Who Has Played in the NFL the Longest?

We all know about the legends who have played in the NFL for a long time, but who has played in the NFL the longest?

Brett Favre

When it comes to playing in the NFL, Brett Favre holds the record for the most seasons played. He played for 20 seasons from 1992 to 2011. In that time, he played for three teams: the Green Bay Packers, the New York Jets, and the Minnesota Vikings. He holds many records, including the most career passing yards and most career passing touchdowns.

drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the second round of the 1991 NFL Draft

Brett Favre was born on October 10, 1969, in Gulfport, Mississippi. He played college football at the University of Southern Mississippi (USM) from 1987 to 1990. Favre was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the second round of the 1991 NFL Draft, but he was traded to the Green Bay Packers before the 1992 season began.

Favre became the Packers’ starting quarterback in 1992 and led the team to victory in Super Bowl XXXI in 1997. He was named the NFL’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) three times (1995, 1996, and 1997) and was selected to nine Pro Bowls during his 16-year career with the Packers. Favre retired from professional football after the 2010 season and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2016.

traded to the Green Bay Packers in 1992

Brett Favre was traded to the Green Bay Packers in 1992. He led the Packers to a Super Bowl win in 1997 and was named the MVP of the game. He is the only player in NFL history to have won three MVP awards.

played for the Packers from 1992 to 2007

Brett Favre is a former American football quarterback who spent the majority of his career with the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). He played for the Packers from 1992 to 2007, during which time he led the team to victory in Super Bowl XXXI over the New England Patriots. After his retirement from football, Favre became an analyst on NFL Network.

retired from the NFL in 2008

Brett Favre retired from the NFL in 2008 after playing for 20 seasons with the Green Bay Packers, New York Jets, and Minnesota Vikings. He is the only player in NFL history to have won three consecutive MVP awards (1995-97), and he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2016.

Jerry Rice

Jerry Rice is a former American football wide receiver who played 20 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He is considered to be the greatest wide receiver in NFL history. He is also the NFL’s all-time leader in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdown receptions. Rice was selected to the Pro Bowl 13 times in his career.

drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the first round of the 1985 NFL Draft

Rice started his career by being drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the first round of the 1985 NFL Draft. He then went on to play 20 seasons with the 49ers, Oakland Raiders, and Seattle Seahawks. He is currently the NFL’s all-time leader in most receiving categories, including receptions, receiving yards, and touchdown receptions.

played for the 49ers from 1985 to 2000

Jerry Rice is a former American football wide receiver who played 20 seasons in the National Football League, primarily with the San Francisco 49ers. He is widely considered to be the greatest wide receiver in NFL history, and was named the Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl XXIII. He played college football for Mississippi Valley State University, where he was an All-American. He was selected in the first round of the 1985 NFL Draft by the 49ers, and played for them until 2000.

signed with the Oakland Raiders in 2001

Jerry Rice, wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers from 1985 to 2000, signed with the Oakland Raiders in 2001. He played for the Raiders until 2004 and then retired.

played for the Raiders from 2001 to 2004

Jerry Rice played for the Raiders from 2001 to 2004, the longest stint of any team he was on in his 20 NFL seasons. He played in Oakland for three years, then spent a year with the Seattle Seahawks before returning to the Bay Area to play for the San Francisco 49ers for another two years. He retired after the 2004 season.

retired from the NFL in 2005

Jerry Rice is a former American football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for 20 seasons. He played college football for Mississippi Valley State University, and was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the first round of the 1985 NFL Draft. He was considered the greatest wide receiver in NFL history and among the greatest players ever. He is currently second on the NFL’s all-time receiving yardage list, behind only Calvin Johnson.

