Players who played for both the San Francisco 49ers and the Buffalo Bills

57 NFL players have suited up for both franchises. Here they all are, ranked the way The Chains ranks them, most recognizable first.

Players

Easy to name

Legendary

Best link

Chains matchup: Friendly. Compared with the other 495 team pairs, based on how many of these players are easy to name.

How this plays in The Chains

Every link in a puzzle is scored by how unlikely it was that a fan would name it. Connect a 49ers player to a Bills player through Brian Taylor and the link is rated Legendary (+250 bonus points). The obvious answers score little. The deep cuts are where the big points are.

Play today's puzzle

Easy to name

Common and Uncommon. The easiest answers between these two teams.

Terrell Owens
WR · 1996–2010 · SF 1996–2003, BUF 2009
Common
Frank Gore
RB · 2005–2020 · SF 2005–2014, BUF 2019
Common
Brandin Cooks
WR · 2014–2026 · SF 2026, BUF 2025
Common
Reggie Bush
RB · 2006–2016 · SF 2015, BUF 2016
Common
Takeo Spikes
LB · 1998–2012 · SF 2008–2010, BUF 2003–2006
Common
Leonard Floyd
LB · 2016–2025 · SF 2024, BUF 2023
Common
Donte Whitner
SS · 2006–2016 · SF 2011–2013, BUF 2006–2010
Common
Nate Clements
DB · 2001–2012 · SF 2007–2010, BUF 2001–2006
Common
Emmanuel Sanders
WR · 2010–2021 · SF 2019, BUF 2021
Common
Matthew Judon
LB · 2016–2026 · SF 2026, BUF 2025
Uncommon
Manny Lawson
OLB · 2006–2016 · SF 2006–2010, BUF 2013–2016
Uncommon
Josh Norman
CB · 2012–2023 · SF 2021, BUF 2020, 2023
Uncommon
Marquise Goodwin
WR · 2013–2023 · SF 2017–2019, BUF 2013–2016
Uncommon
Jordan Matthews
WR · 2014–2024 · SF 2019–2021, BUF 2017
Uncommon
Ted Washington
DL · 1991–2007 · SF 1991–1993, BUF 1995–2000
Uncommon

In the middle

Real answers, but not the first ones people think of.

Marquez Valdes-Scantling
WR · 2018–2026 · SF 2025, BUF 2024
Rare
Pierson Prioleau
DB · 1999–2010 · SF 1999–2000, BUF 2001–2004
Rare
Steve Johnson
WR · 2008–2015 · SF 2014, BUF 2008–2013
Rare
Chris Draft
LB · 1998–2009 · SF 1999, BUF 2009
Rare
Tyler Kroft
TE · 2015–2023 · SF 2022, BUF 2019–2020
Rare
Jason Webster
DB · 2000–2008 · SF 2000–2003, BUF 2007
Rare
Jeremy Kerley
WR · 2011–2018 · SF 2016, BUF 2018
Rare
Ray-Ray McCloud
WR · 2018–2025 · SF 2022–2023, BUF 2018
Rare
Matt Breida
RB · 2017–2023 · SF 2017–2019, BUF 2021
Rare
Chidi Ahanotu
DL · 1993–2004 · SF 2003, BUF 2002
Rare
Shareece Wright
CB · 2011–2018 · SF 2015, BUF 2017
Rare
Dontae Johnson
CB · 2014–2022 · SF 2014–2017, 2019–2022, BUF 2018
Rare
Josh Johnson
QB · 2008–2025 · SF 2014, 2022, BUF 2015
Rare
Anthony Dixon
RB · 2010–2015 · SF 2010–2013, BUF 2014–2015
Rare
Siran Neal
DB · 2018–2026 · SF 2025–2026, BUF 2018–2023
Rare
Trent Sherfield
WR · 2018–2026 · SF 2021, BUF 2023, 2026
Rare
Mitch Wishnowsky
P · 2019–2026 · SF 2019–2024, BUF 2025
Rare
Jeff Posey
DL · 1998–2006 · SF 1998–2000, BUF 2003–2005
Rare
Karl Wilson
DL · 1990–1995 · SF 1993, BUF 1995
Rare
Jim Dray
TE · 2010–2017 · SF 2016, BUF 2016
Rare
Leger Douzable
DT · 2008–2017 · SF 2017, BUF 2016
Rare
Sean Moran
DL · 1996–2003 · SF 2002–2003, BUF 1996–1999
Rare
Travaris Cadet
RB · 2012–2018 · SF 2015, BUF 2017
Rare
Jon Feliciano
G · 2015–2023 · SF 2023, BUF 2019–2021
Rare
Oliver Barnett
DL · 1990–1995 · SF 1995, BUF 1993–1994
Rare
James Williams
DB · 1990–1996 · SF 1996, BUF 1990–1993
Rare
Tyrell Adams
LB · 2016–2021 · SF 2021, BUF 2017
Rare
Jonas Jennings
OL · 2001–2008 · SF 2005–2008, BUF 2001–2004
Rare
Blake Costanzo
LB · 2007–2013 · SF 2011, BUF 2007–2008
Rare
Justin Armour
WR · 1995–1999 · SF 1997, BUF 1995–1996
Rare
Jordan Devey
T · 2014–2020 · SF 2015, BUF 2020
Rare
Garrison Sanborn
LS · 2009–2019 · SF 2019, BUF 2009–2016
Epic
Victor Bolden
WR · 2017–2018 · SF 2017–2018, BUF 2018
Epic
Erik Pears
T · 2006–2015 · SF 2015, BUF 2010–2014
Epic

