Football is a young man’s game, but don’t tell that to the oldest NFL player right now. He and some of the other elder statesmen continue to dominate on the gridiron as they take on both the opposing team and father time at once.
When you look at the average career length of an NFL player, you’ll see that they don’t last long. Most players are out of the league within 5 years and certain positions, like running back or tight end, make it tough to last more than a few years.
Today, we’re going to talk about the oldest NFL player right now, as well as some of the oldest in NFL history. Longevity in the NFL requires a combination of natural talent, hard work, and a lot of injury luck. The following men have made it look easy, but their careers are among the most successful in the history of the sport.
Who Is the Oldest NFL Player In the League Right Now?
There’s a growing trend, led by a couple of the guys on this list, of star quarterbacks playing deep into their late 30s or early 40s. We’re sure to see other big names like Ben Roethlisberger, Matt Ryan, and Aaron Rodgers play past 40, but nothing is guaranteed. That’s what makes these names so special.
Typically, the players that can play the longest take the least physical abuse, but currently, it’s quarterbacks and offensive linemen who hold the label as the oldest active players in the NFL.
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Tom Brady – 43
Having the GOAT as the oldest NFL player is a treat for football fans, especially with the way he continues to play. Tom Brady (August 3, 1977) is going into his 22nd NFL season, which would be extreme for anyone, let alone one of the best to ever do it.
With 7 Super Bowl trophies in the bag, he’s showing no sign of slowing down and his Buccaneers have a great chance to repeat. Don’t be surprised to see Tom Terrific play until 45 so he can put any argument of who the best football player ever is to bed for a long time.
Drew Brees – 42
Drew Brees (January 15, 1979) just finished his 20th and last season in the league, but we’ll include him here anyway. His resume isn’t as flashy as Brady’s, but he finished his career topping many of the relevant statistical categories for quarterbacks (including most passing yards all-time). He defied age for a long time, but it caught up with him during the 2020 season, forcing him to retire.
As one of the NFL’s good guys, Brees is now making his transition to the booth, where he’ll be an analyst for Sunday Night Football on NBC.
LP Ladouceur – 40
Few long snappers are household names and LP Ladouceur (March 13, 1981) is no different. That said, he’s carved out a solid 16-year career for the Saints and the Cowboys, which is more than most players can boast about.
He’s the only Canadian player on this list and the only remaining Dallas Cowboy player to have played under legendary coach Bill Parcells.
Andrew Whitworth – 39
Andrew Whitworth (December 12, 1981) is another player that’ll be turning 40 during the 2021 NFL season. This stalwart offensive lineman was drafted in 2006 and played with the Cincinnati Bengals for 10 years before signing with the St. Louis (now LA) Rams in 2016.
Since he’s under contract until 2022, we know that Whitworth has got at least 1 more season left. He’s still a strong starter in the league, so barring any injuries, there’s no reason he’ll have to hang them up just yet.
Jason Peters – 39
Jason Peters (January 22, 1982) will undoubtedly go down as one of the greatest undrafted free agents of all time. His playing career began when the Buffalo Bills signed him in the summer of 2004. Fast forward 17 years later, and the Philadelphia Eagles offensive tackle has racked up nine Pro Bowls, two First-Team and four Second-Team All Pro nod, and a Super Bowl ring.
Peters is currently a free agent after a down season with the Eagles in 2020. But he says he still has “some in the tank.” And he could be right. After all, he’s not far removed from his dominant 2019 season, when PFF graded him as the sixth-best tackle in the league.
Who Is The Oldest NFL Player Of All Time?
There’s no doubt that the training regimens and medicine that they have in the league today will allow players to have longer careers. A fact that makes the following players’ long and storied careers all the more incredible. Most of the oldest players in the history of the NFL are in fact kickers, but there’s one man in particular that defied time and logic for a quarter-century.
George Blanda – 48
George Blanda (September 17, 1927) had an incredible 26 seasons of football as both a kicker and a quarterback. Ironically, he did retire from the Chicago Bears after only 10 years because his coach, the one and only George Halas, only wanted to play him at kicker.
When he returned to quarterback the Houston Oilers in 1960, he eventually led them to 2 AFL titles before joining the Oakland Raiders in 1967. This legend became the oldest player to play in an NFL game when he finished his long, storied career in the 1976 AFC Championship game, where he kicked a field goal and an extra point in a 16-10 loss to the Steelers.
Morten Andersen – 47
Only two placekickers have ever been inducted into the Pro Football Hall Of Fame. Morten Andersen (August 19, 1960) is one of them. Despite having one of the most accurate kicking seasons of his career in 2007 (making 25 out of 28 field goals), he announced his retirement in 2008 at the age of 47.
The “Great Dane” remains one of the best kickers in the history of the league and easily one of the best European players ever.
Adam Vinatieri – 48
Having just retired at the age of 48, Adam Vinatieri (December 28, 1972) finished his career with the most points scored, postseason points scored, field goals made, and overtime field goals made. This is sure to make him the third kicker inducted into the HOF in 5 years’ time.
With so many memorable moments, mostly for the New England Patriots during their dynastic years, Vinatieri holds a special place in the hearts of Patriots fans.
John Carney – 46
John Carney (April 20, 1964), along with the aforementioned George Blanda, is one of two players to have played across 4 different decades. He signed with the Bengals in 1987 and finished his career with his 2nd stint with the Saints in 2009, the year that they won their first Super Bowl.
In between, he had stints with the Bucs, Chargers (twice), Jags, Chiefs, and Giants. He’s got several kicking records to his name, in addition to being known as one of the oldest players the league has ever seen.
Who Will Be the Next Oldest NFL Player?
These are some of the oldest players to ever play the game, but have we seen the oldest NFL player ever? In the years to come, we’re sure to see more quarterbacks, kickers, and offensive linemen with 20 plus year careers. One day, we may even see someone make it all the way to 50 before retiring, but for now, we have to marvel at the accomplishments of these men that have defied time.
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