Who Was The Oldest Nfl Player Ever?
Who was the oldest NFL player ever? This is a question that many fans have asked over the years. While there is no definitive answer, we can take a look at some of the oldest players in NFL history to get an idea.
George Blanda
George Blanda was an American football quarterback and placekicker who played twenty-six seasons in the National Football League. Blanda retired from professional football in 1976, at the age of 48. He was the oldest player to ever play in the NFL, and he holds the record for most seasons played.
Born in 1927
George Blanda was born on December 27, 1927, in Youngwood, Pennsylvania. He was the seventh of nine children of a Hungarian immigrant family. Blanda excelled in baseball and football at Youngwood High School and was offered college scholarships for both sports. However, he chose to play football at the University of Kentucky where he played quarterback and linebacker from 1946 to 1949. He led the Wildcats to victory in the Orange Bowl in 1948.
Played for the Chicago Bears, Houston Oilers, and Oakland Raiders
George Blanda was an American football quarterback and placekicker who played 26 seasons in the National Football League, primarily with the Chicago Bears and Houston Oilers. He retired as professional football’s all-time leading scorer at the time with 2,002 points. Blanda was also a prolific passer, and retired as the NFL’s all-time leader in passing yards and passing touchdowns. He is one of only two players to score points in four different decades, the other being Morten Andersen.
Blanda played for 11 different teams during his professional career. He started his NFL career with the Chicago Bears in 1949 before being drafted by the Baltimore Colts in 1950. After one season with the Colts, he was released and picked up by the Bears again. He served as a back-up for Sammy Baugh with the Washington Redskins in 1951 before being traded back to the Bears later that season. After three seasons with Chicago, he was traded to the Houston Oilers where he spent most of his career playing under legendary head coach Sid Gillman.
Retired in 1975
In 1975, Blanda retired from the Oakland Raiders, having played for them for 10 seasons. He left the game with all major league career passing records for quarterbacks over the age of 40. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1981.
Jerry Rice
Retired wide receiver Jerry Rice is the oldest player in NFL history, having played until he was 42 years old. Rice played for 20 seasons, spending most of his time with the San Francisco 49ers. He was a first-team All-Pro 12 times and was named to the Pro Bowl 13 times.
Born in 1962
Jerry Lee Rice (born October 13, 1962) is a former American football wide receiver who played in the National Football League (NFL), primarily with the San Francisco 49ers. He is widely considered to be one of the greatest wide receivers in NFL history, and was named the greatest player in NFL history by The Sporting News in 2010. He is now an analyst for the NFL Network.
Played for the San Francisco 49ers, Oakland Raiders, and Seattle Seahawks
Jerry Rice is a former American football wide receiver who played his entire 20-year career in the National Football League (NFL). He is widely considered to be the greatest wide receiver in NFL history, and he holds numerous league records. Rice played for the San Francisco 49ers, Oakland Raiders, and Seattle Seahawks.
Rice was born in Starkville, Mississippi, and grew up in the small town of Crawford, Mississippi. He attended B.L. Moor High School in Okolona, where he played football, basketball, and track. He then attended Mississippi Valley State University, where he played college football for the Delta Devils. He was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the first round of the 1985 NFL Draft.
Rice had an immediate impact on the 49ers’ offense, catching 46 passes for 935 yards and three touchdowns in his rookie season. He went on to lead the league in receptions and receiving yards six times each. He was named to 12 Pro Bowls and was named first-team All-Pro 10 times. He won three Super Bowls with the 49ers and was voted Super Bowl MVP twice.
In 2000, Rice joined the Oakland Raiders. He caught 83 passes for 1,139 yards and nine touchdowns in his first season with the team. He played four seasons with the Raiders before returning to the 49ers for his final season in 2004. He retired as a member of the Seahawks following their Super Bowl XLVIII victory over the Denver Broncos in 2014.
Retired in 2004
Rice was born in Starkville, Mississippi, and raised in the small town of Crawford, Mississippi. He is the son of a black mother, hearlannes Rice and a white father, Joe Rice. He attended Bogue Chitto High School where he played football, basketball, and track. He was invited to attend the 1983 College All-Star Game in Chicago where he competed against some of the best college players of that year including future NFL stars Dan Marino, Jim Kelly and John Elway. In the same year, he was also named as an All-American by Parade magazine.
Morten Andersen
At the age of 47, Morten Andersen became the oldest player in NFL history when he kicked a field goal for the Atlanta Falcons against the Detroit Lions in 2006. Prior to his retirement in 2008, he also played for the New York Giants, Kansas City Chiefs and Minnesota Vikings.
Born in 1960
Morten Andersen was born on August 19, 1960, in Copenhagen, Denmark. His family moved to the United States when he was 7 years old, and he became a citizen in 1974. He played football at Ben Davis High School in Indianapolis, Indiana, and then went on to play college football at Michigan State University. After college, he was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in 1982 and played for them until 1995. He then played for the Atlanta Falcons from 1995 to 2007, and for the New York Giants in 2007. He retired from the NFL in 2008 with the record for most points scored by a kicker (2,544).
