Players who played for both the San Francisco 49ers and the Washington Commanders

95 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

Ball-knower

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 Commanders player through Curtis Buckley and the link is rated Ball-knower (+400 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.

Deion Sanders
DB · 1990–2005 · SF 1994, WAS 2000
Common
Chase Young
DL · 2020–2026 · SF 2023, WAS 2020–2023
Common
Dana Stubblefield
DL · 1993–2003 · SF 1993–1997, 2001–2002, WAS 1998–2000
Common
Vernon Davis
TE · 2006–2019 · SF 2006–2015, WAS 2016–2019
Common
Alex Smith
QB · 2005–2020 · SF 2005–2007, 2009–2012, WAS 2018, 2020
Common
Andre Carter
DL · 2001–2013 · SF 2001–2005, WAS 2006–2010
Common
Donte Whitner
SS · 2006–2016 · SF 2011–2013, WAS 2016
Common
Carlos Rogers
CB · 2005–2014 · SF 2011–2013, WAS 2005–2010
Uncommon
Walt Harris
DB · 1996–2008 · SF 2006–2008, WAS 2004–2005
Uncommon
Brandon Lloyd
WR · 2003–2014 · SF 2003–2005, 2014, WAS 2006–2007
Uncommon
Clelin Ferrell
DL · 2019–2026 · SF 2023, 2025, WAS 2024
Uncommon
Josh Norman
CB · 2012–2023 · SF 2021, WAS 2016–2019
Uncommon
Jordan Reed
TE · 2013–2020 · SF 2020, WAS 2013–2019
Uncommon
Dashon Goldson
DB · 2007–2016 · SF 2007–2012, WAS 2015
Uncommon
Madieu Williams
CB · 2004–2012 · SF 2011, WAS 2012
Uncommon
Pierre Garcon
WR · 2008–2018 · SF 2017–2018, WAS 2012–2016
Uncommon
Alfred Morris
RB · 2012–2020 · SF 2018, WAS 2012–2015
Uncommon
Brian Robinson
RB · 2022–2026 · SF 2025, WAS 2022–2024
Uncommon

