Players who played for both the Denver Broncos and the Detroit Lions
72 NFL players have suited up for both franchises. Here they all are, ranked the way The Chains ranks them, most recognizable first.
72
Players
7
Easy to name
Epic
Best link
Chains matchup: Tough. 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 Broncos player to a Lions player through Parnell Motley and the link is rated Epic (+160 bonus points). The obvious answers score little. The deep cuts are where the big points are.
Play today's puzzleEasy to name
Common and Uncommon. The easiest answers between these two teams.
- Common
Dre' Bly
DB · 1999–2009 · DEN 2007–2008, DET 2003–2006
- Uncommon
Teddy Bridgewater
QB · 2014–2025 · DEN 2021, DET 2023
- Uncommon
Kwon Alexander
MLB · 2015–2024 · DEN 2024, DET 2024
- Uncommon
Zach Cunningham
LB · 2017–2025 · DEN 2024, DET 2025
- Uncommon
Tony Scheffler
TE · 2006–2013 · DEN 2006–2009, DET 2010–2013
- Uncommon
Josh Reynolds
WR · 2017–2025 · DEN 2024, DET 2021–2023
- Uncommon
Reuben Droughns
RB · 2000–2008 · DEN 2002–2004, DET 2000–2001
In the middle
Real answers, but not the first ones people think of.
- Rare
Stephen Alexander
TE · 1998–2006 · DEN 2005–2006, DET 2004
- Rare
Luther Elliss
DL · 1995–2004 · DEN 2004, DET 1995–2003
- Rare
Kenoy Kennedy
DB · 2000–2007 · DEN 2000–2004, DET 2005–2007
- Rare
Tatum Bell
RB · 2004–2008 · DEN 2004–2006, 2008, DET 2007
- Rare
Justin Forsett
RB · 2008–2016 · DEN 2016, DET 2016
- Rare
Boss Bailey
OLB · 2003–2008 · DEN 2008, DET 2003, 2005–2007
- Rare
Andre' Goodman
CB · 2002–2011 · DEN 2009–2011, DET 2002–2005
- Rare
Eric Davis
DB · 1990–2002 · DEN 2001, DET 2002
- Rare
Ryan McNeil
DB · 1993–2003 · DEN 2003, DET 1993–1996
- Rare
Keary Colbert
WR · 2004–2011 · DEN 2008, DET 2008
- Rare
Justin Bannan
DT · 2002–2013 · DEN 2010, 2012, DET 2013
- Rare
Kalif Raymond
WR · 2016–2026 · DEN 2016, DET 2021–2025
- Rare
Patrick Ramsey
QB · 2002–2010 · DEN 2007–2008, DET 2009
- Rare
Gus Frerotte
QB · 1994–2008 · DEN 2000–2001, DET 1999
- Rare
Ray Crockett
DB · 1990–2002 · DEN 1994–2000, DET 1990–1993
- Rare
C.J. Anderson
RB · 2013–2019 · DEN 2013–2017, DET 2019
- Rare
Tim Patrick
WR · 2018–2026 · DEN 2018–2021, DET 2024
- Rare
Paris Lenon
OLB · 2002–2013 · DEN 2013, DET 2006–2008
- Rare
Marquand Manuel
SS · 2002–2009 · DEN 2008, DET 2009
- Rare
Sylvester Williams
NT · 2013–2020 · DEN 2013–2016, 2020, DET 2018
- Rare
Shane Dronett
DL · 1992–2001 · DEN 1992–1995, DET 1996
- Rare
Nate Wayne
LB · 1998–2005 · DEN 1998–1999, DET 2005
- Rare
Olandis Gary
RB · 1999–2003 · DEN 1999–2002, DET 2003
- Rare
Darius Holland
DL · 1995–2004 · DEN 2003–2004, DET 1998
- Rare
Tramaine Brock
CB · 2010–2020 · DEN 2018, DET 2020
- Rare
Josh Johnson
QB · 2008–2025 · DEN 2022, DET 2019
- Rare
Alphonso Smith
CB · 2009–2012 · DEN 2009, DET 2010–2012
- Rare
Allen Aldridge
LB · 1994–2001 · DEN 1994–1997, DET 1998–2001
- Rare
Tim McKyer
DB · 1990–1997 · DEN 1997, DET 1993
- Rare
Sam Martin
P · 2013–2026 · DEN 2020–2021, DET 2013–2019
