Minnesota Vikings and Pittsburgh Steelers players: who played for both

Who played for both the Vikings and Steelers?

61 players were on both the Minnesota Vikings and the Pittsburgh Steelers rosters between 1960 and 2026, including Gary Anderson, Mitch Berger, Steve Bono and Bobby Walden. 27 of them were with the Vikings first and 28 with the Steelers first; 6 joined both in the same season.

Did you know?

  • Bob Schnelker is the earliest on this list to complete the pair: Vikings first, then the Steelers from 1961.
  • Robert Tonyan is the most recent: Vikings first, then the Steelers from 2026.
  • Gary Anderson spent the most seasons across the two: 5 with the Vikings and 13 with the Steelers.
  • 1 of them had two or more separate spells with one of the teams, such as Adam Thielen.
  • Most common positions on this list: DB (12), OL (9), TE (8), DL (6).

How many can you name?

Name players who were on both the Vikings and the Steelers. The surname is enough. 0 / 61

All 61 players, most seasons first

Seasons on each roster (1960–2026). A gap of a season or more starts a new spell.
PlayerPosVikingsSteelers
Gary AndersonK1998–20021982–1994
Mitch BergerP1996–20012008
Steve BonoQB1985–19861987–1988
Bobby WaldenP1964–19671968–1977
Bubby BristerQB20001986–1992
Patrick PetersonDB2021–20222023
Adam ThielenWR2014–2022, 20252025
Cordarrelle PattersonWR2013–20162024
Craig WolfleyOL1990–19911980–1989
DeWayne WashingtonCB1994–19971998–2003
Gary BallmanWR19731962–1966
Mark RodenhauserOL19891998
Javon HargraveDL20252016–2019
Mike MerriweatherLB1989–19921982–1987
Tyrone CarterSS2000–20022004–2009
Dean LowryDL20232024–2025
Joshua DobbsQB20232017–2021
Lee CallandDB1963–19651969–1972
Mike WallaceWR20152009–2012
MyCole PruittTE2015–20162024
Nick VannettTE20252019
Harry NewsomeSPEC1990–19931985–1989
Jeff BradyLB1995–19971991
John HiltonTE19711965–1969
Mewelde MooreRB2004–20072008–2011
Mike MularkeyTE1983–19881989–1991
Robert TonyanTE20242026
Brady KeysDB19671961–1967
Preston CarpenterTE19661960–1963
Stevan RidleyRB20172017–2018
Steve SmithOL1968–19701966
Todd KalisOL1988–19931994
James PierreDB20262020–2025
John CampbellLB1963–19641965–1969
John SwainDB1981–19841985–1986
Jordan BerryP20212015–2020
Jordan TodmanRB20112015
Phil KingRB1965–19661964
Adrian CooperTE1994–19951991–1993
Ariel SolomonOL19961991–1995
Armon WattsDL2019–20212023
Bernard DafneyOL1992–19941996
Bob SchmitzLB19661961–1966
Chandon SullivanDB20222023
Lorenzo FreemanDL19921987–1990
Marvin CobbDB19801980
Mason ColeOL20212022–2023
Solomon WilcotsDB19911992
Bill ButlerDB1962–19641961
Danny IsidoraOL2017–20182020
Dick HaleyDB19611961–1964
John PowersTE19661962–1965
Marquis CooperOLB20062006–2007
Randy RasmussenOL1987–19881984–1986
Ben TateRB20142014
Dean DerbyDB1961–19621960–1961
Esezi OtomewoDL20222025
Bob FergusonRB19631962–1963
Bob SchnelkerDL19611961
Chuck WinfreyLB19711972
Jack MorrisDB19611960

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

Minnesota Vikings and…

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

Pittsburgh Steelers and…

Colts 84Lions 79Cardinals 78Giants 77Eagles 75Titans 73Commanders 73Jets 71Bears 67Browns 67

All team pairs

Questions

How many players have played for both the Minnesota Vikings and the Pittsburgh Steelers?

61 in the nflverse roster files from 1960 to 2026, including Gary Anderson, Mitch Berger, Steve Bono and Bobby Walden. 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 Schnelker: Minnesota Vikings first, then the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1961.

Who has played for both recently?

Adam Thielen, Javon Hargrave, Dean Lowry, Nick Vannett, Robert Tonyan and James Pierre and 1 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