2020
D.J. ReedDB2025–20262022–2024
Damon HarrisonDL2018–20192012–2015
James IhedigboSS2014–20152008–2010
Josh ReynoldsWR2021–20232025
Kwon AlexanderLB20242022
Marc SpindlerDL1990–1994, 1997–19981995–1996
Patrick RamseyQB20092006
Tim PatrickWR20242026
Tony PaigeRB1987–19891984–1986
Tyler ConklinTE20262022–2024
Anthony FirkserTE2023, 20252024
Brandon CopelandLB2015–20172018–2019
Corwin BrownDB1999–20001997–1998
Erik ColemanSS20112004–2007
Jermaine KearseWR20192017–2018
Michael BrimDB19891991–1992
Ty JohnsonRB2019–20202020–2022
Ben GrahamP20112005–2008
Corey BallentineDB20212020–2021
David LoverneG2004–20051999–2001
Donnie ElderDB19861985
Jarrad DavisLB2017–2020, 20222021
Joe SchmiesingDL19721974
Matthew MulliganTE20162009–2011
Maurice TylerDB19761977
Mike HaightOL19921986–1991
Paul WorrilowLB20172019
Tim BoyleQB20212023
Austin SeibertK2021–20222023
Bruce HectorDL20212023–2024
Darrin WallsCB20162012–2015
Darryl RobertsDB20202016–2019
Josh ThomasCB20142014
Larry WoodsDL1971–19721974–1975
Mike ChalenskiDL19981996
Mike HenniganLB1973–19751976–1978
Nick BawdenRB2018–20202021–2023
Riley PattersonK2021, 20232024
Ross TravisTE20212019–2020
Troy JohnsonLB19921990–1991, 1994
Corey LemonierOLB20162016–2017
Curt SingerOL19881989
Gerald AlexanderSS2007–20082011
Jeremy RossWR2013–20142016
Kenny YeboahTE20252021–2024
Bam KnightRB20232022
Ross PierschbacherOL20222021
Aaron BerryCB2010–20112012
Hendon HookerQB2023–20242025
Isaiah WilliamsWR20242025–2026
Leo KoloamatangiOL20182019–2020
Leonard MyersCB20032003
Carl CapriaDB19741975
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.Jets seasons include the New York Titans (1960–62).

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More “played for both” lists

Detroit Lions and…

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

New York Jets and…

Dolphins 123Patriots 120Browns 107Bills 105Eagles 104Chiefs 102Colts 97Commanders 96Giants 94Titans 94

All team pairs

Questions

How many players have played for both the Detroit Lions and the New York Jets?

78 in the nflverse roster files from 1960 to 2026, including Josh Johnson, Josh McCown, John Kidd and Nick Bellore. 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?

Joe Schmiesing: Detroit Lions first, then the New York Jets from 1974.

Who has played for both recently?

Jalen Mills, Chuck Clark, Kalif Raymond, Quinton Jefferson, Arthur Maulet and D.J. Reed and 7 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. Jets seasons include the New York Titans (1960–62).

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