Detroit Lions and Philadelphia Eagles players: who played for both

Who played for both the Lions and Eagles?

95 players were on both the Detroit Lions and the Philadelphia Eagles rosters between 1960 and 2026, including Eddie Murray, Josh McCown, David Akers and Rodney Peete. 38 of them were with the Lions first and 54 with the Eagles first; 3 joined both in the same season.

Did you know?

  • Hopalong Cassady is the earliest on this list to complete the pair: Lions first, then the Eagles from 1962.
  • Joe Bachie is the most recent: Eagles first, then the Lions from 2026.
  • David Akers spent the most seasons across the two: 1 with the Lions and 12 with the Eagles.
  • 6 of them had two or more separate spells with one of the teams, such as Dennis McKnight.
  • Most common positions on this list: DL (15), DB (11), RB (11), LB (11).

How many can you name?

Name players who were on both the Lions and the Eagles. The surname is enough. 0 / 95

All 95 players, most seasons first

Seasons on each roster (1960–2026). A gap of a season or more starts a new spell.
PlayerPosLionsEagles
Eddie MurraySPEC1980–19911994
Josh McCownQB20062019
David AkersK20131999–2010
Rodney PeeteQB1989–19931995–1998
Mark RoyalsP1995–19961987
Chase DanielQB20202016
Ty DetmerQB2001–20031996–1997
Darius SlayDB2013–20192020–2024
Haloti NgataDT2015–20172018
Jimmie GilesTE1986–19871987–1989
Ndamukong SuhDL2010–20142022
Otis SmithCB20031991–1994
Darryl TappDE2014–20152010–2012
Joe RobbDL1968–19711960
Mel GrayRB1989–19941997
Za'Darius SmithLB20242025
Dave LloydLB19621963–1970
Floyd PetersDL19631964–1969
Garry CobbLB1979–19841985–1987
Golden TateWR2014–20182018
Jalen MillsDB2025–20262016–2020
Jeff GarciaQB20052006
Scott KowalkowskiLB1994–20011991–1993
Stephen TullochMLB2011–20152016
Akeem SpenceDL20172019
Amp LeeRB20012000
Barrett BrooksT1999–20001995–1998
Dennis McKnightOL1990, 19921991
Jack ConcannonQB19751964–1966
Jimmie JohnsonTE1992–19931995–1998
Nickell RobeyDB20212020
William FrizzellDB1984–19851986–1990, 1992–1993
William JamesCB20092006–2007
Avonte MaddoxDB2025–20262018–2024
John BakerDL19681962
Larry WatkinsRB19691970–1972
LeGarrette BlountRB20182017
Terry TautoloLB1981–1982, 19841976–1979
Wilbert MontgomeryRB19851977–1984
Zach CunninghamLB20252023
C.J. Gardner-JohnsonDB20232022, 2024
Charles HarrisDL2021–20232024
Clay HarborTE20162010–2012
Dave LittleTE19911985–1989
Devin WhiteLB20262024
Donnie GreenOL19781977
Ernie SimsOLB2006–20092010
Halapoulivaati VaitaiOL2020–20232016–2019
Jim PyneOL19982001
Nate SudfeldQB2022–20232017–2020
Nate WayneOLB20052003–2004
Thomas StrauthersDL19881983–1986
Byron DarbyDL19891983–1986
D'Andre SwiftRB2020–20222023
Joe BachieLB20262020
Joique BellRB2011–20162010
Ollie MatsonRB19631964–1966
Paul WorrilowLB20172018
Steve KenneyOL19861980–1985
Adrian YoungLB19721968–1972
Al ClarkDB19711976
Andre ChachereDB20182021–2022
Bill CodyLB19661972
Bill QuinlanDL19641963
Bruce HectorDL20212018–2019
Cre'von LeBlancDB20182018–2020
J.D. SmithOL1964, 19661960–1963
Kayode AwosikaOL2022–20252021
Mike ChalenskiDL19981993–1995
Tom SkladanyP1978–19821983
Al LatimerDB1982–19841979
Albert HugginsDL20202019
Chuck HughesWR1970–19711967–1969
Dexter WynnCB20082004–2006
Jim ThrowerDB1973–19741970–1972
Lamar GordonRB20062005
Mike McMahonQB2001–20042005
Vyto KabTE19871982–1985
Bill LarsonTE19771978
Bob PicardWR19761973–1976
Denis MooreDL1967–19691970
Dennis FranksOL19791976–1978
Hopalong CassadyRB1960–1961, 19631962
Luther BlueWR1977–19791980
Melvin HooverWR19871982–1984
Ross PierschbacherOL20222020
Ed SmithTE19991999
Herman HunterRB19861985
Jerry MazzantiDL19661963
Leo SugarDL19621961
Ramzee RobinsonCB2007–20082009
Rick DuncanP19691968
Travis FulghamWR20192020
Jerome CouplinSS20142014–2015
Titus DixonWR19891992

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.

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 gameEagles player game

More “played for both” lists

Detroit Lions and…

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

Philadelphia Eagles and…

Commanders 121Rams 10949ers 109Jets 104Giants 101Packers 100Cardinals 99Browns 99Patriots 98Saints 98

All team pairs

Questions

How many players have played for both the Detroit Lions and the Philadelphia Eagles?

95 in the nflverse roster files from 1960 to 2026, including Eddie Murray, Josh McCown, David Akers and Rodney Peete. 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?

Hopalong Cassady: Detroit Lions first, then the Philadelphia Eagles from 1962.

Who has played for both recently?

Za'Darius Smith, Jalen Mills, Avonte Maddox, Zach Cunningham, Devin White and Joe Bachie and 1 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