Detroit Lions and Tampa Bay Buccaneers players: who played for both

Who played for both the Lions and Buccaneers?

104 players were on both the Detroit Lions and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers rosters between 1960 and 2026, including Eddie Murray, Joe Ferguson, Josh Johnson and Josh McCown. 38 of them were with the Lions first and 58 with the Buccaneers first; 8 joined both in the same season.

Did you know?

  • Larry Ball is the earliest on this list to complete the pair: Lions first, then the Buccaneers from 1976.
  • Miles Killebrew is the most recent: Lions first, then the Buccaneers from 2026.
  • Eddie Murray spent the most seasons across the two: 12 with the Lions and 1 with the Buccaneers.
  • 12 of them had two or more separate spells with one of the teams, such as Mark Royals.
  • Most common positions on this list: DB (17), DL (12), QB (9), LB (9).

How many can you name?

Name players who were on both the Lions and the Buccaneers. The surname is enough. 0 / 104

All 104 players, most seasons first

Seasons on each roster (1960–2026). A gap of a season or more starts a new spell.
PlayerPosLionsBuccaneers
Eddie MurraySPEC1980–19911992
Joe FergusonQB1985–19871988–1989
Josh JohnsonQB20192008–2011
Josh McCownQB20062014
Lomas BrownT1985–19952002
Mark RoyalsP1995–19961990–1991, 1999–2001
Garo YepremianK1966–19671980–1981
Drew StantonQB2008–20112020
Jimmie GilesTE1986–19871978–1986
Ndamukong SuhDL2010–20142019–2021
Dan OrlovskyQB2005–2008, 2014–20162012–2013
Darryl TappDE2014–20152017
Jimmy WilliamsLB1982–19901992–1993
Teddy BridgewaterQB2023–20242025
Tyoka JacksonDE20061996–2000
A'Shawn RobinsonDL2016–20192026
Jeff GarciaQB20052007–2008
Marty CarterDB20011991–1994
Miles KillebrewDB2016–20202026
Rocky FreitasOL1968–19771978
Akeem SpenceDL20172013–2016
Alex AnzaloneLB2021–20252026
Broderick ThomasLB19941989–1993
James WilderRB19901981–1989
Phillip BuchanonCB20092006–2008
Will HellerTE2009–20122003–2005
William FrizzellDB1984–19851991
Al-Quadin MuhammadDL2024–20252026
Carlton Davis IIIDB20242018–2023
Gosder CherilusT2008–20122015–2016
Ivory SullyDB19871985–1986
Jeff GoochOLB2002–20031996–2001, 2004
Kwon AlexanderLB20242016–2018
LeGarrette BlountRB20182010–2012
Ron HallTE1994–19951987–1993
Wallace GilberryDE20162012
Bert EmanuelWR20011998–1999
Chuck DarbyDT20082001–2004
Darren FellsTE2017, 20212021
Devin WhiteLB20262019–2023
Dwight SmithFS20082001–2004
Gary AndersonRB19931990–1993
Jamon MeredithT20102012–2013
Jim PyneOL19981994–1997
Milton MackDB19941992–1993
Pat O'ConnorDL2024–20252017, 2019–2023
Rashaan MelvinDB20192013–2014
Vinny CiurciuMLB2009–20102003
Willie GreenWR1991–19931994
Corey SmithDE2006–20082002–2004
Dewayne WhiteDE2007–20092003–2006
Donnie ElderDB19861988–1989
Eric WrightCB20112012
George JohnsonDE2014, 20172010–2012, 2015–2016
Jeremiah LedbetterDL20172018–2020
Jovan HayeDT20112006–2008, 2011
Kindle VildorDB2023–20242025
Larry BallLB19751976
Maurice HarveyDB1983, 19871984
Micheal SpurlockWR20132007, 2009–2011
Ryan NeceOLB20082002–2007
Victor JonesLB1989–19941988
Anthony MadisonCB20112007
Bernard WilsonDL19931993–1994
Brandon McDonaldCB2010–20112012
Caleb BenenochOL20192016–2019
Grant StuardLB20252021
Ifeatu MelifonwuDB2021–20242026
Kevin OgletreeWR2013–20142013
Maurice StovallWR20112006–2010
Ray SnellOL19851980–1983
Stephen StarringWR19881988
Vernon TurnerRB1993, 19951993–1994
Billy CesareDB19821978–1979, 1981
Brian ClarkWR20102007–2009
Danny GorrerDB20142012–2013
Eric BanksDL2021–20222024
Jacquez GreenWR20021998–2001
Jacquies SmithDE20172014–2017
James-Michael JohnsonOLB20152015
Jeff HunterDL1990–19921994
Jeff KomloQB1979–19811983
Jerry GolsteynQB19791982–1983
Johnthan BanksCB20162013–2016
Kalvin PearsonFS2008–20092005–2007
Larry SwiderP19791977, 1981–1982
Mike JamesRB20172013–2016
Anthony BryantDT20062005
Ben StilleDL20262024
Blue AdamsSS20032005–2006
Christian IzienDB20262023–2025
Godwin IgwebuikeRB20212018
Jeff DelaneyDB19811981
Mark WitteTE19871983–1985
Reggie RogersDL1987–19881992
Timothy WrightTE2015–20162013
Cleveland PinkneyDT20062003
Jon BradleyDT20072005–2006
Larry RyansWR19941996
Marcus McCauleyCB20092009
Mark DuckensDL19901992
Robert ThompsonLB19871983–1984
Parnell MotleyDB20212020
Reggie PiersonDB19761976

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

Tampa Bay Buccaneers and…

Browns 90Commanders 85Dolphins 84Jets 82Rams 81Falcons 79Giants 79Chiefs 78Colts 77Raiders 76

All team pairs

Questions

How many players have played for both the Detroit Lions and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers?

104 in the nflverse roster files from 1960 to 2026, including Eddie Murray, Joe Ferguson, Josh Johnson and Josh McCown. 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?

Larry Ball: Detroit Lions first, then the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 1976.

Who has played for both recently?

Teddy Bridgewater, A'Shawn Robinson, Miles Killebrew, Alex Anzalone, Al-Quadin Muhammad and Devin White and 6 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