- Rare
Graham Glasgow
OL · 2016–2025 · DEN 2020–2022, DET 2016–2019, 2023–2025
- Rare
Mike Ford
DB · 2018–2026 · DEN 2021, DET 2018–2020
- Rare
Matt Prater
K · 2007–2025 · DEN 2007–2013, DET 2014–2020
- Rare
Ben Niemann
LB · 2018–2024 · DEN 2023, DET 2024
- Rare
George Foster
T · 2003–2008 · DEN 2003–2006, DET 2007–2008
- Rare
Michael Burton
FB · 2015–2026 · DEN 2023–2024, DET 2015–2016
- Rare
Jason Hunter
DE · 2006–2013 · DEN 2010–2011, DET 2009
- Rare
Jeff Driskel
QB · 2016–2025 · DEN 2020, DET 2019
- Rare
Michael Schofield
T · 2014–2023 · DEN 2014–2016, DET 2023
- Rare
Travis Fulgham
WR · 2019–2021 · DEN 2021, DET 2019
- Rare
Rafael Bush
DB · 2010–2018 · DEN 2011, DET 2016
- Rare
Michael Brooks
LB · 1990–1996 · DEN 1990–1992, DET 1996
- Rare
Doug Widell
OL · 1990–1997 · DEN 1990–1992, DET 1994–1995
- Rare
Glyn Milburn
RB · 1993–2001 · DEN 1993–1995, DET 1996–1997
- Rare
Willie Green
WR · 1991–1998 · DEN 1997–1998, DET 1991–1993
- Rare
Kasim Edebali
OLB · 2014–2018 · DEN 2017, DET 2017
- Rare
Cassius Vaughn
CB · 2010–2015 · DEN 2010–2011, DET 2014
- Rare
Jeff Campbell
WR · 1990–1994 · DEN 1994, DET 1990–1993
- Rare
Dan Gronkowski
TE · 2009–2011 · DEN 2010, DET 2009
- Rare
James Jones
DL · 1991–2000 · DEN 1995, DET 1999–2000
- Rare
Dwayne Washington
RB · 2016–2023 · DEN 2023, DET 2016–2017
- Rare
Keith Washington
DL · 1995–2004 · DEN 2001–2002, DET 1996
- Rare
Gabe Ikard
C · 2015–2017 · DEN 2017, DET 2015
- Rare
Manny Ramirez
G · 2007–2015 · DEN 2011–2014, DET 2007–2009, 2015
- Rare
Ephraim Salaam
OL · 1998–2009 · DEN 2002–2003, DET 2009
- Rare
Vernon Fox
SS · 2002–2009 · DEN 2008–2009, DET 2004–2005
- Rare
Kyle Peko
DL · 2016–2024 · DEN 2016–2017, 2019, DET 2024
The rarest links
The players almost nobody names first, and the biggest bonus in a puzzle.
- Epic
Paul Smith
RB · 2000–2007 · DEN 2007, DET 2003, 2005
- Epic
David Kircus
WR · 2003–2006 · DEN 2006, DET 2003–2004
- Epic
Harvey Salem
OL · 1990–1992 · DEN 1991, DET 1990
- Epic
Quanterus Smith
DE · 2014–2016 · DEN 2014, DET 2016
- Epic
Glenn Martinez
WR · 2005–2009 · DEN 2007–2008, DET 2005
- Epic
Brian Clark
WR · 2006–2010 · DEN 2006–2007, DET 2010
- Epic
Devine Ozigbo
RB · 2019–2023 · DEN 2022, DET 2023
- Epic
Parnell Motley
DB · 2020–2021 · DEN 2020, DET 2021
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 Broncos matchups
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More Lions matchups
Lions and 49ers · Lions and Bears · Lions and Bengals · Lions and Bills · Lions and Browns · Lions and Buccaneers · Lions and Cardinals · Lions and Chargers · Lions and Chiefs · Lions and Colts · Lions and Commanders · Lions and Cowboys · Lions and Dolphins · Lions and Eagles · Lions and Falcons · Lions and Giants · Lions and Jaguars · Lions and Jets · Lions and Packers · Lions and Panthers · Lions and Patriots · Lions and Raiders · Lions and Rams · Lions and Ravens · Lions and Saints · Lions and Seahawks · Lions and Steelers · Lions and Texans · Lions and Titans · Lions and Vikings