Although we have already paid tribute to the oldest active NFL players, those who came before them are equally as they played an important role to the culture and history of the sport. Many of the oldest living retired football players are old enough to have served in the military during World War II. (Xanax) Some of them even fought in the same battles, such as the Battle of the Bulge and were presented with various awards for their wartime service.
Each of the following players below either played in the National Football League (NFL) or one of its predecessors. Before the American Football League (AFL) merged with the NFL in 1970 there was no AFC, NFC, Super Bowl, Pro Bowl, or any of the modern traditions that fans enjoy today. However, many of these old players are legends in their own right and were early heroes of the NFL. A few of these old players went on to have long coaching careers in the NFL, which is what they are better known for.
As of March 2020, this list is as accurate as possible and includes the oldest known living former football players who have enough public information out there. This is list will be regularly updated in the future as needed.
10. Lenny Moore (November 25, 1933 – Present)
Current Age (as of February 2021): 87 years, 2 months, 29 days
Years Active in the NFL: 1956 – 1967 (12 seasons)
Team(s): Baltimore Colts (1956 – 1967)
Position(s): Halfback
photo source: Pro Football Hall of Fame
Lenny Moore played with Raymond Berry for the Baltimore Colts from 1956 to 1967. Unlike nearly every other player on this list, Moore did not go on to become a coach. Moore was a halfback/flanker and is one of the reasons why the Colts were a top team during that era.
Moore was known for his speed, which made him an excellent runner. He was also a great receiver, scoring 63 rushing touchdowns over his 12 seasons in the NFL. Moore did have a knee injury in 1962 and lost his starting status, but quickly bounced back the following season. In 1975, Moore was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Did You Know?
Until his record was beat in 2005 by LaDainian Tomlison, Lenny Moore scored a touchdown in an NFL-record 18 consecutive appearances starting in 1963 and continuing through the entire 1964 season.
9. Raymond Berry (February 27, 1933 – Present)
Current Age (as of February 2021): 87 years, 11 months, 27 days
Years Active in the NFL: 1955 – 1967 (13 seasons)
Team(s): Baltimore Colts (1955 – 1967)
Position(s): Split End (Wide Receiver)
photo source: Wikimedia Commons
Raymond Berry was a split end, the predecessor of the wide receiver, for the Baltimore Colts from 1955 to 1967. Following his playing career, Berry worked as an assistant coach for numerous teams before serving as head coach of the New England Patriots from 1984 to 1989.
Interestingly, Berry didn’t fit the typical football player profile and was considered small and unassuming. However, Berry worked hard to make up for his lack of natural athleticism and went on to become one of the best wide receiver of his era. Berry’s dedication to his craft paid off and he was named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1973.
Did You Know?
Raymond Berry had to wear special shoes because one of his legs was shorter than the other.
8. Joe Schmidt (January 19, 1932 – Present)
Current Age (as of February 2021): 89 years, 1 month, 4 days
Years Active in the NFL: 1953 – 1965 (13 seasons)
Team(s): Detroit Lions (1953 – 1965)
Position(s): Linebacker
photo source: Wikimedia Commons
Joe Schmidt is another former NFL player who also had a long career as a coach. In total as both a player and coach, Schmidt was with the Detroit Lions from 1953 – 1972. As an early linebacker (called a “defensive quarterback” at the time), Schmidt made a name for himself as the defensive leader of the Lions.
Schmidt was well-respected by his team and was chosen as the Lions’ field captain for nine straight seasons. Although he wasn’t the first middle linebacker, Schmidt played a large part in solidifying the position’s importance in football.
Did You Know?
Over his career as a player, Joe Schmidt had several notable achievements, including being named the Detroit Lions’ MVP four times and elected to the Pro Bowl ten straight years from 1955 through 1964.
7. Bill McColl (April 2, 1930 – Present)
Current Age (as of February 2021):
Years Active in the NFL: 1952 – 1959 (8 seasons)
Team(s): Chicago Bears (1952 – 1959)
Position(s): End
photo source: Wikimedia Commons
Dr. Bill McColl was a star college football player who went on to play in the NFL for the Chicago Bears. McColl grew up playing several sports in addition to football, including basketball, baseball, and track and field. When McColl graduated high school in 1948, he was considered one of Southern California’s top athletes and he decided to attend Stanford University as a pre-med student. Despite a rigorous academic schedule, McColl dominated on the field, and in 1952 he was selected by George Halas’s Chicago Bears. McColl spent all eight seasons of his NFL career with the Bears.
After McColl retired from the NFL, he worked as an orthopedic surgeon and served in Korea as a Presbyterian missionary doctor from 1962 to 1964. Outside of his football and medical career, McColl was involved with politics and attempted to run for Congress three times, but was ultimately unsuccessful. McColl and his wife raised six children, two of whom, Duncan and Milt McColl, went on to also play in the NFL.
Did You Know?
While Bill McColl was with the Chicago Bears, he continued his education at the University of Chicago Medical School and became the first professional football player to ever earn a medical degree while playing in the NFL.
6. Hugh McElhenny (December 31, 1928 – Present)
Current Age (as of February 2021): 92 years, 1 month, 23 days
Years Active in the NFL: 1952 – 1964 (13 seasons)
Team(s): San Francisco 49ers (1952 – 1960); Minnesota Vikings (1961 – 1962); New York Giants (1963); and Detroit Lions (1964)
Position(s): Halfback
photo source: Wikimedia Commons via Bowman
During his time in the NFL, McElhenny was dubbed “The King” for his electrifying and elusive running style. McElhenny had an extremely long stride and high knees, which made him quick on the field. At the time of his retirement, McElhenny was only one of three players who had gained more than 11,000 all-purpose yards.
