There are many footballers who have converted from one football code to another at a professional or representative level. In some cases, the player may also return to the original code, so the traffic is not merely one way.
In some countries, such as the United Kingdom, United States, Ireland and Australia, where multiple codes are popular, and the practice of switching codes is relatively common, such players are known as code convertsLionel Frost (2004). "Globalisation and the future of indigenous football codes". Economic Society of Australia. or code hoppers. In Australia, star code converts can have a substantial impact on the games. For instance, Dally Messenger's defection from rugby union to rugby league was considered a pivotal moment in the establishment of the latter over other codes in Australia.
Globalisation is increasing the opportunities for players to transfer to different countries and to different professional sports, including the forms of football.
From American football American football to Association football Name Country Top American football level Top Association football level American football debut Association football debut Boris Shlapak USA NFL(Baltimore Colts) NASL(Chicago Sting) 1972 1975
American football to Australian rules football Name Country Top American football level Top Australian rules level American football debut Australian rules debut Dwayne Armstrong USA NCAA Division I(Iowa State) AFL reserves(Essendon) 1991 1995 Brandon Kaufman USA NFL(Buffalo – Practice squad) NEAFL(Gold Coast) 2013 2016 Jacinda Barclay USA Legends Football League(Chicago Bliss) AFL Women's() 2016 2017 Richelle Cranston Australia Australia, Gridiron Victoria (Geelong Buccaneers) AFL Women's(Melbourne)(Geelong)(Western Bulldogs) 2015 2017
American football to Canadian football American football and Canadian football are very similar gridiron codes; talented Canadian youth players are often recruited by American universities offering scholarships, and conversely the Canadian Football League enforces roster minimums for Canadian-trained players to prevent its clubs from fielding American-dominated teams. The CFL and NFL competed for the same player pool in their earlier years before the CFL settled into a de facto (and from time to time formal) developmental role to its American counterpart. Dozens of professional players move between these codes' top professional leagues every year, making any attempt at a list incomplete at best.
Two quarterbacks in particular became well known in both codes. Warren Moon, a California native who starred at the University of Washington, began his professional career with the Edmonton Eskimos before crossing the border back south to the Houston Oilers and later Minnesota Vikings, earning Hall of Fame recognition in both professional leagues. Doug Flutie, who authored a comeback win for Boston College considered an iconic moment in the history of American college football, began his professional football career in the USFL before moving on to the NFL, then played a long CFL career that led to him being the first non-Canadian honored with induction to Canada's Sports Hall of Fame, before returning to the NFL to close his football career. Dwayne Johnson played college football, and was on practice squad in the Canadian Football League. Ricky Williams played 12 seasons in the National Football League, one season in the Canadian Football League (CFL), and four years of minor league baseball for the Philadelphia Phillies.
American football to rugby league Name Country Top American football level Top rugby league level American football debut Rugby league debut Manfred Moore USA National Football League(San Francisco/Tampa Bay/Oakland) New South Wales Rugby Football League(Newtown) 1974 1977 Philippe Gardent France NFL(Washington – Practice squad) National League One(Crusaders) 2006 2008
American football to rugby union Name Country Top American football level Top rugby union level Top representation level American football debut Rugby union debut Richard Tardits France, USA National Football League(New England) Top 14(Biarritz) USA (15s) 1990 1994 Dan Lyle USA NCAA Division I FCS(Virginia Military Institute) English Premiership(Bath/Leicester) USA (15s) 1988 1996 Dave Hodges USA NCAA Division III(Occidental College) Welsh Premiership(Llanelli) USA (15s) 1988 1997 Leonard Peters USA National Football League(Chicago – Practice squad) IRB Sevens World Series(USA) USA (7s) USA (15s) 2007 2009 Perry Baker USA National Football League(Cincinnati – Injured reserve) USA (7s) 2006 2010 Carlin Isles USA National Football League(Detroit – Practice squad) Pro12(Glasgow Warriors) USA (7s) 2013 2014 Nate Ebner USA National Football League(New England) Olympics(USA) USA (7s) 2012 2016 Jarryd Hayne Australia, Fiji National Football League(San Francisco) World Rugby Sevens Series(Fiji) Fiji (7s) 2015 2016 Paul Lasike New Zealand National Football League Arizona Cardinals Chicago Bears Major League Rugby (Utah Warriors) Premiership Rugby (Harlequin F.C.) USA 2015 2018 Psalm Wooching USA & Samoa NCAA Division I college football (University of Washington, Washington Huskies) Major League Rugby (San Diego Legion) USA 2012 2018
NB: Isles made the Detroit Lions practice squad late in the 2013 season, after having become a sevens international. However, he never appeared in an NFL game, and has since signed a professional contract in 15s. Tardits switched codes twice: to American football as a young adult, and back to rugby union after a brief NFL career. He played for Biarritz Olympique and the France under-21 national team before switching to American football, and played for the USA national team after returning to his original code.
From association football Association football to American football Numerous American football placekickers grew up playing association football (soccer); however, very few have competed at a very high level in their original code. A large number of the first "soccer-style" placekickers of the 1960s, and early 1970s were Europeans and Latin Americans who changed codes in adulthood. Eventually, kickers who changed codes in adulthood were largely, though not completely, displaced by players who were either born and raised in the U.S. or immigrated to the U.S. at a relatively early age, thus receiving more exposure to American football than most of the first soccer-style placekickers.
Most of the women to have played men's American football have crossed over from association football.
