Detroit Lions and Pittsburgh Steelers players: who played for both

Who played for both the Lions and Steelers?

79 players were on both the Detroit Lions and the Pittsburgh Steelers rosters between 1960 and 2026, including Mike Tomczak, Mark Royals, Tyson Alualu and Charlie Batch. 31 of them were with the Lions first and 42 with the Steelers first; 6 joined both in the same season.

Did you know?

  • Harlon Hill is the earliest on this list to complete the pair: Lions first, then the Steelers from 1962.
  • Chuck Clark is the most recent: Steelers first, then the Lions from 2026.
  • Charlie Batch spent the most seasons across the two: 4 with the Lions and 9 with the Steelers.
  • 8 of them had two or more separate spells with one of the teams, such as Charlie Batch.
  • Most common positions on this list: DB (17), OL (9), DL (8), WR (8).

How many can you name?

Name players who were on both the Lions and the Steelers. The surname is enough. 0 / 79

All 79 players, most seasons first

Seasons on each roster (1960–2026). A gap of a season or more starts a new spell.
PlayerPosLionsSteelers
Mike TomczakQB20001993–1999
Mark RoyalsP1995–19961992–1994
Tyson AlualuDL20232017–2022
Charlie BatchQB1998–20012002–2003, 2005–2007, 2009–2012
Darius SlayDB2013–20192025
Larry FooteILB20092002–2008, 2010–2013
Travis KirschkeDE1997–20022004–2009
Chris HubbardOL20252014–2017
Chris OldhamDB19901995–1999
J.B. BrownDB1999–20001997
Mark RodenhauserOL1993–19941998
Tim McKyerDB19931994
Allen RobinsonWR20242023
Jeff HartingsC1996–20002001–2006
Kent GrahamQB19952000
Miles KillebrewDB2016–20202021–2025
Walter RasbyTE1998–20001994, 2004
Barrett BrooksT1999–20002003–2005
Chuck ClarkDB20262025
Earl HolmesMLB2003–20051996–2001
Fernando BryantCB2004–20072008
Jon BosticLB20162018
Joshua DobbsQB2022, 20262017–2021
Ray OldhamDB1980–19821978
Steve FurnessDL19811972–1980
Arthur MauletDB20252021–2022
Charlie BradshawOL1967–19681961–1966
Clint KriewaldtILB1999–20022003–2007
DeShon ElliottDB20222024–2026
Jamal AgnewWR2017–20202024
John BakerDL19681962–1967
John HiltonTE1972–19731965–1969
Jonathan ScottT2006–20072010–2011
Kwon AlexanderLB20242023
Kyle AllenQB20252024
Lance MooreWR20152014
LeGarrette BlountRB20182014
Bill SaulLB19701964, 1966–1968
Brenden StaiG20011995–1999
Cameron SuttonDB20232017–2022, 2024
Eric EbronTE2014–20172020–2021
Jamon MeredithT20102011
Jesse JamesTE2019–20202015–2018
Jimmy AllenDB1978–19811974–1977
Larry TharpeOL1992–1994, 1997–19982000
Tre FlowersDB20252025
Chidi IwuomaCB20012002–2006
Donnie ElderDB19861986
George IzoQB19651966
Rick StromQB19961989–1993
Tom WatkinsRB1962–1965, 19671968
Troy EdwardsWR20051999–2001
Anthony MadisonCB20112006–2011
Crezdon ButlerCB2015–20162010
Dan LaRoseOL1961–19631964
Dick ComptonWR1962–19641967–1968
Jon StaggersWR19751970–1971
Max MessnerLB1960–19631964–1965
Mike HaggertyOL19731967–1970
Ray SnellOL19851984–1985
Eric WilliamsDB19871983–1986
Isaiah BuggsDL2022–20232019–2021
John McMakinTE19751972–1974
Ryan McCollumOL20212023–2026
Sean McHughTE2005–20072008
Godwin IgwebuikeRB20212023
Jackie ClineDL19901987
Stefan LoganWR2010–20122009
Troy JohnsonWR19891988
Brian MihalikOL2016–20172016
Brodric MartinDL2023–20242025
Darryl FordLB1992–19931992
Harlon HillDL19621962
Jerry MazzantiDL19661967
Mike HinnantTE19921988–1989
Chris SheffieldDB19871986–1987
Eric WilkersonRB19901989
Jalen ElliottDB20212024
Nat TerryDB19781978

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

Pittsburgh Steelers and…

Colts 84Cardinals 78Giants 77Eagles 75Titans 73Commanders 73Jets 71Bears 67Browns 67Falcons 66

All team pairs

Questions

How many players have played for both the Detroit Lions and the Pittsburgh Steelers?

79 in the nflverse roster files from 1960 to 2026, including Mike Tomczak, Mark Royals, Tyson Alualu and Charlie Batch. 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?

Harlon Hill: Detroit Lions first, then the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1962.

Who has played for both recently?

Darius Slay, Chris Hubbard, Miles Killebrew, Chuck Clark, Joshua Dobbs and Arthur Maulet and 5 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