25 of the Oldest NBA Players In the League Today

25 of the Oldest NBA Players In the League Today

The oldest NBA players have seen it all on the basketball court. They’ve shared the floor with some of the greatest to ever do it from multiple generations and have built impressive careers of their own in the process. After all, you don’t last that long in the NBA without providing value. 

While we all know that the oldest NBA players often provide leadership, a strong locker room presence, and experience in a variety of different situations, that’s not all they’re known for. Especially in the league today, the oldest NBA players still know how to produce on the court.

For the most part, the oldest NBA players play big minutes, they have solidified roles on their team, and they contribute the best ways they know how. While doing all of that, they’re also acting as a coach, a mentor, a role model, a leader, a motivator, and a quality teammate. 

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Who Are the Oldest NBA Players?

25 of the Oldest NBA Players In the League Today
DFree / Shutterstock

When you think of the oldest NBA players right now, who do you think of? I’m sure there are a few that come to mind right away, but there are also some that might surprise you. Time moves quickly and it doesn’t stop, so it’s easy to forget how long some players have been in the league. 

It’s important to note that a majority of the oldest NBA players in the league have seen their roles and responsibilities shift as their career unfolded. They might not produce as much as they once did and they might not play as much either, but they’re just as important to their teams. 

Of all the oldest NBA players in the league right now, there’s only one player that’s above the age of 40. There are only 20 players 35 years or older and 25 players 34 years or older. In case you were wondering, we’re going to list out those 25 players that are at least 34 years old below! 

25. D.J. Augustin

Age: 34 years old

Birthday: November 10, 1987

NBA Career: 2008-present (14 seasons)

Teams: Orlando Magic, Charlotte Hornets, Indiana Pacers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Chicago Bulls, Detroit Pistons, Milwaukee Bucks, Houston Rockets, Denver Nuggets, Toronto Raptors

Career Stats: 935 games, 23.7 minutes, 9.6 points, 1.9 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 0.6 steals per game

D.J. Augustin was drafted by the Charlotte Bobcats with the ninth overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft. He had a great rookie season off the bench, averaging 11.8 points and 3.5 assists per game. After spending four seasons with Charlotte, he would bounce around the league a lot. 

Over his 14-year career in the NBA, Augustin has spent time with 10 different teams. Of those 10 teams, he only spent more than one season with four of them. And of those four teams, he only played in more than 62 games for two of them — the Bobcats and Orlando Magic. 

24. Mike Conley

Age: 34 years old

Birthday: October 11, 1987

NBA Career: 2007-present (15 seasons)

Teams: Memphis Grizzlies, Utah Jazz

Career Stats: 900 games, 32.2 minutes, 14.9 points, 3.0 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 1.4 steals, 0.2 blocks per game

Mike Conley was drafted fourth overall by the Memphis Grizzlies in the 2007 NBA Draft and was expected to be their franchise point guard — which he was for 12 seasons. After averaging 9.4 points per game his rookie season, he averaged more than 10.9 points every year since.

In his final season with Memphis, he posted a career-high 21.1 points per game. He was traded to the Jazz that offseason and has spent the past three seasons with the team. He remains their starting point guard, but has struggled with injuries. When healthy, he’s a top NBA point guard. 

23. Joe Ingles

Age: 34 years old

Birthday: October 2, 1987

NBA Career: 2014-present (8 seasons)

Teams: Utah Jazz

Career Stats: 561 games, 25.7 minutes, 8.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 0.9 steals, 0.2 blocks per game

Joe Ingles had a successful career in the National Basketball League, Liga ACB, and Israeli Basketball Premier League from 2006-2014. He eventually signed with the Utah Jazz ahead of the 2014-15 season, making his debut on October 29, 2014 — just 27 days after his birthday.

Ingles has spent the last eight seasons with the Jazz and has been one of their most reliable players over that span. He has averaged more than 11.5 points per game in three different seasons and has shot 41% from long range over his career. He likes to shoot and does it often.

22. Danny Green

Age: 34 years old

Birthday: June 22, 1987

NBA Career: 2009-present (13 seasons)

Teams: San Antonio Spurs, Philadelphia 76ers, Toronto Raptors, Los Angeles Lakers, Cleveland Cavaliers

Career Stats: 768 games, 25.6 minutes, 8.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.0 steal, 0.8 blocks per game

Danny Green was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round of the 2009 NBA Draft. He only played in 28 games his first two seasons in the NBA, but started to see regular playing time in his third year. He has been a regular starter for four different teams since. 

Entering the 2020-21 season, he has started at least 66 games in the past 10 seasons. He averaged double-digit points in three of those seasons and recorded a career-high 11.7 points per game with the Spurs in 2014. He’s a three-time champion and currently plays for the 76ers.