The rarest links

The players almost nobody names first, and the biggest bonus in a puzzle.

Sam Young
T · 2010–2020 · SF 2019, BUF 2011–2013
Epic
Greg Mabin
DB · 2017–2022 · SF 2017–2018, BUF 2017
Epic
Tony Cline
TE · 1995–1999 · SF 1999, BUF 1995–1997
Epic
Phillip Tanner
RB · 2011–2014 · SF 2014, BUF 2014
Epic
Kevin R. Williams
WR · 1993–2000 · SF 2000, BUF 1998–1999
Epic
Mike Salmon
DB · 1996–1997 · SF 1996–1997, BUF 1996
Epic
Patrick Estes
T · 2005–2007 · SF 2005–2007, BUF 2007
Epic
Brian Taylor
RB · 1991–1993 · SF 1993, BUF 1991
Legendary

Teams are counted as franchises, so earlier cities and names are included (the Raiders in Oakland, the Rams in St. Louis, the Titans as the Oilers). Rarity tiers come from the same scoring The Chains uses in its daily puzzles. A small set of one-season 2002 entries that couldn't be verified is left out.

More 49ers matchups

49ers and Bears · 49ers and Bengals · 49ers and Broncos · 49ers and Browns · 49ers and Buccaneers · 49ers and Cardinals · 49ers and Chargers · 49ers and Chiefs · 49ers and Colts · 49ers and Commanders · 49ers and Cowboys · 49ers and Dolphins · 49ers and Eagles · 49ers and Falcons · 49ers and Giants · 49ers and Jaguars · 49ers and Jets · 49ers and Lions · 49ers and Packers · 49ers and Panthers · 49ers and Patriots · 49ers and Raiders · 49ers and Rams · 49ers and Ravens · 49ers and Saints · 49ers and Seahawks · 49ers and Steelers · 49ers and Texans · 49ers and Titans · 49ers and Vikings

More Bills matchups

Bills and Bears · Bills and Bengals · Bills and Broncos · Bills and Browns · Bills and Buccaneers · Bills and Cardinals · Bills and Chargers · Bills and Chiefs · Bills and Colts · Bills and Commanders · Bills and Cowboys · Bills and Dolphins · Bills and Eagles · Bills and Falcons · Bills and Giants · Bills and Jaguars · Bills and Jets · Bills and Lions · Bills and Packers · Bills and Panthers · Bills and Patriots · Bills and Raiders · Bills and Rams · Bills and Ravens · Bills and Saints · Bills and Seahawks · Bills and Steelers · Bills and Texans · Bills and Titans · Bills and Vikings