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
MORE: Projecting the NFL's all-breakout team for 2025
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.