Players who played for both the Detroit Lions and the New England Patriots
70 NFL players have suited up for both franchises. Here they all are, ranked the way The Chains ranks them, most recognizable first.
70
Players
6
Easy to name
Legendary
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 Lions player to a Patriots player through Nicholas Grigsby 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 puzzleEasy to name
Common and Uncommon. The easiest answers between these two teams.
- Common
Kyle Van Noy
LB · 2014–2026 · DET 2014–2016, NE 2016–2019, 2021
- Common
Jamie Collins
OLB · 2013–2022 · DET 2020–2021, NE 2013–2016, 2019, 2021–2022
- Uncommon
Mohamed Sanu
WR · 2012–2021 · DET 2020, NE 2019
- Uncommon
Carlton Davis III
DB · 2018–2026 · DET 2024, NE 2025–2026
- Uncommon
Duron Harmon
FS · 2013–2023 · DET 2020, NE 2013–2019
- Uncommon
Jahlani Tavai
LB · 2019–2026 · DET 2019–2020, NE 2021–2025
In the middle
Real answers, but not the first ones people think of.
- Rare
Trey Flowers
DE · 2016–2022 · DET 2019–2021, NE 2016–2018
- Rare
Danny Amendola
WR · 2009–2021 · DET 2019–2020, NE 2013–2017
- Rare
Tavon Wilson
SS · 2012–2021 · DET 2016–2019, NE 2012–2015
- Rare
LeGarrette Blount
RB · 2010–2018 · DET 2018, NE 2013–2016
- Rare
Danny Shelton
NT · 2015–2022 · DET 2020, NE 2018–2019
- Rare
Matt Cassel
QB · 2005–2018 · DET 2018, NE 2005–2008
- Rare
Bobby Carpenter
ILB · 2006–2012 · DET 2010–2011, NE 2012
- Rare
Jalen Mills
DB · 2016–2026 · DET 2025–2026, NE 2021–2023
- Rare
Clay Harbor
TE · 2010–2016 · DET 2016, NE 2016
- Rare
Mike Jackson
DB · 2019–2026 · DET 2019, NE 2020
- Rare
Bill Schroeder
WR · 1994–2004 · DET 2002–2003, NE 1995
- Rare
James Ihedigbo
DB · 2008–2016 · DET 2014–2015, NE 2011
- Rare
Leigh Bodden
CB · 2003–2011 · DET 2008, NE 2009, 2011
- Rare
Shawn Jefferson
WR · 1991–2003 · DET 2003, NE 1996–1999
- Rare
Akeem Spence
DT · 2013–2022 · DET 2017, NE 2020
- Rare
Damien Woody
OL · 1999–2010 · DET 2004–2007, NE 1999–2003
- Rare
Joshua Dobbs
QB · 2017–2026 · DET 2026, NE 2025
- Rare
Justin Coleman
DB · 2015–2022 · DET 2019–2020, NE 2015–2016
- Rare
Kindle Vildor
DB · 2020–2026 · DET 2023–2024, NE 2026
- Rare
Bert Emanuel
WR · 1994–2001 · DET 2001, NE 2001
- Rare
Aaron Dobson
WR · 2013–2016 · DET 2016, NE 2013–2015
- Rare
Otis Smith
DB · 1991–2003 · DET 2003, NE 1996, 2000–2002
- Rare
Riley Reiff
T · 2012–2023 · DET 2012–2016, NE 2023
- Rare
Rashaan Melvin
CB · 2014–2021 · DET 2019, NE 2015
- Rare
Henry Thomas
DL · 1990–2000 · DET 1995–1996, NE 1997–2000
- Rare
Corey Ballentine
DB · 2019–2025 · DET 2021, NE 2025
- Rare
Ricky Jean Francois
DE · 2009–2018 · DET 2018, NE 2017
- Rare
David Richards
OL · 1990–1996 · DET 1993, NE 1996
- Rare
Brandon Copeland
OLB · 2015–2022 · DET 2015–2016, NE 2020
- Rare
Chris Board
LB · 2018–2025 · DET 2022, NE 2023
- Rare
Corwin Brown
DB · 1993–2000 · DET 1999–2000, NE 1993–1996
