The National Football League (NFL) has showcased numerous examples of athletic excellence, yet only a handful of players have managed to defy their usual retirement age, despite going through the physicality and toughness of the game for over two decades, extending their careers far longer than most. The top five oldest players in NFL history stand as examples of durability, discipline, and exceptional skill.
The careers of majority of NFL athletes are relatively short with retirement typically looming in the early 30s. However, the players on this list defied that norm, extending their time on the field into their 40s. Many enjoyed careers that stretched beyond two decades, with several earning induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. These five players not only showcased talent but also demonstrated the mental and physical resilience required to compete at the highest level into their forties.
Here are five NFL legends who defied age and left an enduring mark on the sport’s history:
1. George Blanda
Blanda enjoyed a remarkable 26-season career that stretched across four different decades, making him one of the most enduring figures in NFL history. A standout quarterback and kicker from the University of Kentucky, Blanda began his professional journey in 1949 with the Chicago Bears. He retired for a brief period after the 1958 season following disagreements with Bears owner George Halas, who primarily used him as a kicker. However, Blanda returned to the field in the AFL with the Houston Oilers, where he led the team to three league titles and earned the AFL Most Valuable Player award in 1961.
At the time of his retirement, Blanda was the NFL’s all-time leading scorer and one of just three players to compete in four different decades. His versatility allowed him to extend his career, contributing both as a reliable kicker and as a dependable backup quarterback. Blanda spent his final nine seasons with the Oakland Raiders, providing crucial depth and stability, before retiring in 1975 at the age of 48 years and 109 days - still the oldest player ever in NFL history. He left the game with multiple records, including the most PATs made, cementing his place as a true legend of the sport.
2. Morten Andersen
Andersen, widely regarded as one of the greatest kickers in NFL history, is one of only two players at his position - along with Jan Stenerud - to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as per stadiumtalk.com. Originally from Denmark, Andersen arrived in the United States as an exchange student in 1977. His standout single season of high school football earned him a scholarship to Michigan State, where he shattered multiple Big Ten kicking records.
Andersen began his NFL journey with the New Orleans Saints, where he spent 13 seasons and earned the nickname 'Mr. Automatic' for his remarkable accuracy and consistency. Over his 23-year career, he represented five franchises, made six All-Pro teams, and was named to the NFL’s All-Decade Teams for both the 1980s and 1990s. While with the Saints, he converted 302 field goals and became one of the most reliable specialists in the league. On December 16, 2006, Andersen became the NFL’s all-time leading scorer, and shortly afterward, he set the record for most career field goals made. He played his final game in December 2007 for the Atlanta Falcons at the age of 47, but officially retired a year later.
3. Adam Vinatieri
Vinatieri is widely celebrated as one of the most clutch performers in NFL history and is expected to join Jan Stenerud and Morten Andersen as the third kicker enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, according to stadiumtalk.com. A native of South Dakota, Vinatieri enjoyed a remarkable 24-season career split between the New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts.
He captured four Super Bowl titles - three with the Patriots and one with the Colts - and etched his name into history by kicking the game-winning field goals in two of New England’s championship victories. His composure under pressure made him synonymous with big-game moments. Vinatieri retired as the NFL’s all-time leading scorer with 2,673 points. He also holds league records for most field goals made (599), postseason scoring, and overtime field goals. His unmatched consistency and longevity also earned him a place on the prestigious NFL 100th Anniversary Team.
4. John Carney
Carney’s NFL journey began with setbacks, but his perseverance defined a career that spanned more than two decades. Undrafted out of Notre Dame in 1986, he signed with the Cincinnati Bengals as a free agent, only to be released and forced to spend a year away from football. His big break came in 1987 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and from there he carved out a place among the league’s most reliable kickers.
Carney’s peak years came with the San Diego Chargers, where he spent 11 seasons and earned two NFL All-Pro selections. Later, he capped his long career by winning a Super Bowl with the New Orleans Saints, the team that also gave him his final opportunity. At the time of his retirement, he was the last active player who had entered the league in the 1980s.
Carney ultimately played until the age of 46, officially retiring in October 2010. Beyond his playing career, he has remained connected to the sport, serving as a kicking consultant for the Saints and creating 'The Launching Pad', a two-week summer program designed to help professional kickers refine their craft.
5. Bobby Marshall
Marshall’s legacy extends well beyond his longevity in professional football. Not only was he among the oldest players in NFL history, but he also broke barriers as one of the league’s first African-American players and the first African-American to compete in Big Ten football. A multi-sport talent at the University of Minnesota, Marshall excelled in both baseball and football before embarking on a career that blended athletics with law. He played in the pre-Negro Leagues in addition to his football commitments, all while maintaining a professional career as an attorney in Minneapolis.
Marshall joined the NFL at its inception in 1920, suiting up for the Minneapolis Marines, the Duluth Kelleys, and the Rock Island Independents. He continued playing until 1925, retiring at the age of 45 - an extraordinary feat for his era. He passed away in 1958 at the age of 78 and was posthumously honored with induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1971.
The careers of majority of NFL athletes are relatively short with retirement typically looming in the early 30s. However, the players on this list defied that norm, extending their time on the field into their 40s. Many enjoyed careers that stretched beyond two decades, with several earning induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. These five players not only showcased talent but also demonstrated the mental and physical resilience required to compete at the highest level into their forties.
