List of players who have converted from one football code to another

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 converts 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

American football to Australian rules football

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 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, and four years of minor league baseball for the Philadelphia Phillies.

American football to rugby league

American football to rugby union

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 ; 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
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 Pro Bowl
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
Josh Lambo	USA	FC Dallas	San Diego Chargers	United States U20
Toni Linhart	Austria	Wiener Sport-Club	New Orleans Saints, Baltimore Colts, New York Jets	Austria national football team Pro Bowl
Tony Meola	USA	MetroStars, Kansas City Wizards	New York Jets	US National Team
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	N/A
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, 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		N/A	2012	2022
Jessica Waterhouse	Australia U17	Adelaide United		N/A	2012	2022
Lulu Pullar	Australia	Brisbane Roar		N/A	2017	2022
Angelique Stannett	New Zealand	Perth Glory		N/A	2015	2019
Marijana Rajcic	Australia	Adelaide United		N/A	2009	2018
Emma Pittman	Australia	Brisbane Roar	/	N/A	2012	2018
Evangeline Gooch	Australia	Perth Glory		N/A	2015	2017
Ellie Brush	Australia	Canberra United		Australia	2008	2017
Brianna Davey	Australia	Melbourne Victory Melbourne City		Australia	2010	2017
Jenna McCormick	Australia	Adelaide United Canberra United		Australia	2012	2017
Kristi Harvey	Australia	Adelaide United	Carlton	N/A	2009	2017
Peter Halstead	New Zealand	Team Wellington	Wellington Australian Football League	New Zealand	2007	2016
Broc McCauley	Australia	Queensland Roar	Brisbane Lions/Hawthorn Football Club	N/A	2006	2007
Joanne Butland	Australia	Canberra Eclipse/QAS Sting	AFL Cairns	Australia Australia	1999	2003
Brad Green	Australia	Launceston United SC	Melbourne	N/A	1996	2000
Roger Carter	Australia	Subiaco AFC	Centrals-Trinity Beach Bulldogs	N/A	2007	2014