Did You Know?
Hugh McElhenny was not only inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, he is also a member of the College Football Hall of Fame and had the following statistics at the end of his collegiate career: 2,499 yards rushing, 122 yards passing and 2,621 yards total offense.
5. Bud Grant (May 20, 1927 – Present)
Current Age (as of February 2021): 93 years, 9 months, 3 days
Years Active in the NFL: 1951 – 1956 (2 seasons)
Team(s): Philadelphia Eagles (1951 – 1952)
Position(s): Wide Receiver, Defensive End
photo source: mspmag.com
Bud Grant is better known for his prolific coaching career, but he was also a professional athlete not only in the NFL, but also in the Canadian Football League (CFL) as well as the NBA. After college, Grant was actually drafted in 1950 by the Philadelphia Eagles, but chose instead to play for the NBA’s Minneapolis Lakers from 1949 – 1951.
Grant joined the Eagles in time for the 1951 season and played until the following season. After this, Grant played for the CFL’s Winnepeg Blue Bombers until 1956. The following year, Grant began his coaching career with the Blue Bombers for nearly a decade. Finally, Grant became the head coach for the Minnesota Vikings in 1967 and stayed on for 18 seasons.
Did You Know?
Bud Grant is the most successful coach in Minnesota Vikings’ history and led the team to four Super Bowls, eleven division titles, one league championship, and three NFC conference championships.
4. Dub Jones (December 29, 1924 – Present)
Current Age (as of February 2021): 96 years, 1 month, 25 days
Years Active in the NFL: 1946 – 1955 (10 seasons)
Team(s): Miami Seahawks (1946); Brooklyn Dodgers (1946 – 1947); Cleveland Browns (1948 – 1955)
Position(s): Halfback
photo source: Wikimedia Commons
Dub Jones, born William Augustus Jones, is one of the few former pro football players who is currently in their late 90s. Jones was drafted back in 1946 by the Chicago Cardinals, but did not sign with the team as he wanted to remain at Louisiana State University to finish out his studies. However, the Miami Seahawks offered Jones a $12,000 (about $160,973 today) contract and he accepted. Not long after, Jones was traded to the Brooklyn Dodgers, where he played sparingly.
Early in the 1947 season, Jones suffered several injuries and was traded to the Cleveland Browns, where he was finally allowed to shine, after he recovered from his injuries. Jones remained with the Browns until he retired in 1955. He returned to the Browns as a Coach in 1963 and left football for good in 1968.
Did You Know?
Dub Jones is tied with Ernie Nevers of the Chicago Cardinals (1929) and Gayle Sayers of the Chicago Bears (1965) for the most touchdowns scored in a single game, with six.
3. Charley Trippi (December 14, 1921 – Present)
Current Age (as of February 2021): 99 years, 2 months, 9 days
Years Active in the NFL: 1947 – 1955 (9 seasons)
Team(s): Chicago Cardinals (1947 – 1955)
Position(s): Halfback, Quarterback
photo source: Wikimedia Commons via Bowman
Since Trippi could do so many things and was a versatile player, he played for a few seasons as a left halfback, a quarterback, and offensive haflback. Trippi spent his last few years as part of the Cardinals’ defensive unit. Trippi was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1959 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1968.
Did You Know?
Charles Trippi’s initial contract with the Chicago Cardinals was worth $100,000, which was a record at the time.
2. Ken Casanega (February 18, 1921 – Present)
Current Age (as of February 2021): 100 years, 5 days
Years Active in the NFL: 1946 and 1948 (2 seasons)
Team(s): San Francisco 49ers (1946 and 1948)
Position(s): Quarterback
photo source: Wikimedia Commons
Ken Casanega was on the inaugural San Francisco 49ers team in 1946, along with another entry on this list, Jesse Freitas Sr. (incidentally, both Casanega and Freitas will be turning 98 in February). Like Freitas, Casanega served in the military during World War II and also played football at Santa Clara University before World War II broke out.
Casanega said that he actually had no intentions of becoming a professional football player after the War, but decided to join the San Francisco 49ers when Tony Morabito called and said they were putting together a new pro team. Morabito, who was also a Santa Clara alum, and 49ers skipper Buck Shaw, a former Santa Clara coach, appealed to Casanega’s Santa Clara roots and persuaded him to join the 49ers. Casanega went on to play for the 49ers in 1946 and for another season in 1948.
Did You Know?
Ken Casanega intercepted 8 passes, which is the second most in the All-America Football Conference.
1. Cecil Souders (January 3, 1921 – Present)
Current Age (as of February 2021): 100 years, 1 month, 20 days
Years Active in the NFL: 1947 – 1949 (3 seasons)
Team(s): Detroit Lions (1947 – 1949)
Position(s): End, Tackle
photo source: Wikimedia Commons via Bowman
Also a veteran of World War II, Cecil Souders was a three-time All American for Ohio State University before he played professionally. Although Souders was drafted by the Washington Redskins in 1945, he did not begin his professional career until 1947, when he played for the Detroit Lions. Souders stayed with the Lions until the end of the 1949 season. Currently, Cecil Souders is the oldest living former football player at the age of 99.
Although Souders’ college career was a tad more prolific than his professional career, he is both a hero on the field and off of the field. Souders served in the U.S. Navy during World War II.
Did You Know?
Cecil Souders was inducted into Ohio State’s Hall of Fame in 2002, when he was 81 years old.
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