Who is the oldest NFL player? Here's the oldest player ever and those still playing today. (2024)

Jacob Livesay, USA TODAY

·2 min read

The average career of an NFL player is only 3.3 years, according to Statista — but some players are in the league for much, much longer.

Kicker Morten Andersen, for example, had an NFL career which stretched from 1982 to 2007. Andersen currently holds the record for most NFL games played at 382, according to Sportsnaut.

While being an athlete is physically demanding, age does not keep certain players from making an impact on the field. Adam Vinatieri, who played in the NFL from 1996 to 2021 according to Sporting News, retired as the all-time leader for career points scored, according to ESPN.

Here are more NFL players with impressively long careers.

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Who is the oldest NFL player?

As of late 2022, Tom Brady is the oldest player in the NFL. He turned 45 in August, according to the NFL.

Who is the oldest NFL player? Here's the oldest player ever and those still playing today. (1)

Brady, who currently playsquarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, has sevenSuper Bowl rings, morethan any player in history. He won six of those rings with the New England Patriots.

Who is the oldest NFL player ever?

George Blanda holds the record as theoldest man to ever play in the NFL, according to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Blanda was a quarterback and placekicker who retired in 1976at the age of 48, after having played 26 seasons in the league.

Current NFL players over 40

As of September 2022, there are three active players in the NFL aged 40 or above.

Tom Brady, quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, is 45.

Jason Peters turned 40 in January 2022, according to Pro Football Reference. After a long career playing for the Philadelphia Eagles, Petersnow plays for the Dallas Cowboys, according to the NFL.

Andy Lee, punter for the Arizona Cardinals, turned 40 in August 2022, according to the Cardinals.

According to NBC Sports, 49ers kicker Robbie Gould will turn 40 in December 2022.

Punter Dustin Colquitt, who turned40 in May 2022, is currently a free agent, according to Sporting News.

Just curious?: We're here to answer your everyday questions.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who is the oldest NFL player? Oldest current player, plus the record.

Who is the oldest NFL player? Here's the oldest player ever and those still playing today. (2024)

FAQs

Who is currently the oldest NFL player? ›

Jason Peters

He has been a key figure in the NFL, earning nine Pro Bowl selections, six NFL All-Pro team honors, and being named to the 2010s NFL All-Decade Team. Peters is currently the oldest active player in the NFL, turning 42 in January 2024.

Who is the oldest football player still playing in 2024? ›

Kazuyoshi Miura is currently 57 years of age, playing his football at Portuguese second-division side Oliveirense.

Who is the oldest QB in the NFL? ›

While Aaron Rodgers ranks as the oldest NFL quarterback in the '23 season, he's not the oldest QB in NFL history yet; George Blanda wins the title at 48. The New York Jets and their fans were dealt a crushing blow as star quarterback Aaron Rodgers faced a major setback just moments into the 2023 NFL season.

Has there ever been a 50 year old NFL player? ›

Who is the oldest player in NFL history? George Blanda is the oldest player to play in NFL history. Blanda was a quarterback and placekicker who played in the NFL for 26 seasons. He retired in 1975 at the age of 48.

How many NFL players are over 40? ›

Jason Peters, Robbie Gould, and Andy Lee are currently playing football even though they are above the age of 40. Peters is the oldest among them at 41 years old.

Who is the longest playing NFL player? ›

The NFL player with the longest playing career is George Blanda. He played for 26 seasons, from 1949 to 1975. He played for the Chicago Bears, Baltimore Colts, Houston Oilers, and Oakland Raiders and held positions as kicker or quarterback.

Who is the oldest NFL team? ›

The Arizona Cardinals are the oldest established team in the NFL. They were established in 1898 as an independent team and joined the NFL in its founding year of 1920.

Has a rookie QB ever won a Super Bowl? ›

No rookie quarterback has ever won a Super Bowl in the 57 years of the game's existence as the starter.

Who is the youngest QB in the NFL? ›

Sam Darnold will be the youngest QB to start a season opener since the 1970 merger. Michael Vick and Alex Smith also started at the age of 21.

Who was the oldest QB drafted? ›

The oldest player ever selected in the NFL draft was quarterback Chris Weinke, who was 28 years and 264 days old when the Panthers selected the Heisman Trophy winner out of Florida State in 2000.

Who is the oldest player to ever be drafted to the NFL? ›

The oldest player ever selected in the NFL draft was quarterback Chris Weinke, who was 28 years and 264 days old when the Panthers selected the Heisman Trophy winner out of Florida State in 2000.

Has there ever been a 20 year old NFL player? ›

Danielle Hunter

Danielle Hunter, born on October 29, 1994, was only 20 years old when he was drafted into the NFL in 2015 by the Minnesota Vikings. Playing as a defensive end for the Vikings, Hunter has become a formidable force in the league due to his incredible athletic ability.

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