Minnesota Vikings and New England Patriots players: who played for both

Who played for both the Vikings and Patriots?

71 players were on both the Minnesota Vikings and the New England Patriots rosters between 1960 and 2026, including Lee Johnson, Harold Jackson, Henry Thomas and Matt Cassel. 33 of them were with the Vikings first and 35 with the Patriots first; 3 joined both in the same season.

Did you know?

  • Joe Kapp is the earliest on this list to complete the pair: Vikings first, then the Patriots from 1970.
  • Walter Rouse is the most recent: Vikings first, then the Patriots from 2026.
  • Henry Thomas spent the most seasons across the two: 8 with the Vikings and 4 with the Patriots.
  • 5 of them had two or more separate spells with one of the teams, such as Harold Jackson.
  • Most common positions on this list: DB (11), WR (10), LB (9), OL (8).

How many can you name?

Name players who were on both the Vikings and the Patriots. The surname is enough. 0 / 71

All 71 players, most seasons first

Seasons on each roster (1960–2026). A gap of a season or more starts a new spell.
PlayerPosVikingsPatriots
Lee JohnsonSPEC20011999–2001
Harold JacksonWR19821978–1981, 1987
Henry ThomasDL1987–19941997–2000
Matt CasselQB2013–20142005–2008
Randy MossWR1998–2004, 20102007–2010
Kyle Van NoyLB20262016–2019, 2021
Stephon GilmoreDB20242017–2021
Cordarrelle PattersonWR2013–20162018
Greg DavisSPEC19971989
Mike MorrisOL1991–19991989
Riley ReiffOL2017–20202023
Stefon DiggsWR2015–20192025
Mike SaxonSPEC1994–19951993
Terry AllenRB1991–19941999
Joshua DobbsQB20232025
Terrance ShawCB20042001
Vencie GlennDB1992–19941986
Don HasselbeckTE19841977–1983
Kai ForbathK2016–20172019
Yannick NgakoueDL20202024
Chuck ForemanRB1973–19791980
David HowardLB1985–19891991–1992
Garrett BradburyOL2019–20242025
John CharlesDB19701967–1969
Rob HolmbergLB19992000–2001
Stevan RidleyRB20172011–2014
Bobby AbramsLB1993–19941995–1996
Calvin MunsonLB20242021–2023
Harlon BarnettDB1995–19961993–1994
Jermaine WigginsTE2004–20062000–2001
Jimmy HitchcockDB1998–19991995–1997
Josh KlineOL20192013–2015
Matt KatulaLS20112010
Michael FloydWR20172016
Mike JonesWR1983–19851989
Rod SmithDB19961992–1994
Sione TakitakiLB20252024
Armon WattsDL2019–20212024
Jacob HollisterTE20222017–2018
Jarrad PageFS20112010
Khyiris TongaDL2022–20232025
Darrell FullingtonDB1988–19901991
David BavaroLB19921993–1994
David FrischTE19961995
Doug DumlerOL1976–19771973–1975
Garrett MillsTE2007–20092006
Jalen ReagorWR20222023
Jerry PattonDL19711975
Joe BlahakDB1974–1975, 19771976
Joejuan WilliamsDB20232019–2022
K.J. OsbornWR2020–20232024
N'Keal HarryWR20232019–2021
Rashad BakerFS20062006–2007
Tashawn BowerDL2017–2018, 20212020–2021
Vederian LoweOL20222023–2025
Zach MooreDE20152014
Bethel JohnsonWR20062003–2005
Joe KappQB1967–19691970
Tae HayesDB20202022
Thomas WelchT20102011
Tom RehderOL19921988–1989
David HerronMLB2007–20082007
Jaquelin RoyDL20232024–2025
Jay WalkerQB1996–19971994
Teddy GarciaSPEC19891988
Walter RouseOL2024–20252026
Antico DaltonLB19992000
Corey KinerRB20252026
Olrick JohnsonLB19992000
Scott SissonSPEC19961993
David WilsonDB19921992

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.Patriots seasons include the Boston Patriots (1960–70).

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More “played for both” lists

Minnesota Vikings and…

Giants 104Cardinals 100Lions 97Browns 93Falcons 91Saints 87Eagles 87Commanders 87Bears 86Jets 84

New England Patriots and…

Dolphins 133Jets 120Browns 116Raiders 109Giants 105Broncos 103Bills 102Eagles 98Colts 93Lions 90

All team pairs

Questions

How many players have played for both the Minnesota Vikings and the New England Patriots?

71 in the nflverse roster files from 1960 to 2026, including Lee Johnson, Harold Jackson, Henry Thomas and Matt Cassel. 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?

Joe Kapp: Minnesota Vikings first, then the New England Patriots from 1970.

Who has played for both recently?

Kyle Van Noy, Stefon Diggs, Joshua Dobbs, Garrett Bradbury, Sione Takitaki and Khyiris Tonga and 4 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. Patriots seasons include the Boston Patriots (1960–70).

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