In the middle

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

Derek M. Smith
LB · 1997–2008 · SF 2001–2007, WAS 1997–2000
Rare
Javon Kinlaw
DL · 2020–2026 · SF 2020–2023, WAS 2025–2026
Rare
Matt Millen
LB · 1990–1991 · SF 1990, WAS 1991
Rare
Colt McCoy
QB · 2010–2022 · SF 2013, WAS 2014–2019
Rare
Pierson Prioleau
DB · 1999–2010 · SF 1999–2000, WAS 2005, 2007
Rare
Pierre Thomas
RB · 2007–2016 · SF 2015, WAS 2015–2016
Rare
Charles Omenihu
DL · 2019–2026 · SF 2021–2022, WAS 2026
Rare
Jake Moody
K · 2023–2025 · SF 2023–2025, WAS 2025
Rare
Isaac Yiadom
DB · 2018–2026 · SF 2024, WAS 2026
Rare
Trent Williams
T · 2010–2026 · SF 2020–2026, WAS 2010–2018
Rare
Josh Morgan
WR · 2008–2014 · SF 2008–2011, WAS 2012–2013
Rare
Mike Rumph
CB · 2002–2006 · SF 2002–2005, WAS 2006
Rare
Deebo Samuel Sr.
WR · 2019–2026 · SF 2019–2024, 2026, WAS 2025
Rare
Chris Culliver
CB · 2011–2016 · SF 2011–2012, 2014, WAS 2015
Rare
Jeremy McNichols
RB · 2017–2026 · SF 2017, 2023, WAS 2024–2026
Rare
Akeem Spence
DT · 2013–2022 · SF 2022, WAS 2021
Rare
Nick Bellore
ILB · 2011–2025 · SF 2015–2016, WAS 2024–2025
Rare
Sheldon Day
DL · 2016–2025 · SF 2017–2019, WAS 2024–2025
Rare
Josh Johnson
QB · 2008–2025 · SF 2014, 2022, WAS 2018, 2025
Rare
Aldrick Robinson
WR · 2011–2018 · SF 2017, WAS 2011–2014
Rare
Drake Jackson
DL · 2022–2026 · SF 2022–2023, WAS 2025
Rare
Kevin Mitchell
LB · 1994–2003 · SF 1994–1997, WAS 2000–2003
Rare
Matt Gay
K · 2019–2026 · SF 2025, WAS 2025
Rare
Logan Paulsen
TE · 2010–2019 · SF 2017, WAS 2010–2014
Rare
Jeff Posey
DL · 1998–2006 · SF 1998–2000, WAS 2006
Rare
Charles Mann
DL · 1990–1994 · SF 1994, WAS 1990–1993
Rare
Reggie Roby
SPEC · 1990–1998 · SF 1998, WAS 1993–1994
Rare
Terry Hoage
DB · 1990–1996 · SF 1993, WAS 1991–1992
Rare
Todd Bowles
DB · 1990–1993 · SF 1991, WAS 1990, 1992–1993
Rare
Ricky Jean Francois
DE · 2009–2018 · SF 2009–2012, WAS 2015–2016
Rare
Ricky Ervins
RB · 1991–1995 · SF 1995, WAS 1991–1994
Rare
Joshua Garnett
OL · 2016–2020 · SF 2016, 2018, WAS 2020
Rare
David Akers
SPEC · 1998–2013 · SF 2011–2012, WAS 1998
Rare
Taylor Jacobs
WR · 2003–2007 · SF 2006–2007, WAS 2003–2005
Rare
Demetric Evans
DL · 2001–2010 · SF 2009–2010, WAS 2004–2008
Rare
Joey Slye
K · 2019–2026 · SF 2021, WAS 2021–2023
Rare
Derek Carrier
TE · 2013–2021 · SF 2013–2014, WAS 2015–2016
Rare
Marc Logan
RB · 1990–1997 · SF 1992–1994, WAS 1995–1997
Rare
River Cracraft
WR · 2018–2025 · SF 2020–2021, WAS 2025
Rare
Cary Conklin
QB · 1991–1995 · SF 1995, WAS 1991–1993
Rare
Kentwan Balmer
DE · 2008–2011 · SF 2008–2009, WAS 2011
Epic
Jamie Martin
QB · 1993–2008 · SF 2008, WAS 1997
Epic
Ravin Caldwell
LB · 1990–1993 · SF 1993, WAS 1990–1992
Epic
Matthew Wright
K · 2020–2025 · SF 2024, WAS 2025
Epic
Jamie Brown
OL · 1995–1999 · SF 1998, WAS 1999
Epic
Terence Garvin
ILB · 2013–2018 · SF 2018, WAS 2016
Epic
T.Y. McGill
DT · 2015–2024 · SF 2022–2024, WAS 2019
Epic
Mike Flores
DL · 1991–1995 · SF 1995, WAS 1995
Epic
Alan Grant
DB · 1990–1994 · SF 1992–1993, WAS 1994
Epic
Jose Cortez
SPEC · 1999–2005 · SF 2001–2002, 2005, WAS 2002
Epic
Ray Brown
OL · 1990–2005 · SF 1996–2001, WAS 1990–1995, 2004–2005
Epic
Tom Compton
T · 2012–2022 · SF 2020–2021, WAS 2012–2015
Epic
Mark McMillian
DB · 1992–1999 · SF 1999, WAS 1999
Epic
Trenton Robinson
DB · 2012–2015 · SF 2012, WAS 2013–2015
Epic
Tony Bergstrom
G · 2012–2020 · SF 2020, WAS 2017–2019
Epic
Jeff Brohm
QB · 1994–2000 · SF 1995–1997, WAS 1995
Epic
Jeff Chandler
K · 2002–2004 · SF 2002–2003, WAS 2004
Epic
Ralf Mojsiejenko
SPEC · 1990–1991 · SF 1991, WAS 1990
Epic
Nate Sudfeld
QB · 2016–2022 · SF 2021, WAS 2016
Epic
Kevin Ware
TE · 2003–2004 · SF 2004, WAS 2003
Epic
Tyronne Drakeford
DB · 1994–2001 · SF 1994–1997, 2001, WAS 2000
Epic
Chris Thomas
WR · 1995–2001 · SF 1995, WAS 1997–1999
Epic
John Brandes
TE · 1990–1993 · SF 1993, WAS 1990–1992
Epic
Rod Milstead
OL · 1992–1999 · SF 1994–1997, WAS 1998–1999
Epic
Kyle Nelson
LS · 2012–2021 · SF 2014–2020, WAS 2013
Epic
Tay Martin
WR · 2022–2026 · SF 2022–2023, WAS 2025
Epic
Cedric Killings
DL · 2000–2007 · SF 2000, WAS 2004–2005
Epic
Dave Fiore
OL · 1996–2003 · SF 1996–2002, WAS 2003
Epic
Nick Moody
ILB · 2013–2016 · SF 2013–2014, WAS 2016
Epic

The rarest links

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

Ralph Tamm
OL · 1990–1999 · SF 1992–1994, WAS 1991
Epic
Otis Leverette
DL · 2001–2004 · SF 2004, WAS 2001–2002
Epic
Je'Ron Hamm
TE · 2015–2016 · SF 2015–2016, WAS 2015
Epic
Randy Kirk
LB · 1990–1999 · SF 1996–1999, WAS 1990
Epic
Reggie Givens
LB · 1998–2000 · SF 1998–1999, WAS 2000
Legendary
Roell Preston
WR · 1995–1999 · SF 1999, WAS 1997
Legendary
Joe Zelenka
TE · 1999–2011 · SF 1999, WAS 2000
Legendary
Curtis Buckley
DB · 1993–2000 · SF 1996–1998, WAS 1999–2000
Ball-knower

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.

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Players who played for both the San Francisco 49ers and the Washington Commanders

Easy to name

In the middle

The rarest links

More 49ers matchups

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