Who’s the Oldest NFL Player Ever?
Who’s the Oldest NFL Player Ever?
We all know that NFL players don’t tend to have long careers. But some players do manage to stick around for a while. So who’s the oldest NFL player ever?
We did some research and found out that the oldest NFL player ever is George Blanda. He played for 26 seasons and was 48 years old when he finally retired.
So there you have it. The oldest NFL player ever is George Blanda
George Blanda
George Blanda was an American football player and coach who played 26 seasons in the National Football League (NFL), spending 10 of them with the Oakland Raiders. He retired from pro football in 1976, but he did continue to play for the Houston Oilers until he was 48 years old. Blanda holds the NFL record for the most seasons played, and he is also the oldest player in NFL history.
Born in 1927
George Blanda is a former American football player and referee. He played 26 seasons of professional football, including 10 in the National Football League (NFL), spending the final four years of his career as a placekicker. Blanda is credited with having introduced the “water buffalo” formation to football. During his first ten seasons, Blanda played for three different teams as both a quarterback and placekicker. He became most famous during his last 14 years, when he was with the Oakland Raiders, wearing number 16.[1] Blanda retired from pro football in 1976 at the age of 48, having played more seasons (26) and more games (340 including playoffs) than any other player in NFL history.[2][3][4] He remains the oldest player to have appeared in an NFL game as well as the oldest player to score points in an NFL game.
Played for the Chicago Bears, Houston Oilers, and Oakland Raiders
George Blanda was an NFL quarterback who played for 26 seasons with the Chicago Bears, Houston Oilers, and Oakland Raiders. He is one of only two players to have played in four different decades, and he holds the record for most games played by a non-kicker. Blanda was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1981.
Retired in 1975
George Frederick Blanda (September 17, 1927 – September 27, 2010) was an American football quarterback and placekicker who played 26 seasons in the National Football League (NFL), predominantly with the Chicago Bears and Oakland Raiders. Blanda retired from pro football in 1975 at the age of 48, having played more seasons and more games than anyone else in NFL history to that point.
Blanda was a quarterback during his first 10 NFL seasons and an end for four seasons thereafter. blanda’s career became one of longevity at a time when NFL players retired in their early thirties due to physical wear. Blanda retired five times (1958, 1959, 1970, 1971, 1975), only to come back each time because he still loved playing the game. He remained active into his fifties because no team would sign him as a starter but he could still be effective as a backup due to his age and experience level.
At age 48, Blanda became the oldest player ever to score points in an NFL game when he kicked two field goals for the Oakland Raiders against the Baltimore Colts in a 13-10 Raiders win on December 21, 1975. It was also his final NFL game.
Morten Andersen
At 48 years old, Morten Andersen is the oldest player in NFL history. He started his career with the New Orleans Saints in 1982, and he played for the Atlanta Falcons from 1995 to 2007. In 2009, he returned to the Saints and played for two more seasons before retiring.
Born in 1952
Morten Andersen (born August 19, 1952), nicknamed the “Great Dane”, is a Danish former American football kicker who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 25 seasons. He played college football for Michigan State University, and was signed by the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent in 1982.
Andersen was the most accurate kicker in NFL history when he retired after the 2007 season, his 25th in the league. He held the NFL records for most games played (382), most points scored (2,544), most field goals made (565), and most seasons with at least 100 points scored (13). He also briefly held the league’s record for most consecutive field goals made stats during his first 3 years of play; however this record has since been surpassed twice: first by Gary Anderson in 1998–99 and then again by Mike Vanderjagt from 2002–04. In 2006, he became just the second placekicker ever to score 1,000 points with two different teams. Andersen missed five field goal attempts and two extra point attempts during his first season in Atlanta; following that year he converted 86 percent of his kicks over a four-year stretch. In 2008, Andersen kicked a 52-yard field goal as time expired against division rivals Tampa Bay Buccaneers that clinched a 30–28 victory and a playoff berth for Atlanta; as a result of his game-winning kick, Andersen was selected to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated.
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 player who was a placekicker in the National Football League (NFL). He played for the New Orleans Saints from 1982 to 1994, Atlanta Falcons from 1995 to 2000, New York Giants in 2001, and Kansas City Chiefs in 2002 and 2003.
Andersen is the all-time leading scorer among non-quarterbacks as he holds both the NFL’s career rules for most points scored with 2,544 points and most career field goals made with 565. He is also both the league’s oldest player ever to score a point as well as convert a field goal or extra point.
In 2017, the Pro Football Hall of Fame inducted Andersen into their ranks.
Retired in 2007
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),akis considered one of the greatest kickers in NFL history. He played for six different teams, most notably the New Orleans Saints with whom he spent 13 seasons. He retired as a member of the Atlanta Falcons in 2007.
