12 Oldest players to Play in NFL this century

Age is just a number, and it has been proven multiple times by the NFL players who extended their careers well past the norm. They kept going strong in their 40s and remained dominant.

Surbhi Khera
September 5, 2025
4 min read

12 Oldest players to Play in NFL this century — © Paul Rutherford-Imagn Images

It is rightly said, ‘It’s not the years, it’s the performance.’ The saying fits perfectly for the NFL players who defied age and let their performance speak for itself. Many NFL players played in their 40s and still managed to perform exceptionally. They knew that their talent and dedication can beat the age.

12. Phil Dawson

The Placekicker for the Cardinals, Phil Dawson, concluded his career in 2018 at the age of 44 and is considered one of the accurate kickers. He played 305 games in the league. His unwavering accuracy and dedication enabled him to achieve even at this age.

11. Matt Bryant

One of the reliable kickers to play in the NFL, Matt Bryant, played his last game at the age of 44. He managed to perform despite his age and proved that these are just numbers. He played around 252 games. He is also known as ‘Money Matt’ because of his exceptional clutch field goals.

10. Darrell Green

Darrell Green’s talent and dedication clearly stated his mindset that age holds no limits. He logged his final outing in the NFL at the age of 43. He closed his career after 20 seasons with the Redskins, which clearly shows his reliable and consistent ability.

9. Jeff Feagles

Age is merely a figure when there is a player like Jeff Feagles, who was one of the consistent players. He closed his career as a player at the age of 44 years and spent 22 seasons in the league. He set an NFL record by appearing in 352 consecutive games, which reflects his consistency and dedication.

8. Warren Moon

Warren Moon built a career not only in the NFL but in the CFL. He played his final game on January 6th, 2000, at the age of 44 and became one of the oldest quarterbacks to play at this age. He played 17 seasons in the league and enjoyed an impressive 23-year career in professional football.

7. Vinny Testaverde

An experienced quarterback, Vinny Testaverde played 21 seasons throughout his career. He took the field for the final time at the age of 44 with the Panthers, proving age is just a statistic. In the history of the NFL, he became the senior-most quarterback ever to throw a touchdown pass at that time.

6. Eddie Murray

The former NFL placekicker, Eddie Murray, known for his calmness, was one of the oldest players to appear in the NFL in modern times. He played his last match at the age of 44. He won Super Bowl XXVIII with the Cowboys.

5. Gary Anderson

Gary Anderson proved that in the world of sports, true talent can outshine the fleeting advantage of youth. He is considered one of the reliable kickers in the NFL whose career spanned 23 seasons. He played his last game at the age of 45 in 2004. He played in four different decades, a rare achievement by any kicker in the NFL.

4. Tom Brady

Tom Brady defied time to continue performing at his best and played his last game at the age of 45. He is widely hailed as the ‘G.O.A.T.’ due to his performance, longevity, dominance, and a massive career. He played 23 seasons in the league and also won Super Bowls in three different decades.

3. John Carney

An epitome of longevity, consistency, and reliability, John Carney played 23 seasons in the league. He made multiple field goals at the age of 46. He played his last match on October 10, 2010, with the New Orleans Saints. He proved that his dedication and consistency are bigger than his age.

2. Adam Vinatieri

The four-time Super Bowl champion, Adam Vinatieri, is the second-oldest player in the NFL this century. Age couldn’t slow him down, and he played his last game at the age of 46 years and 338 days. He is popularly called ‘Mr. Clutch’ because he is the most clutch kicker in the NFL.

1. Morten Anderson

‘The Great Dane, ’ as he is commonly called, Morten Anderson, excelled at his gameplay and became one of the oldest players in the history of the NFL. The NFL kicker played his last game at the age of 47 years, 133 days, and played 25 seasons throughout his career. As the saying goes, age is just a number, and he proved it through his performances and records.