An ordinary player cannot play a sports game for a very long period, especially in football. The game places a significant amount of physical and mental stress on the body. However, there are certain athletes who manage to outlast the passage of time and prolong their time in the league.
The NFL draft is one of the most exciting events in all of sports. Quarterbacks are highly valued in the NFL, making it one of the most demanding positions on the field. As a result, it’s been proven that an effective quarterback is vital for an NFL team to be successful.
With that said, it’s hard to find a player who has prolonged his career playing in the NFL for over 20 years. Below is the list of the current oldest active quarterbacks in the NFL.
9. Tyrod Taylor
Current Age (as of November 2022): 34 years
College: Virginia Tech
Current Team: New York Giants
Years Active: 2011 – present (11 years)
Photo Source: CBC
American football quarterback Tyrod Diallo Taylor plays for the National Football League’s New York Giants. He was a Virginia Tech Hokies college football player, helping the team win the 2009 Orange Bowl as a sophomore and the 2011 Orange Bowl as a senior.
He was selected in the sixth round of the 2011 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Ravens, who used him as a backup to starter quarterback Joe Flacco, including during the Ravens’ triumph over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII.
Taylor and the New York Giants agreed to a two-year, $11 million contract on March 17, 2022.
Did You Know?
He established his own collection of men’s eyeglasses in association with the retailer of eyewear, Frame Genie.
8. Kirk Cousins
Current Age (as of November 2022): 35 years
College: Michigan State
Current Team: Minnesota Vikings
Years Active: 2012 – present (10 years)
Photo Source: Vox
American football quarterback Kirk Daniel Cousins plays for the National Football League’s Minnesota Vikings. He was acquired by the Washington Redskins in the fourth round of the 2012 NFL Draft as a backup to fellow rookie Robert Griffin III, who played his college football at Michigan State.
For his spirited performance, he won several awards, including NFC Offensive Player of the Month in 2015. The Lowe’s Senior Class Award was also given to him. Cousins established multiple team records while playing for the Redskins and was selected for the 2017 Pro Bowl.
On March 13, 2022, Cousins signed a one-year, $35 million fully guaranteed contract extension through the 2023 season.
Did You Know?
Kirk Cousins is one of the highest-paid players in NFL history.
7. Case Keenum
Current Age (as of November 2022): 35 years
College: Houston
Current Team: Buffalo Bills
Years Active: 2012 – present (10 years)
Photo Source: Amazon
Case Keenum has played quarterback for the Cleveland Browns, Washington Redskins, Minnesota Vikings, Houston Texans, St. Louis Rams, and Denver Broncos. He achieved fame throughout his NFL career by leading the Vikings to a 13-win regular season and a dramatic playoff victory over the New Orleans Saints known as the Minneapolis Miracle.
In exchange for a 2022 seventh-round pick, the Browns sent Keenum to the Buffalo Bills on March 20, 2022. In addition, the move brought Stefon Diggs, Keenum’s teammate in the Minneapolis Miracle since 2020, back together.
Did You Know?
Following the Vikings’ Minneapolis Miracle, which resulted in a last-second victory for the Vikings, he is renowned for publicly professing his faith and declaring that the happiest moment of his life was committing his life to Jesus Christ.
6. Matthew Stafford
Current Age (as of November 2022): 35 years
College: Georgia
Current Team: Los Angeles Rams
Years Active: 2009 – present (13 years)
Photo Source: Facts
American football quarterback John Matthew Stafford plays for the National Football League’s Los Angeles Rams. He was a first-team All-American while playing college football for Georgia, and the Detroit Lions drafted him first overall in the 2009 NFL Draft.
As the first overall selection in the 2009 NFL draft, Stafford set a record for the quickest to reach 3,000 career completions (125 games). From 2009 until 2020, Stafford served as the Lions’ regular starter.
After 12 seasons with the Detroit Lions, Stafford was traded to the Los Angeles Rams in March 2021. His first Super Bowl victory came right off the bat. In March 2022, he signed a new, $160 million, four-year contract that included a $60 million signing bonus.
Did You Know?
The richest contract in NFL history, Stafford’s five-year, $135 million agreement was inked in 2017.
5. Andy Dalton
Current Age (as of November 2022): 36 years
College: Texas Christian University
Current Team: New Orlean Saints
Years Active: 2011 – present (11 years)
Photo Source: Vox
Andy Dalton, who was originally selected by Cincinnati in the second round (35th overall) of the 2011 NFL Draft, spent nine seasons as the Bengals’ starting quarterback. During that time, he led the team to the playoffs in each of his first five NFL seasons, which is the longest postseason streak in team history.