Name Country Top association football level Top American football level Top representation level Phil Alexander England Norwich City F.C. London Monarchs N/A Clive Allen England Tottenham Hotspur F.C. London Monarchs England national football team Jesús Angoy Spain FC Barcelona Barcelona Dragons N/A Obed Ariri Nigeria Chicago Sting, P & T Vasco da Gama Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Redskins, 2 others N/A Brandon Aubrey USA Toronto FC Dallas Cowboys Pro Bowl (American football) Chris Bahr USA Philadelphia Atoms Oakland/LA Raiders, 2 others N/A Matt Bahr USA Colorado Caribous, Tulsa Roughnecks Cleveland Browns, New York Giants, 4 others N/A Manfred Burgsmüller Germany Borussia Dortmund, Werder Bremen Rhein Fire Germany national football team Silvio Diliberto Netherlands Sparta, Roda JC, Haarlem, Eindhoven Amsterdam Admirals Toni Fritsch Austria Rapid Vienna Dallas Cowboys, San Diego Chargers, Houston Oilers, New Orleans Saints Austria national football team (soccer)Pro Bowl (American football) Florian Kempf USA Philadelphia Fury Houston Oilers, New Orleans Saints N/A Axel Kruse GDR,Germany Hansa Rostock, Hertha BSC,Eintracht Frankfurt, VfB Stuttgart Berlin Thunder East Germany national under-21 football team(soccer) Josh Lambo USA FC Dallas San Diego Chargers United States U20 (soccer) Toni Linhart Austria Wiener Sport-Club New Orleans Saints, Baltimore Colts, New York Jets Austria national football team Pro Bowl (American football) Tony Meola USA MetroStars, Kansas City Wizards New York Jets (did not pass tryouts) US National Team (soccer) Horst Mühlmann Germany FC Schalke 04, Bonner SC, Kansas City Spurs Cincinnati Bengals, Philadelphia Eagles N/A Neil O'Donoghue Ireland Shamrock Rovers Buffalo Bills, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, St. Louis Cardinals N/A Derek Smethurst South Africa Chelsea, Millwall, Tampa Bay Rowdies Tampa Bay Buccaneers (cut due to injury) N/A (due to apartheid, RSA banned from FIFA, 1964–91) Liz Heaston USA Willamette Bearcats Willamette Bearcats First female to play college football Ashley Martin USA Jacksonville State Gamecocks Jacksonville State Gamecocks First female to play NCAA football Devin Barclay USA MLS Ohio State Buckeyes football N/A Jon Brown USA Louisville Cardinals men's soccer Louisville Cardinals football United States men's national under-17 soccer team Julie Harshbarger USA Rockford College, Benedictine University Chicago Pythons First female to score a field goal in professional football
Association football to Australian rules football Following the establishment of AFL Women's in 2016 (the first professional women's Australian rules football competition), several A-League Women players switched codes as they could augment their earnings in the off-season. Foot skills are advantageous in switching between these codes and goalkeepers have an advantage in marking and ball handling.
Name Country Top association football level Top Australian rules level Top representation level Association Football debut Australian rules debut Catherine Brown Australia Canberra United (W-League) (AFL Women's) N/A 2012 2022 Jessica Waterhouse Australia U17 Adelaide United (W-League) (AFL Women's) N/A 2012 2022 Lulu Pullar Australia Brisbane Roar (W-League) (AFL Women's) N/A 2017 2022 Angelique Stannett New Zealand Perth Glory (W-League) (AFL Women's) N/A 2015 2019 Marijana Rajcic Australia Adelaide United (W-League) (AFL Women's) N/A 2009 2018 Emma Pittman Australia Brisbane Roar (W-League) / (AFL Women's) N/A 2012 2018 Evangeline Gooch Australia Perth Glory (W-League) (AFL Women's) N/A 2015 2017 Ellie Brush Australia Canberra United (W-League) (AFL Women's) Australia (soccer) 2008 2017 Brianna Davey Australia Melbourne Victory (W-League)Melbourne City (W-League) (AFL Women's) Australia (soccer) 2010 2017 Jenna McCormick Australia Adelaide United (W-League)Canberra United (W-League) (AFL Women's) Australia (soccer) 2012 2017 Kristi Harvey Australia Adelaide United (W-League) Carlton (VFL Women's) N/A 2009 2017 Peter Halstead New Zealand Team Wellington (New Zealand Football Championship) Wellington Australian Football League (AFL New Zealand) New Zealand (AR) 2007 2016 Broc McCauley Australia Queensland Roar (Brisbane Premier League) Brisbane Lions/Hawthorn Football Club (AFL) N/A 2006 2007 Joanne Butland Australia Canberra Eclipse/QAS Sting (Women's National Soccer League) AFL Cairns Australia (soccer)Australia (International rules) 1999 2003 Brad Green Australia Launceston United SC (Northern Championship) Melbourne (AFL) N/A (International rules captain) 1996 2000 Roger Carter Australia Subiaco AFC (Football West Men's League) Centrals-Trinity Beach Bulldogs (Cairns AFL) N/A 2007 2014
Association football to Gaelic football Name Country Top association football level Top Gaelic football level Top representation level Playing era Ciarán Lyng Ireland Preston North End F.C., Shrewsbury Town F.C., Ireland underage teams Wexford senior football team 2000s Shane Supple Ireland Ipswich Town F.C., Falkirk F.C. Dublin senior football team 2000s Anthony Tohill Ireland Derry City F.C., Manchester United F.C. Reserves Derry senior football team 1990s, 2000s
Association football to rugby league