New England Patriots and New Orleans Saints players: who played for both

Who played for both the Patriots and Saints?

85 players were on both the New England Patriots and the New Orleans Saints rosters between 1960 and 2026, including Benjamin Watson, Brian Hansen, Shayne Graham and Brandin Cooks. 53 of them were with the Patriots first and 29 with the Saints first; 3 joined both in the same season.

Did you know?

  • Jim Fraser is the earliest on this list to complete the pair: Patriots first, then the Saints from 1968.
  • Anfernee Jennings is the most recent: Patriots first, then the Saints from 2026.
  • Benjamin Watson spent the most seasons across the two: 7 with the Patriots and 4 with the Saints.
  • 8 of them had two or more separate spells with one of the teams, such as Benjamin Watson.
  • Most common positions on this list: WR (12), RB (11), OL (9), DL (8).

How many can you name?

Name players who were on both the Patriots and the Saints. The surname is enough. 0 / 85

All 85 players, most seasons first

Seasons on each roster (1960–2026). A gap of a season or more starts a new spell.
PlayerPosPatriotsSaints
Benjamin WatsonTE2004–2009, 20192013–2015, 2018
Brian HansenSPEC19901984–1988
Shayne GrahamK20102013–2014
Brandin CooksWR20172014–2016, 2025
Bryan CoxMLB20012002
Dave RoweDL1971–19731967–1970
David PattenWR2001–20042007–2008
Akiem HicksDL20152012–2015
Don DavisILB2003–20061996–1998
Harry JacobsLB1960–19621970
Leon GrayOL1973–19781982–1983
Richard HarveyLB1990–19911995–1997
Rob NinkovichDE2009–20162006, 2008
Terry AllenRB19992000
Victor GreenSS20022003
Brandon TateWR2009–20102018
Chris HoganWR2016–20182021
Davon GodchauxDL2021–20242025–2026
Donte' StallworthWR2007, 20122002–2005
Fred McCraryFB20031997
Heath EvansFB2005–20082009–2010
Jess PhillipsRB1976–19771973–1974
Ramon HumberLB20182010–2015
Sam AdamsOL1972–19811981
Steve IsraelDB1997–19992000–2001
Torrance SmallWR20011992–1996
Vencie GlennDB19861991
Antowain SmithRB2001–20032005
Je'Rod CherrySS2001–20041996–1999
Johnson BademosiDB20172019–2020
Kai ForbathK20192015–2016
Michael HoomanawanuiTE2012–20152015–2018
Ty MontgomeryWR2022–20232020–2021
Clay HarborTE20162017
Jonathan CasillasOLB20142009, 2011–2012
Lil'Jordan HumphreyWR20222019–2021
Mickey WashingtonDB1990–19911997
Pio SagapoluteleDL19961997–1998
Tebucky JonesFS1998–20022003–2004
Willie ClayDB1996–19981999
Anfernee JenningsLB2020–20252026
Cameron CleelandTE20021998–2001
David ThomasTE2006–20082009–2012
Fred SturtOL1976–19781978–1981
Fred WhittinghamLB19701967–1968
Kevin HuntOL19731978
Malcom BrownDL2015–20182019–2020
Mike JonesWR19891986–1987, 1989
Randall GayCB2004–20072008–2010
Sterling MooreCB2011–20122016–2017
Tom HodsonQB1990–19921995–1996
Tony CarterCB20102016
Travaris CadetRB20152012–2016
Brandon DeaderickDE2010–20122014
Brooks WilliamsTE19831978–1981
Caleb BenenochOL2019–20202021
Jim FraserLB19661968
Jonathan FreenyOLB2015–20172017
Justin HerronOL2020–20222024
Brandon BrownerCB20142015
Devine OzigboRB20212021
Don JonesSS20142015
Eric MooreDE20102006
Larry WilliamsOL19921991
Mike GillisleeRB20172018
Monty RiceLB20242023
Sammy MartinWR1988–19911993
Woodrow HamiltonDL20162017
Chris CantyDB1997–19982000
Claxton WelchRB19731970
Lynn BowdenRB20222023
Mel MitchellSS20072002, 2004–2005
Melvin BakerWR19751975
Milford HodgeDL1986–19891986
Odell LawsonRB1970–19711973–1974
Will ShermanOL20212025–2026
Yasir DurantOL2021, 20252022
Kyle EckelFB2007–20082009
Leon McQuayRB19751976
Matt TennantC20122010–2011
Greg BoydDB19731974
Henry MatthewsRB19721973
Ja'Lynn PolkWR2024–20252025
Rufus JohnsonDL20162013
Vinnie SunseriSS20162014

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

New England Patriots and…

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

New Orleans Saints and…

Lions 11149ers 111Dolphins 105Commanders 105Falcons 102Bears 98Eagles 98Browns 94Cowboys 93Chiefs 93

All team pairs

Questions

How many players have played for both the New England Patriots and the New Orleans Saints?

85 in the nflverse roster files from 1960 to 2026, including Benjamin Watson, Brian Hansen, Shayne Graham and Brandin Cooks. 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?

Jim Fraser: New England Patriots first, then the New Orleans Saints from 1968.

Who has played for both recently?

Brandin Cooks, Davon Godchaux, Anfernee Jennings, Will Sherman, Yasir Durant and Ja'Lynn Polk, 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