This isn’t Tom Brady’s NFL anymore, and that means being 40 isn’t exactly an advantage.
Quadragenarian Aaron Rodgers has had his share of ups and downs in his first season back from a torn Achilles, and he’s admitted that his body just doesn’t bounce back as easily as it did during his prime.
As players get older, sticking around in the NFL becomes tougher. It’s a fast, hard-hitting league that will bruise and batter even the most fit athletes. Some players, however, are showcasing remarkable longevity this season.
Here’s a look at the oldest active players in the NFL in 2024.
NFL HQ: Live NFL scores | Updated NFL standings | Full NFL schedule
Oldest players in the NFL 2024
| Player | Age (birthday) | Position | Team |
| Aaron Rodgers | 40 (Dec. 2, 1983) | QB | Jets |
| Marcedes Lewis | 40 (May 19, 1984) | TE | Bears |
| Matt Prater | 40 (Aug. 10, 1984) | K | Cardinals |
| Nick Folk | 39 (Nov. 5, 1984) | K | Titans |
| Joe Flacco | 39 (Jan. 16, 1985) | QB | Colts |
| J.J. Jansen | 38 (Jan. 20, 1986) | LS | Panthers |
| Jon Weeks | 38 (Feb. 17, 1986) | LS | Texans |
| Thomas Morstead | 38 (Mar. 8, 1986) | P | Jets |
| Morgan Cox | 38 (Apr. 26, 1986) | LS | Titans |
| Josh Johnson | 38 (May 15, 1986) | QB | Ravens |
| Calais Campbell | 38 (Sept. 1, 1984) | DE | Dolphins |
| Graham Gano | 37 (Apr. 9, 1987) | K | Giants |
Rodgers is the oldest active player in the NFL by more than five months. The only other 40-year-olds in the NFL at the moment are Bears TE Marcedes Lewis and Cardinals K Matt Prater.
The path to longevity in the NFL largely depends on position. The list of oldest active NFL players is littered with quarterbacks, kickers, and long snappers, as those positions don’t necessarily require as much athleticism as others.
There are 11 NFL players aged 38 or older, but six of them are specialists and three are quarterbacks. The exceptions are Lewis and Dolphins DE Calais Campbell.
MORE: Ranking the best options for Jets to replace Robert Saleh
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 |
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.