Here are five NFL legends who defied age and left an enduring mark on the sport’s history:
1. George Blanda
- Position: Quarterback/Kicker
- Age at last game: 48 years, 109 days
- Teams: Chicago Bears (1949, 1950-58), Baltimore Colts (1950), Houston Oilers (1960-66), Oakland Raiders (1967-75)
Blanda enjoyed a remarkable 26-season career that stretched across four different decades, making him one of the most enduring figures in NFL history. A standout quarterback and kicker from the University of Kentucky, Blanda began his professional journey in 1949 with the Chicago Bears. He retired for a brief period after the 1958 season following disagreements with Bears owner George Halas, who primarily used him as a kicker. However, Blanda returned to the field in the AFL with the Houston Oilers, where he led the team to three league titles and earned the AFL Most Valuable Player award in 1961.
At the time of his retirement, Blanda was the NFL’s all-time leading scorer and one of just three players to compete in four different decades. His versatility allowed him to extend his career, contributing both as a reliable kicker and as a dependable backup quarterback. Blanda spent his final nine seasons with the Oakland Raiders, providing crucial depth and stability, before retiring in 1975 at the age of 48 years and 109 days - still the oldest player ever in NFL history. He left the game with multiple records, including the most PATs made, cementing his place as a true legend of the sport.
2. Morten Andersen
- Position: Kicker
- Age at last game: 47 years, 131 days
- Career: New Orleans Saints (1982-94), Atlanta Falcons (1995-2000, 2006-07), New York Giants (2001), Kansas City Chiefs (2002-03), Minnesota Vikings (2004)
Andersen, widely regarded as one of the greatest kickers in NFL history, is one of only two players at his position - along with Jan Stenerud - to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as per stadiumtalk.com. Originally from Denmark, Andersen arrived in the United States as an exchange student in 1977. His standout single season of high school football earned him a scholarship to Michigan State, where he shattered multiple Big Ten kicking records.
Andersen began his NFL journey with the New Orleans Saints, where he spent 13 seasons and earned the nickname 'Mr. Automatic' for his remarkable accuracy and consistency. Over his 23-year career, he represented five franchises, made six All-Pro teams, and was named to the NFL’s All-Decade Teams for both the 1980s and 1990s. While with the Saints, he converted 302 field goals and became one of the most reliable specialists in the league. On December 16, 2006, Andersen became the NFL’s all-time leading scorer, and shortly afterward, he set the record for most career field goals made. He played his final game in December 2007 for the Atlanta Falcons at the age of 47, but officially retired a year later.
3. Adam Vinatieri
- Position: Kicker
- Age at last game: 46 years, 338 days
- Career: New England Patriots (1996-2005), Indianapolis Colts (2006-19)
Vinatieri is widely celebrated as one of the most clutch performers in NFL history and is expected to join Jan Stenerud and Morten Andersen as the third kicker enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, according to stadiumtalk.com. A native of South Dakota, Vinatieri enjoyed a remarkable 24-season career split between the New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts.
He captured four Super Bowl titles - three with the Patriots and one with the Colts - and etched his name into history by kicking the game-winning field goals in two of New England’s championship victories. His composure under pressure made him synonymous with big-game moments. Vinatieri retired as the NFL’s all-time leading scorer with 2,673 points. He also holds league records for most field goals made (599), postseason scoring, and overtime field goals. His unmatched consistency and longevity also earned him a place on the prestigious NFL 100th Anniversary Team.
4. John Carney
- Position: Kicker
- Age at last game: 46 years, 9 days
- Career: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1987-89), Los Angeles Rams (1990), San Diego Chargers (1990-2000), New Orleans Saints (2001-06, 2009-10), Jacksonville Jaguars (2007), Kansas City Chiefs (2007), New York Giants (2008)
Carney’s NFL journey began with setbacks, but his perseverance defined a career that spanned more than two decades. Undrafted out of Notre Dame in 1986, he signed with the Cincinnati Bengals as a free agent, only to be released and forced to spend a year away from football. His big break came in 1987 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and from there he carved out a place among the league’s most reliable kickers.
Carney’s peak years came with the San Diego Chargers, where he spent 11 seasons and earned two NFL All-Pro selections. Later, he capped his long career by winning a Super Bowl with the New Orleans Saints, the team that also gave him his final opportunity. At the time of his retirement, he was the last active player who had entered the league in the 1980s.
Carney ultimately played until the age of 46, officially retiring in October 2010. Beyond his playing career, he has remained connected to the sport, serving as a kicking consultant for the Saints and creating 'The Launching Pad', a two-week summer program designed to help professional kickers refine their craft.
5. Bobby Marshall
- Position: Tight End
- Age at last game: 45 years, 230 days
- Career: Rock Island Independents (1920), Minneapolis Marines (1921-24), Duluth Kelleys (1925)
Marshall’s legacy extends well beyond his longevity in professional football. Not only was he among the oldest players in NFL history, but he also broke barriers as one of the league’s first African-American players and the first African-American to compete in Big Ten football. A multi-sport talent at the University of Minnesota, Marshall excelled in both baseball and football before embarking on a career that blended athletics with law. He played in the pre-Negro Leagues in addition to his football commitments, all while maintaining a professional career as an attorney in Minneapolis.
Marshall joined the NFL at its inception in 1920, suiting up for the Minneapolis Marines, the Duluth Kelleys, and the Rock Island Independents. He continued playing until 1925, retiring at the age of 45 - an extraordinary feat for his era. He passed away in 1958 at the age of 78 and was posthumously honored with induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1971.