Morten Andersen

Morten Andersen, nicknamed “The Great Dane,” is a retired American football kicker who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 25 seasons. After playing college football for Michigan State University, he was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the fourth round of the 1982 NFL Draft.

drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the fourth round of the 1982 NFL Draft

Morten Andersen (born August 19, 1960), nicknamed “The Great Dane,” is a former American football kicker who played 25 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He is the leading scorer in NFL history with 2,544 points. He played for the New Orleans Saints from 1982 to 1994 and then for the Atlanta Falcons from 1995 to 2007. After spending his first season as a reserve player, he began a streak of 23 consecutive seasons as a starter. He retired as a member of the Atlanta Falcons in 2008 after failing to sign a contract extension.

played for the Saints from 1982 to 1994

Morten Andersen (“Great Dane”) is a retired Danish-American football kicker who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 25 seasons. He played for the New Orleans Saints from 1982 to 1994, Atlanta Falcons from 1995 to 2000, New York Giants in 2001, Kansas City Chiefs in 2002, Minnesota Vikings in 2004, Atlanta Falcons again from 2006 to 2007, and finally the Arizona Cardinals in 2008. He is the all-time leading scorer for both the Saints and Falcons, and currently holds the NFL records for most games played and most points scored.

signed with the Atlanta Falcons in 1995

Morten Andersen (born August 19, 1960), nicknamed “The Great Dane”, is a Danish former American football kicker who played the majority of his career with the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). After leaving Atlanta in 1995, he played for the New York Giants, Kansas City Chiefs, Minnesota Vikings, and New Orleans Saints. He is the all-time leading scorer among non-offensive players in NFL history.

Andersen was born in Copenhagen, Denmark and moved to the United States as a teenager. He played college football for Michigan State University from 1978 to 1981. He was signed by the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent in 1982, and played for them until 1994. He then spent one season each with the Atlanta Falcons, New York Giants, Kansas City Chiefs, Minnesota Vikings, and New Orleans Saints before retiring at the end of the 2007 season.

Andersen is the NFL’s all-time leading scorer among non-offensive players with 2,544 points. He holds the NFL records for most games played (382), most points scored (2,544), and most field goals made (565). He is also third on the league’s all-time scoring list behind only Jerry Rice and Emmitt Smith.

played for the Falcons from 1995 to 2000, 2006 to 2007, and 2009

Morten Andersen (born August 19, 1960) is a retired American football kicker who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 25 seasons. He played for the New Orleans Saints from 1982 to 1994, Atlanta Falcons from 1995 to 2000, 2006 to 2007, and 2009. He also played for the New York Giants in 2001, the Kansas City Chiefs in 2002 and 2003, and the Minnesota Vikings in 2004. Andersen is the leading scorer among non-offensive players in NFL history with 2,544 points scored.[1] He holds NFL records for most games played by a position player (382),[2] most points scored (2,544),[3][4] most seasons with 150 or more points scored (11),[5] and most field goals made of 50 yards or more (32).[6]

Andersen knew he wanted to be a football player since he was seven years old.[7][8] He developed his kicking game at Ben Davis High School in Indianapolis where he set five high school records,[9][10][11][12] including most career points with 271.[13] Andersen’s skills earned him a scholarship offer from Michigan State University.[14] He originally wanted to play college football as a defensive lineman,[15]:37 but head coach Darryl Rogers convinced him to focus on kicking.[16][17]:165 Andersen did not anticipating playing professional football, but he was one of six NFL teams that gave him a tryout after his college graduation in 1982. The Saint Louis Cardinals were considering using their second round draft pick on Andersen but decided instead on another player.[18]:651 As a free agent rookie with the New Orleans Saints organization in 1982, he competed with both Mike Pulman and Luis Zendejas during training camp before prevailing as the team’s starting kicker.[19]:191-192

signed with the New York Giants in 2001

Morten Andersen (born August 19, 1960), nicknamed “The Great Dane”, is a former American football placekicker who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 25 seasons. He played professionally for the New Orleans Saints from 1982 to 1994, Atlanta Falcons from 1995 to 2000, New York Giants in 2001, Kansas City Chiefs in 2002, Minnesota Vikings from 2004 to 2005, and Atlanta Falcons again from 2006 to 2007. He is the leading scorer in NFL history with 2,544 points.

