Players who played for both the Kansas City Chiefs and the Detroit Lions

38 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

Epic

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 Chiefs player to a Lions player through Chris Hannon 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 puzzle

Easy to name

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

Johnnie Morton
WR · 1994–2005 · KC 2002–2004, DET 1994–2001
Uncommon
Mike Hughes
DB · 2018–2026 · KC 2021, DET 2022
Uncommon
Danny Shelton
NT · 2015–2022 · KC 2022, DET 2020
Uncommon
Jon McGraw
FS · 2002–2011 · KC 2007–2011, DET 2005–2006
Uncommon
Matt Cassel
QB · 2005–2018 · KC 2009–2012, DET 2018
Uncommon
Reggie Ragland
LB · 2017–2022 · KC 2017–2019, DET 2020
Uncommon
Keary Colbert
WR · 2004–2011 · KC 2011, DET 2008
Uncommon

In the middle

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

Troy Stradford
RB · 1990–1992 · KC 1991, DET 1992
Rare
Ray Crockett
DB · 1990–2002 · KC 2001–2002, DET 1990–1993
Rare
Anthony Firkser
TE · 2018–2025 · KC 2024, DET 2023, 2025
Rare
Wallace Gilberry
DE · 2008–2016 · KC 2008–2011, DET 2016
Rare
Darius Holland
DL · 1995–2004 · KC 1998, DET 1998
Rare
Brett Perriman
WR · 1990–1997 · KC 1997, DET 1991–1996
Rare
Turk McBride
DE · 2007–2012 · KC 2007–2009, DET 2009–2010
Rare
Mikhael Ricks
WR · 1998–2003 · KC 2000–2001, DET 2002–2003
Rare
William White
DB · 1990–1998 · KC 1994–1996, DET 1990–1993
Rare
Ben Niemann
LB · 2018–2024 · KC 2018–2021, DET 2024
Rare
Matt Blundin
QB · 1992–1997 · KC 1992–1995, DET 1997
Rare
Bracy Walker
DB · 1994–2005 · KC 1994, 1998–2001, DET 2002–2005
Rare
Michael Burton
FB · 2015–2026 · KC 2021–2022, DET 2015–2016
Rare
Marcus Cooper
CB · 2013–2018 · KC 2013–2015, DET 2018
Rare
Dave Krieg
QB · 1990–1998 · KC 1992–1993, DET 1994
Rare
George Jamison
LB · 1990–1998 · KC 1994–1996, DET 1990–1993, 1997–1998
Rare
Dave Lutz
OL · 1990–1995 · KC 1990–1992, DET 1993–1995
Rare
Greg Hill
RB · 1994–1999 · KC 1994–1997, DET 1999
Rare
Chase Daniel
QB · 2009–2022 · KC 2013–2015, DET 2020
Rare
James-Michael Johnson
OLB · 2012–2016 · KC 2013–2014, DET 2015
Rare
Orson Charles
TE · 2012–2018 · KC 2017, DET 2016
Rare
Elijah Lee
LB · 2017–2022 · KC 2022, DET 2020
Rare
Jimmie Johnson
TE · 1990–1998 · KC 1994, DET 1992–1993
Rare
Dave Rayner
K · 2005–2011 · KC 2007, DET 2010
Rare

The rarest links

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

Ross Travis
TE · 2016–2021 · KC 2016–2017, DET 2021
Rare
Nick Williams
DE · 2014–2023 · KC 2014–2016, DET 2020–2021
Rare
Parker Ehinger
OL · 2016–2021 · KC 2016–2017, DET 2021
Rare
Eddie Drummond
WR · 2002–2007 · KC 2007, DET 2002–2006
Epic
Eddie Murray
SPEC · 1990–2000 · KC 1992, DET 1990–1991
Epic
Alfred Pupunu
TE · 1992–2000 · KC 1997, DET 2000
Epic
Chris Hannon
WR · 2006–2008 · KC 2006, DET 2008
Epic

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 Chiefs matchups

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More Lions matchups

Lions and 49ers · Lions and Bears · Lions and Bengals · Lions and Bills · Lions and Broncos · Lions and Browns · Lions and Buccaneers · Lions and Cardinals · Lions and Chargers · 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