- Rare
Bear Pascoe
TE · 2009–2016 · DET 2015, NE 2016
- Rare
Monty Rice
LB · 2021–2025 · DET 2025, NE 2024
- Rare
Timothy Wright
TE · 2013–2015 · DET 2015, NE 2014
- Rare
Johnson Bademosi
CB · 2012–2019 · DET 2016, NE 2017
- Rare
Mike Compton
OL · 1993–2004 · DET 1993–2000, NE 2001–2002
- Rare
Malik Cunningham
QB · 2023–2025 · DET 2025, NE 2023
- Rare
Dan Gronkowski
TE · 2009–2011 · DET 2009, NE 2011
- Rare
Harry Colon
DB · 1991–1997 · DET 1992–1994, 1997, NE 1991
- Rare
Lamont Warren
RB · 1994–2002 · DET 2001–2002, NE 1999
- Rare
Leonard Myers
DB · 2001–2003 · DET 2003, NE 2001–2002
- Rare
Matthew Mulligan
TE · 2009–2016 · DET 2016, NE 2013
- Rare
Marquis Flowers
OLB · 2014–2018 · DET 2018, NE 2017
- Epic
Chidi Iwuoma
DB · 2001–2007 · DET 2001, NE 2006
- Epic
Marcus Martin
C · 2014–2020 · DET 2020, NE 2020
- Epic
Khyri Thornton
DT · 2015–2017 · DET 2015–2017, NE 2015
- Epic
Mike Farr
WR · 1990–1993 · DET 1990–1992, NE 1993
- Epic
Josh Taves
DL · 1995–2002 · DET 1995, NE 1997
- Epic
Willie Clay
DB · 1992–1999 · DET 1992–1995, NE 1996–1998
- Epic
Donald Thomas
G · 2009–2012 · DET 2010, NE 2011–2012
- Epic
Landon Cohen
DT · 2008–2013 · DET 2008–2009, NE 2010–2011
- Epic
Ishmaa'ily Kitchen
DT · 2012–2015 · DET 2015, NE 2015
- Epic
LaAdrian Waddle
T · 2013–2018 · DET 2013–2015, NE 2015–2018
- Epic
Michael Matthews
TE · 2007–2009 · DET 2009, NE 2009
- Epic
Don Overton
RB · 1990–1992 · DET 1991–1992, NE 1990
- Epic
Rashod Berry
TE · 2020–2021 · DET 2021, NE 2020
The rarest links
The players almost nobody names first, and the biggest bonus in a puzzle.
- Epic
Scott Lockwood
RB · 1992–1993 · DET 1992, NE 1992–1993
- Epic
Eric Lee
LB · 2016–2018 · DET 2018, NE 2017
- Epic
Devine Ozigbo
RB · 2019–2023 · DET 2023, NE 2021
- Epic
Larry Tharpe
OL · 1992–2000 · DET 1992–1994, 1997–1998, NE 1996
- Epic
Junior Robinson
DB · 1990–1992 · DET 1992, NE 1990
- Epic
Zefross Moss
OL · 1990–1999 · DET 1995–1996, NE 1997–1999
- Epic
Trevor Bates
LB · 2016–2018 · DET 2018, NE 2017
- Legendary
Nicholas Grigsby
LB · 2016–2018 · DET 2018, NE 2017–2018
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 Lions matchups
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More Patriots matchups
Patriots and 49ers · Patriots and Bears · Patriots and Bengals · Patriots and Bills · Patriots and Broncos · Patriots and Browns · Patriots and Buccaneers · Patriots and Cardinals · Patriots and Chargers · Patriots and Chiefs · Patriots and Colts · Patriots and Commanders · Patriots and Cowboys · Patriots and Dolphins · Patriots and Eagles · Patriots and Falcons · Patriots and Giants · Patriots and Jaguars · Patriots and Jets · Patriots and Packers · Patriots and Panthers · Patriots and Raiders · Patriots and Rams · Patriots and Ravens · Patriots and Saints · Patriots and Seahawks · Patriots and Steelers · Patriots and Texans · Patriots and Titans · Patriots and Vikings