Andersen was born in Copenhagen, Denmark and moved to the United States as a young boy when his family emigrated. They settled in Indiana where Morten attended Ben Davis High School in Indianapolis; he did not play high school football because his family could not afford the equipment. Andersen played football for Michigan State University starting in 1978 and was their starting kicker for all four years he was on campus. He finished his college career as MSU’s second most accurate kicker in school history behind Paul Edinger.

played for the Giants from 2001 to 2003

Morten Andersen (born August 19, 1960), nicknamed “The Great Dane”, is a former American football kicker who played for the New Orleans Saints from 1982 to 1994 and then for the Atlanta Falcons from 1995 to 2000 and again from 2006 to 2007.

Andersen is the all-time leading scorer in NFL history with 2,744 points. He held the record for most career field goals made until it was broken by Adam Vinatieri in 2018. In 2017, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

retired from the NFL in 2007

After a successful college career at Michigan State, Andersen was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the 4th round of the 1982 NFL Draft. He played for the Saints for 13 seasons before being released in 1995. He subsequently played for the Atlanta Falcons (1995–2000), New York Giants (2001), Kansas City Chiefs (2002–2003), and Minnesota Vikings (2004). Upon retiring from the NFL, he held the league’s record for most field goals made, most points scored, and most seasons played. In 2017, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Jason Witten

Jason Witten is an American football tight end for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the University of Tennessee, and was drafted by the Cowboys in the third round of the 2003 NFL Draft. As of 2019, he has the most career catches by a tight end in NFL history.

drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the third round of the 2003 NFL Draft

Jason Witten (born May 6, 1982) is an American football tight end for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the University of Tennessee, and was drafted by the Cowboys in the third round of the 2003 NFL Draft. Witten ranks second all-time in career receptions and receiving yards by an NFL tight end, trailing only Tony Gonzalez.

played for the Cowboys from 2003 to present

Jason Witten (born May 6, 1982) is an American football tight end for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the University of Tennessee, and was drafted by the Cowboys in the third round of the 2003 NFL Draft. Since entering the league, Witten has been one of the most consistent performers at his position, leading Dallas in catches in eight of his first eleven seasons. In 2012, he surpassed Michael Irvin as the Cowboys’ all-time leader in receptions.

Witten ranks second all-time among NFL tight ends (behind Tony Gonzalez) in both career receptions and career receiving yards. He also ranks fifth among tight ends in career receiving touchdowns. As of 2016, Witten has more catches than any other player in Cowboys history, regardless of position. He is one of only six players: Jerry Rice, Walter Payton, Tony Gonzalez, Marvin Harrison and Larry Fitzgerald to achieve 10 or more seasons with 1,000 or more receiving yards.

Tom Brady

Born on August 3, 1977, in San Mateo, California, to Galynn Patricia (Johnson) and Thomas Edward Brady, Sr., Tom Brady is an American football quarterback for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). He is one of only two players to win five Super Bowls (the other being defensive end Charles Haley), and he is the only player to win them all playing for one team. Brady has also been selected for 11 Pro Bowls, more than any other quarterback in NFL history.

drafted by the New England Patriots in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft

Tom Brady was born on August 3, 1977, in San Mateo, California. Brady played college football for the University of Michigan from 1995 to 1999. He was drafted by the New England Patriots in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft. Brady has played in ten Super Bowls, winning seven of them. He is the only quarterback to have won a Super Bowl in his first four seasons as a starter. He is also the only quarterback to have won a Super Bowl in his first three seasons as a starter. In 2016, Brady was named the NFL MVP for the third time in his career.

played for the Patriots from 2000 to present

Tom Brady is a professional American football quarterback for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). He has played in the NFL for 19 years, andamanuscript he was selected by the Patriots in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft. Brady holds many career statistical records, including most passing yards, most touchdown passes, and most regular season wins by a starting quarterback, as well as being selected to fourteen Pro Bowls.