Detroit Lions and Washington Commanders players: who played for both

Who played for both the Lions and Commanders?

106 players were on both the Detroit Lions and the Washington Commanders rosters between 1960 and 2026, including Ray Brown, Eddie Murray, Josh Johnson and David Akers. 49 of them were with the Lions first and 49 with the Commanders first; 8 joined both in the same season.

Did you know?

  • Bob Whitlow is the earliest on this list to complete the pair: Commanders first, then the Lions from 1961.
  • Tay Martin is the most recent: Commanders first, then the Lions from 2026.
  • Eddie Murray spent the most seasons across the two: 12 with the Lions and 2 with the Commanders.
  • 11 of them had two or more separate spells with one of the teams, such as Ray Brown.
  • Most common positions on this list: DB (16), RB (14), OL (12), QB (11).

How many can you name?

Name players who were on both the Lions and the Commanders. The surname is enough. 0 / 106

All 106 players, most seasons first

Seasons on each roster (1960–2026). A gap of a season or more starts a new spell.
PlayerPosLionsCommanders
Ray BrownG2002–20031989–1995, 2004–2005
Eddie MurraySPEC1980–19911995, 2000
Josh JohnsonQB20192018, 2025
David AkersK20131998
Rodney PeeteQB1989–19931999
Gus FrerotteQB19991994–1998
Nick BelloreLB2017–20182024–2025
Adrian PetersonRB20202018–2019
Andre RobertsWR20162014–2015
Dan WilkinsonDT2003–20051998–2002
Cornelius LucasOL2014–20162020–2024
Darryl TappDE2014–20152013
Michael BurtonRB2015–20162019
Trevor MatichOL19891994–1996
Charlie WeaverLB1971–19811981
Desmond HowardWR1999–20021992–1994
Floyd PetersDL19631970
Kent GrahamQB19952001
Mark CarrierDB1997–19992000
Robert BaileyDB1997–1999, 20011995
Walter RasbyTE1998–20002001–2002, 2004
Akeem SpenceDL20172021
Andre CollinsLB19991990–1994
Bill MalinchakWR1966–19691970–1974, 1976
Eric WilliamsDL1984–19891990–1993
James WilderRB19901990
Jeff DriskelQB20192024–2025
Jim NinowskiQB1960–19611967–1968
Jimmie JohnsonTE1992–19931989–1991
Jon BosticLB20162019–2022
Jon JansenT20091999–2003, 2005–2008
Josh WilsonCB2015–20162011–2013
Logan ThomasTE20192020–2023
Phillip BuchanonCB20092010–2011
Ricky Jean FrancoisDE20182015–2016
Stephen AlexanderTE20041998–2001
D.J. HaydenDB20172021
Dave KopayRB19681969–1970
Kyle AllenQB20252020–2021
Patrick RamseyQB20092002–2005
Rick KaneRB1977–1983, 19851984
Bob WhitlowOL1961–19651960–1961
Brenden StaiG20012002
Brian WalkerFS2002–20031996–1997
Caraun ReidDL2014–2015, 20172017
Craig ReynoldsRB2021–20252019, 2026
Donte' CurryOLB2002–20072001
Jonathan WilliamsRB20202021–2023
Mike BassDB19671969–1975
Nate SudfeldQB2022–20232016
Rocky McIntoshOLB20132006–2011
Sam WycheQB19741971–1973
Vernon FoxSS2004–20052006–2007
Walter StanleyWR19891990
Amik RobertsonDB2024–20252026
Dan LewisRB1960–19641965
David LoverneG2004–20052002
George IzoQB19651961–1964
J.D. McKissicRB20192020–2022
Mike HaightOL19921992
Rick DeMullingG2005–20062007
T.J. DuckettRB20072006
Will HarrisDB2019–20232025
Austin SeibertK2021–20222024
Bill QuinlanDL19641965
Crezdon ButlerCB2015–20162012
Darryl RobertsDB20202021
Donovan GreerDB20022001
Herb WelchDB1990–19911989
Jim SteffenDB1960–19611961–1965
Bobby PriceDB2020–20222024
Jacquez GreenWR20022002
Jerome CunninghamTE20182019
Joe Don LooneyRB1965–19661966–1967
Jordan HillDT20172016
Marquis WalkerDB20001996
Tay MartinWR20262025
Anthony BryantDT20062010
Bill LarsonTE19771977
Don SasaDL19981997
Gene HamlinOL19721970
Jim MartinLB1960–19611964
Ken JenkinsRB1983–19841985–1986
Marquis FlowersLB20182018
Ricky SmithDB19871984
Ross PierschbacherOL20222019–2020
Shaun Dion HamiltonLB20212018–2020
Zac KerinOL20172018
Andre JohnsonOL1997–19981996
David BadaDL20242022–2023
David JonesOL1984–19851987
DeJon GomesFS20132011–2012
Gary AndersonOL1977–19781980
Johnny OlszewskiRB19611960
Keiland WilliamsRB2011–20122010, 2012
Marcus McCauleyCB20092009
Raphel CherryDB1987–19881985
Richard JohnsonWR1989–19901987
Steve JunkerTE19601961–1962
Alex CarterDB20162018
Don LasterOL19841982
Jerome MurphyCB20122012
Ken BarefootTE19691968
Nick WhitesideDB20252023
Shaun BodifordWR20062007
Donnie HickmanOL19781978

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.Washington seasons are listed under today’s team name for every year.

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More “played for both” lists

Detroit Lions and…

Colts 117Cardinals 116Browns 111Saints 111Falcons 110Dolphins 109Rams 108Seahawks 10749ers 105Buccaneers 104

Washington Commanders and…

49ers 126Browns 123Giants 122Eagles 121Cardinals 107Chargers 107Saints 105Colts 104Rams 104Dolphins 103

All team pairs

Questions

How many players have played for both the Detroit Lions and the Washington Commanders?

106 in the nflverse roster files from 1960 to 2026, including Ray Brown, Eddie Murray, Josh Johnson and David Akers. 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?

Bob Whitlow: Washington Commanders first, then the Detroit Lions from 1961.

Who has played for both recently?

Josh Johnson, Nick Bellore, Jeff Driskel, Kyle Allen, Craig Reynolds and Amik Robertson and 3 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. Washington seasons are listed under today’s team name for every year.

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