The 12-year veteran has played in 152 games, 148 of which he started for the Bengals, Dallas Cowboys, and Chicago Bears. He has completed 62.2 percent of his passes while throwing for 35,279 yards, 226 touchdowns, and 135 interceptions.
Additionally, Dalton has 22 career running touchdowns, which ranks sixth among quarterbacks in the NFL since his debut in 2011. Dalton committed to the New Orleans Saints on March 29, 2022, for a single season.
Did You Know?
Andy Dalton’s nickname is “The Red Rifle.” His red hair and position as a quarterback inspired the name.
4. Brian Hoyer
Current Age (as of November 2022): 38 years
College: Michigan State
Current Team: New England Patriots
Years Active: 2009 – present (13 years)
Photo Source: Amazon
American football quarterback Brian Hoyer plays for the National Football League’s New England Patriots. He has been in the NFL since 2009 and has played quarterback for the Cleveland Browns, New England Patriots, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Arizona Cardinals.
Hoyer and the New England Patriots agreed to a one-year deal on March 25, 2020. With a 98.1 passer rating, Brian Hoyer outperformed Matt Gutierrez, Kevin O’Connell, and Andrew Walter in his debut season with the New England Patriots, making him the lone backup quarterback on the team heading into the regular season.
Hoyer extended his two-year deal with the Patriots on March 14, 2022. For the 2022 season, he was selected as the backup quarterback.
Did You Know?
He was Tom Brady’s backup quarterback for the New England Patriots for 3 years.
3. Matt Ryan
Current Age (as of November 2022): 38 years
College: Boston College
Current Team: Indianapolis Colts
Years Active: 2008 – present (14 years)
Photo Source: The Famous People
American football quarterback Matt Ryan plays for the National Football League’s Indianapolis Colts. Ryan, nicknamed “Matty Ice,” was a Boston College football player who earned the Manning and Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Awards as a senior.
The four-time Pro Bowler was awarded MVP in 2016 and led the Atlanta Falcons to their second Super Bowl berth.
Ryan was traded to the Indianapolis Colts on March 21, 2022, in exchange for a third-round pick in the next NFL Draft.
Did You Know?
Ryan became the first NFL player to be paid an average of $30 million per season with a five-year, $150 million deal signed in 2018.
2. Joe Flacco
Current Age (as of November 2022): 38 years
College: Delaware
Current Team: New York Jets
Years Active: 2008 – present (14 years)
Photo Source: NY Post
One of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history is Joe Flacco. The Baltimore Ravens and Denver Broncos are only two of the notable NFL teams for whom he has played. He is the quarterback for the 1968 Super Bowl champion New York Jets today.
After his performance started to deteriorate in the late 2010s, Flacco was traded to the Denver Broncos in 2019. His playing year was abruptly halted by a neck injury eight games into the 2019 season, and the Broncos dismissed him.
He later signed on with the New York Jets as Sam Darnold’s backup before taking over as the starter for the Jets.
Did You Know?
Joe Flacco won AFC Offensive Player of the Week in Week 9 of his rookie season.
1. Aaron Rodgers (December 2, 1983 – present)
Current Age (as of November 2022): 39 years
College: California
Current Team: Green Bay Packers
Years Active: 2005 – present (17 years)
Photo Source: Heartstapps
Aaron Rodgers is the oldest quarterback who’s still playing in the NFL after Tom Brady. Many people believe Rodgers to be one of the most gifted quarterbacks in NFL history, despite the fact that he has only won one Super Bowl (Super Bowl XLV in 2011).
He played only seven games in 2017 due to a fractured collarbone, and the Packers’ eight-year postseason streak came to an end as a result.
Rodgers holds a number of records, including the greatest single-season passer rating record of 122.5 and the best touchdown-to-interception ratio in NFL history at 4.83. He also has the lowest lifetime interception rate in the league, at 1.3 percent.
Did You Know?
After a touchdown play, Aaron Rodgers celebrates by making a move that seems like he’s placing an imaginary championship belt around his waist. This celebration, which he and his teammates have called the “Championship Belt,” has grown renowned since 2008.
Conclusion
Quarterbacks are considered to be one of the hardest positions in all of sports. It takes a lot of mental, cerebral, and leadership skills to be a Quarterback. These oldest active NFL Quarterbacks are not just the oldest but also some of the best in history. They have dedicated a lot of time and a large part of their life to this.
The quarterback has the power to dictate the terms of the game like no other position. The oldest quarterback ever in the history of the NFL, George Banda, was 48 years old when he retired in 1976. Let’s all hope that your favorite Quarterback has a lot of time left before they decide to retire!
