Football is a young man's sport, but some players have defied the odds.
In a league that prioritizes athleticism and agility — where careers tend to be short and non-fully guaranteed contracts often allow teams to move on from players as early as possible — there are always exceptions to the rule.
While no one is threatening any records set by Tom Brady or George Blanda in 2025, the NFL is seeing two quarterbacks aged 40 or older start in the AFC North. Aaron Rodgers and Joe Flacco could make history as the second pair of 40-year-old quarterbacks to face off when the Steelers and Browns meet.
Here's a look at the 15 oldest active players in the NFL for the 2025 season.
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Oldest players in the NFL 2025
Three NFL players on active rosters are 40 or older: Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers, Jets K Nick Folk and Browns QB Joe Flacco. All three players changed teams in the offseason. Rodgers, who will turn 42 in December, is the oldest player in the NFL by nearly 11 months.
Here's a complete look at the 15 oldest active players in the league:
| Player | Age (birthday) | Position | Team |
| Aaron Rodgers | 41 (Dec. 2, 1983) | QB | Steelers |
| Nick Folk | 40 (Nov. 5, 1984) | K | Jets |
| Joe Flacco | 40 (Jan. 16, 1985) | QB | Browns |
| J.J. Jansen | 39 (Jan. 20, 1986) | LS | Panthers |
| Jon Weeks | 39 (Feb. 17, 1986) | LS | 49ers |
| Thomas Morstead | 39 (Mar. 8, 1986) | P | 49ers |
| Morgan Cox | 39 (Apr. 26, 1986) | LS | Titans |
| Josh Johnson | 39 (May 15, 1986) | QB | Commanders |
| Calais Campbell | 39 (Sept. 1, 1986) | DE | Cardinals |
| Graham Gano | 38 (Apr. 9, 1987) | K | Giants |
| Andrew DePaola | 38 (Jul. 28, 1987) | LS | Vikings |
| Andy Dalton | 37 (Oct. 29, 1987) | QB | Panthers |
| Matthew Stafford | 37 (Feb. 7, 1988) | QB | Rams |
| Case Keenum | 37 (Feb. 17, 1988) | QB | Bears |
| Trent Williams | 37 (Jul. 19, 1988) | OT | 49ers |
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There is a clear trend among the oldest active players: quarterbacks and specialists. Only two players — Cardinals DE Calais Campbell and 49ers OT Trent Williams — don't fit into one of those two categories.
Of the 15 oldest active players, six are quarterbacks while four are long snappers, two are kickers and one is a punter. Athleticism and the ability to absorb hits aren't such crucial factors for kickers, punters and long snappers, giving those players some more longevity than most other position groups.
While athleticism is important for quarterbacks, the demand for quality passers is at such a premium that players who can throw the ball well are capable of sticking around well into their 30s and even into their 40s. The list of the 15 oldest active players includes three backup quarterbacks in Josh Johnson, Andy Dalton and Case Keenum.
Oldest players in NFL history
Nine players have played in the NFL at age 45 or older:
| Player | Age at end of final season | Position | Last played |
| George Blanda | 48 | QB/K | 1975 |
| Morten Anderson | 47 | K | 2007 |
| Adam Vinatieri | 47 | K | 2019 |
| Bobby Marshall | 45 | End | 1925 |
| John Carney | 45 | K | 2010 |
| John Nesser | 45 | OL | 1921 |
| Gary Anderson | 45 | K | 2004 |
| Tom Brady | 45 | QB | 2002 |
| Ben Agajanian | 45 | K | 1964 |
That group will not welcome a new member in 2025, as the oldest active player (Rodgers) will only be 42 by the end of the season. Rodgers has said he expects 2025 to be his final season, so the likelihood of him becoming the 10th player to play at 45 years old is almost certainly non-existent.
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Brady made history by becoming the oldest player to start a game at quarterback in 2022, doing so at 45. He's not the oldest player in NFL history, though. A handful of players who finished their careers at age 45 were older than Brady by a few months, and three players have played past 45: George Blanda, Morten Anderson, and Adam Vinatieri.
Anderson and Vinatieri made it to 47 in the NFL as kickers, while Blanda did spend much of his career at quarterback but also kicked. He didn't start a game at quarterback past age 41, which is why Brady holds the record among QBs.