Played for the New Orleans Saints, Atlanta Falcons, New York Giants, and Kansas City Chiefs
Morten Andersen (born August 19, 1960), nicknamed “The Great Dane”, is a former 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, and Minnesota Vikings in 2004. He retired as the NFL’s all-time leading scorer with 2,544 points. He held the record for most field goals made in NFL history with565 until it was broken by Adam Vinatieri on December 18, 2017. In 2017, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Retired in 2007
Morten Andersen (born August 19, 1960), nicknamed “The Great Dane,” is a Danish former American football kicker who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 25 seasons. He retired in 2007 after spending his final season with the Atlanta Falcons.
Andersen is the leading scorer in NFL history, with 2,544 points scored over his career. He holds the NFL records for most field goals made in a career (565) and most games played by a position player (382). In 2017, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
John Carney
John Carney (born October 5, 1961) is a former American football placekicker who played in the National Football League (NFL) for twenty-three seasons. Carney was born in Green Bay, Wisconsin. He attended Notre Dame and played college football for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team.
Born in 1963
John Carney (born May 12, 1963) is a former professional American football placekicker who played in the National Football League (NFL) for twenty-three seasons. He was signed by the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent in 1988. He also played for the San Diego Chargers, Jacksonville Jaguars, New York Giants, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Baltimore Ravens.
Played for the New Orleans Saints, San Diego Chargers, Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets, and Arizona Cardinals
John Carney (born May 12, 1965) is a former American football placekicker who played in the National Football League (NFL) for twenty-three seasons. He played college football at the University of Notre Dame before being drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the 1987 NFL Draft. He also played for the San Diego Chargers, Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets, and Arizona Cardinals. In his career, Carney was a two-time Pro Bowl selection (1992 and 1998), and was named first-team All-Pro by the Associated Press in 1998. He currently ranks third in NFL history in field goals made (382), trailing only Morten Andersen and Gary Anderson.
Retired in 2010
John Carney (born May 12, 1963) is a former American football placekicker who played in the National Football League (NFL) for twenty-three seasons. He played college football for the University of Notre Dame, and was signed by the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent in 1988. He also played for the San Diego Chargers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Anaheim Piranhas, Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City Chiefs, New York Giants, and Baltimore Ravens. He was a member of three teams that reached the Super Bowl: XXVIII with the Cowboys, XXXVII with the Buccaneers, and XLIII with the Cardinals.
Carney announced his retirement from professional football on May 12th 2010. At that time he was the oldest player in NFL history, at 47 years and 36 days old.
Gary Anderson
Gary Anderson (born July 14, 1959) is a former American football player who was a placekicker in the National Football League (NFL) for 23 seasons. After playing college football for Syracuse University, he was signed by the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 1982. Anderson played for the Patriots for two seasons before being released.
Born in 1960
Gary Anderson (born December 16, 1960) is a former American football player who was a placekicker in the National Football League (NFL) for 23 seasons, from 1982 to 2004. He played college football for Syracuse University, and was drafted in the seventh round of the 1982 NFL Draft by the New York Jets. With the Pittsburgh Steelers, Anderson became the first kicker in NFL history to be perfect during an entire regular season, going 35-for-35 on field goal attempts and 44-for-44 on extra point attempts during the 1998 season. He also set NFL records for most field goals made in a season (164) and most points scored in a season (164). He held the Steelers’ franchise record for career points until 2017, when he was surpassed by Chris Boswell.
Played for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers, and Minnesota Vikings
Gary Anderson (born April 7, 1966) is a former American football player who was a placekicker in the National Football League (NFL) for 23 seasons. Anderson played college football for the University of Illinois, and was signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers as an undrafted free agent in 1982. He played most of his career with the Steelers from 1982 to 1994, and also had stints with the Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers, and Minnesota Vikings. After playing his final two NFL seasons for the Vikings following their Cinderella season in 1998, he retired as the NFL’s all-time leading scorer at the time with 2,434 points.
He appeared in five Super Bowls during his career with Pittsburgh (Super Bowls XIV, XIX, XXIII, XXV, XXX), winning four of them. Anderson also holds the NFL records for most points scored in a season (164 in 1998), most field goals made in a season (40 in 1998), most consecutive field goals made (35 from 1998-1999), and most seasons leading the league in scoring (9). He was named first-team All-Pro five times during his career (1987-1991), and was selected to play in eight Pro Bowls throughout his career.
Retired in 2004
Gary Anderson (born July 14, 1960) is a former American football kicker who played in the National Football League (NFL). He was signed by the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent in 1982. Anderson also played for the New York Jets, Atlanta Falcons, Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers, Minnesota Vikings, and Tennessee Titans. He was a four-time Pro Bowl selection with the Vikings and was selected as a first-team All-Pro five times. In 1998, he became the first kicker in NFL history to complete a perfect season by converting every field goal and point-after attempt.
After Anderson left the NFL following the 2004 season, he joined CBS Sports as a studio analyst for The NFL Today. He currently works as a kicking consultant for several NFL teams.
