Detroit Lions and San Francisco 49ers players: who played for both

Who played for both the Lions and 49ers?

105 players were on both the Detroit Lions and the San Francisco 49ers rosters between 1960 and 2026, including Ray Brown, Josh Johnson, David Akers and Nick Bellore. 33 of them were with the Lions first and 68 with the 49ers first; 4 joined both in the same season.

Did you know?

  • Hugh McElhenny is the earliest on this list to complete the pair: 49ers first, then the Lions from 1964.
  • Tay Martin is the most recent: 49ers first, then the Lions from 2026.
  • Gene Washington spent the most seasons across the two: 1 with the Lions and 9 with the 49ers.
  • 10 of them had two or more separate spells with one of the teams, such as Josh Johnson.
  • Most common positions on this list: DB (19), WR (15), QB (11), DL (10).

How many can you name?

Name players who were on both the Lions and the 49ers. The surname is enough. 0 / 105

All 105 players, most seasons first

Seasons on each roster (1960–2026). A gap of a season or more starts a new spell.
PlayerPosLions49ers
Ray BrownG2002–20031996–2001
Josh JohnsonQB20192014, 2022
David AkersK20132011–2012
Nick BelloreLB2017–20182015–2016
Shaun HillQB2010–20132006–2009
Anquan BoldinWR20162013–2015
Ty DetmerQB2001–20031998
Eric DavisCB20021990–1995
Travis KirschkeDE1997–20022003
Bob GaglianoQB1989–19901986–1987
Johnnie MortonWR1994–20012005
Kassim OsgoodWR20122013–2014
Laken TomlinsonOL2015–20162017–2021
Leonard DavisG20112012
Rick MirerQB20042000–2001
Tim McKyerDB19931986–1989
Dave WashingtonLB1978–19791975–1977
Dre' BlyCB2003–20062009
Jeff GarciaQB20051999–2003
Julian PetersonOLB2009–20102000–2005
Moran NorrisFB20082006–2007, 2009–2011
R.W. McQuartersCB20051998–1999
Reggie BushRB2013–20142015
Tramaine BrockCB20202010–2016
Akeem SpenceDL20172022
Amp LeeRB20011992–1993
Brock GutierrezC20052003–2004
Gene WashingtonWR19791969–1977
Joshua DobbsQB2022, 20262024
Kyle KosierG20052002–2004
Mohamed SanuWR20202020–2021
Ricky Jean FrancoisDE20182009–2012
Tavon WilsonDB2016–20192021
William JamesCB20092010
Al RandolphDB19721966–1970, 1974
Bryant JohnsonWR2009–20102008
Bubba ParisOL19911983–1990
D.J. ReedDB2025–20262018–2019
Dave KopayRB19681964–1967
Kerry HyderDL2015–20182020, 2022–2023
KhaDarel HodgeWR20212026
Kwon AlexanderLB20242019–2020
Levine ToiloloTE20182019
Nate AllenDB19791975
Terry TautoloLB1981–1982, 19841980–1981
Dan BunzLB19851978–1984
Darnell WalkerDB20001997–1999
Ezekiel AnsahDL2013–20182020
J.T. O'SullivanQB20072008
Joe ReedQB1974–19791972–1974
Nate SudfeldQB2022–20232021
Paul SmithFB2003–20052000–2002
Rock Ya-SinDB2025–20262024
Ross DwelleyTE20252018–2023
Tommy VardellRB1997–19981996, 1999
Ben BartchOL20262023–2025
Chuck ThomasOL19921987–1992
Corey SmithDE2006–20082004–2005
Datone JonesDE20172017
Emmanuel MoseleyDB2023–20242018–2022
Eric WrightCB20112013
Micheal SpurlockWR20132009
Rocky RasleyOL1969–1970, 1972–19731976
Tracy Walker IIIDB2018–20232024
Bill CookeDL19781976–1977
Chuck SieminskiDL19681963–1965
Dan LaRoseOL1961–19631965
Elijah LeeLB20202017–2019
Marcus CromartieDB20182014–2016
Marcus MartinOL20202014–2016
Shane BonhamDL1994–19971998–1999
Steve Mike-MayerK19771975–1976
Tai StreetsWR20041999–2003
Willie McGeeWR19781976–1977
Al LatimerDB1982–19841980
Alex BarrettDL20172020, 2022–2024
Anthony ZettelDL2016–20172019
Asa JacksonCB20162017
Austin BryantLB2019–20222023
Bruce EllingtonWR20182014–2016
Cleveland ElamDL19791975–1978
Corey LemonierOLB20162013–2015
Eddie LewisDB1979–19801976–1979
Gino TorrettaQB1994–19951995–1996
Hugh McElhennyRB19641960
Iheanyi UwaezuokeWR19991996–1998
Tay MartinWR20262022–2023
Terry GreerWR19901987–1989
Tyrone HopsonG2001–2002, 20041999–2000
Bill LarsonTE19771975
Eli HaroldLB20182015–2017
Godwin IgwebuikeRB20212018
Jerome DavisT19982002–2004
Kerryon JohnsonRB2018–20202021
Tony LeonardDB1978–19791976–1978
A.J. ParkerDB2021–20222022–2023
Chase LucasDB2022–20232025
Cole WickTE20162018
Jeremiah ValoagaDL20172019
Saivion SmithDB2021–20222021
Bruce RhodesDB19781976
Chris HannonWR20082008
James JohnsonLB19861987
Mike BurnsDB19781977
Parnell MotleyDB20212020

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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Play the NFL GridCareer path gameLions player game49ers player game

More “played for both” lists

Detroit Lions and…

Colts 117Cardinals 116Browns 111Saints 111Falcons 110Dolphins 109Rams 108Seahawks 107Commanders 106Buccaneers 104

San Francisco 49ers and…

Commanders 126Saints 111Raiders 110Eagles 109Falcons 102Browns 101Cardinals 99Dolphins 98Giants 95Broncos 94

All team pairs

Questions

How many players have played for both the Detroit Lions and the San Francisco 49ers?

105 in the nflverse roster files from 1960 to 2026, including Ray Brown, Josh Johnson, David Akers 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?

Hugh McElhenny: San Francisco 49ers first, then the Detroit Lions from 1964.

Who has played for both recently?

Joshua Dobbs, D.J. Reed, KhaDarel Hodge, Rock Ya-Sin, Ross Dwelley and Ben Bartch and 2 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