Andersen was selected by The Sporting News as the NFL’s Most Valuable Player in 1995, and was elected to the Pro Bowl team a record seven times. Born in Copenhagen, Andersen moved with his family to Green Bay, Wisconsin as a child.
Gary Anderson
Gary Anderson is the oldest player in NFL history. He was born on April 26, 1960, in Attleboro, Massachusetts. Anderson began his NFL career with the New England Patriots in 1982. He was drafted in the fourth round of the NFL draft. Anderson played for the Patriots for two seasons before being released.
Born in 1959
Gary Anderson (born December 9, 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 drafted by the New England Patriots in the seventh round of the 1982 NFL Draft. Anderson played professionally for the New England Patriots, Pittsburgh Steelers, Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers, Minnesota Vikings, and Tennessee Titans. He holds the NFL’s all-time record for most field goals made in a career with 565.
Anderson is generally considered one of the greatest kickers in NFL history; he has been voted to the NFL’s All-Time Team and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2020.
Played for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers, and Minnesota Vikings
Gary Anderson (born April 16, 1959) is a former American football player who was a placekicker in the National Football League (NFL) for 23 seasons. He played college football for Syracuse University, and was signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers as an undrafted free agent in 1981. Anderson was with the Steelers for 14 seasons from 1982 to 1995, became their all-time leading scorer with 1,343 points, and played in five Pro Bowls. He finished his NFL career as the league’s all-time leading scorer at 2,434 points. After being released by the Steelers in 1996, he was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles.
Anderson had six successful seasons with the Eagles from 1996 to 2002. In 2002, he set an NFL single-season scoring record with 166 points. He scored a then-record 38 field goals, and his 32 made field goals of 40 yards or more also set an NFL mark. In 2003, Anderson returned to the Vikings after they acquired him in a trade with the Eagles. He played four more seasons with Minnesota before retiring at age 44 following the 2006 season.
Retired in 2004
Gary Anthony Anderson (born December 9, 1959) is a former American football player who was a placekicker in the National Football League (NFL) for twenty-five seasons. Anderson played professionally for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers, Minnesota Vikings, Tennessee Titans and Carolina Panthers. He retired in 2004 after spending two seasons with the Panthers.
Anderson’s NFL career began in 1982 with the Pittsburgh Steelers, for whom he played for three seasons. In 1984, Anderson was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles as a replacement for Tony Franklin. Anderson remained with the Eagles until 1987 when he was signed by the San Francisco 49ers. He remained with the 49ers until he was signed by the Minnesota Vikings in 1998.
Anderson’s best season came in 1998 when he set an NFL record for most field goals made in a season, with 35 out of 40 attempted. This record stood until it was broken by Matt Stover in 2006. In 1999, Anderson was named to the All-Pro team and led the Vikings to Super Bowl XXXIII.
After leaving the Vikings following the 2002 season, Anderson spent two seasons with the Tennessee Titans before retiring in 2004. He currently resides in Charlotte, North Carolina with his wife and two children.
Adam Vinatieri
Born in 1972
Adam Matthew Vinatieri (/vɪnəˈtɛri/; born December 28, 1972) is an American football placekicker who is currently a free agent. He has played in five Super Bowls: four with the New England Patriots and one with the Indianapolis Colts, winning three times.
Played for the New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts
Adam Vinatieri (born December 28, 1972) is an American football placekicker who is currently a free agent. He has played in the National Football League (NFL) for 24 seasons, winning four Super Bowls. He is widely considered to be one of the greatest kickers in NFL history.
Vinatieri began his NFL career with the New England Patriots in 1996 and spent 10 seasons with the team. He was a member of three Super Bowl-winning teams, including two with perfect records (XXXVI and XXXVIII). He also holds several postseason kicking records, including most points (234), most field goals made (56), and most consecutive field goals made (25).
In 2006, Vinatieri signed with the Indianapolis Colts, where he spent 14 seasons. He helped the Colts win Super Bowl XLI over the Chicago Bears. He was named to the Pro Bowl three times (2009, 2014, 2016) and was named First-team All-Pro twice (2009, 2014). He also led the NFL in points scored five times and ranks seventh all-time in NFL history with 2,378 points.
On May 7th, 2020, Adam Vinatieri announced his retirement from professional football after 24 seasons.
Active
As of 2019, Adam Vinatieri is the oldest active NFL player. He is currently 46 years old and shows no signs of slowing down any time soon. He has played in the NFL for a whopping 24 seasons and has been a key player on some of the most successful teams in recent history, including the New England Patriots and the Indianapolis Colts. Throughout his career, he has set multiple records and has been named to numerous All-Pro teams. In other words, he is a true legend of the game and it is safe to say that he has had a lasting impact on the sport of football.