21. James Johnson

Age: 34 years old

Birthday: February 20, 1987

NBA Career: 2009-present (13 seasons)

Teams: Miami Heat, Toronto Raptors, Chicago Bulls, Sacramento Kings, Memphis Grizzlies, Dallas Mavericks, New Orleans Pelicans, Minnesota Timberwolves, Brooklyn Nets

Career Stats: 694 games, 20.5 minutes, 7.8 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 0.8 steals, 0.9 blocks per game

James Johnson was drafted by the Chicago Bulls with the 16th overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft. He has played for nine different teams throughout his 13-year career, spending more than one season with three of those teams — the Miami Heat, Toronto Raptors, and Chicago Bulls. 

Johnson has never been a consistent starter in the NBA. He only started more than 30 games in four different seasons and has only averaged double-digit points in two different seasons, doing so back-to-back in 2016 and 2017. He currently plays for the Brooklyn Nets. 

20. Garrett Temple

Age: 35 years old

Birthday: May 8, 1986

NBA Career: 2009-present (12 seasons)

Teams: Washington Wizards, Sacramento Kings, Brooklyn Nets, Chicago Bulls, Memphis Grizzlies, Los Angeles Clippers, New Orleans Pelicans, San Antonio Spurs, Charlotte Hornets, Houston Rockets, Milwaukee Bucks

Career Stats: 648 games, 21.6 minutes, 6.4 points, 2.4 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.8 steals, 0.3 blocks per game

Garrett Temple is a name that’s easy to forget, but it’s important to appreciate how long he has lasted in the NBA — and not by coincidence, either. He had a rough start to his career, playing for five teams over his first two seasons. He then played in Italy for the entire 2011-12 season. 

He returned to the NBA in 2012, playing the next four seasons with the Washington Wizards and two seasons with the Sacramento Kings. He’s a regular role player and frequent starter for his team, averaging more than 20.0 minutes per game in each of the past seven seasons. 

19. Rajon Rondo

Age: 35 years old

Birthday: February 22, 1986

NBA Career: 2006-present (16 seasons)

Teams: Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers, Sacramento Kings, Chicago Bulls, New Orleans Pelicans, Atlanta Hawks, Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Clippers

Career Stats: 931 games, 30.2 minutes, 9.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, 8.0 assists, 1.6 steals, 0.1 blocks per game

Rajon Rondo was originally drafted by the Phoenix Suns with the 21st overall pick in the 2006 NBA Draft, but was quickly traded to the Boston Celtics on draft day. He spent the next eight and a half seasons with the Celtics, averaging north of 10 points per game seven times. 

He has bounced around since his Boston days, playing for seven teams over the past seven years. He doesn’t have the starting role that he used to, but Rondo is still a two-time champion (2008 and 2020), three-time league-leader in assists, and one-time league-leader in steals.

18. Lou Williams

Age: 35 years old

Birthday: October 27, 1986

NBA Career: 2005-present (17 seasons)

Teams: Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Clippers, Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Lakers, Toronto Raptors, Houston Rockets

Career Stats: 1,079 games, 24.5 minutes, 14.2 points, 2.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 0.9 steals, 0.2 blocks per game

Lou Williams will go down as one of the greatest sixth-man players to ever play. It’s crazy to think that a man with his talent and 17 years of experience has only started 122 of his 1,079 games played in the NBA. Still, he averaged double-digit points every year from 2007-2020. 

Williams has won three Sixth Man of the Year awards in his career, has averaged north of 20 points per game in two seasons (back-to-back in 2017 and 2018), and shoots a career 35% from beyond the three point line. He’s currently playing off the bench for the Atlanta Hawks.

17. Kyle Lowry

Age: 35 years old

Birthday: March 25, 1986

NBA Career: 2006-present (16 seasons)

Teams: Toronto Raptors, Houston Rockets, Memphis Grizzlies, Miami Heat

Career Stats: 975 games, 31.8 minutes, 14.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 1.3 steals, 0.3 blocks per game

Kyle Lowry entered the league as the 24th overall draft pick in 2006. He spent his first two and a half seasons with the team before being traded to the Houston Rockets. His career started taking off in his third season with the Rockets, putting up 13.5 points and 6.7 assists per game. 

After spending four seasons with Houston, Lowry spent the next nine seasons with the Toronto Raptors. There, he enjoyed his peak years and averaged more than 17.2 points per game in six different seasons. He currently plays for the Miami Heat in search of his second championship.

16. Dwight Howard

Age: 35 years old

Birthday: December 8, 1985

NBA Career: 2004-present (18 seasons)

Teams: Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers, Philadelphia 76ers, Atlanta Hawks, Houston Rockets, Charlotte Hornets, Washington Wizards

Career Stats: 1,198 games, 32.3 minutes, 16.0 points, 12.0 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.9 steals, 1.8 blocks per game

Dwight Howard was the pride of the 2004 NBA Draft after going first overall to the Orlando Magic. He would spend his first eight seasons in Orlando and had a lot of success, averaging more than 20 points per game and led the league in rebounding four times during that span.

Since his Orlando days, Howard hasn’t been the same. He still regularly put up double-digit points and rebounds up until the 2019-20 season, which is when he really started to see his playing time dip. Still, he’s a valuable and well-respected role player in the league today. 

15. Al Horford

Age: 35 years old

Birthday: June 3, 1986

NBA Career: 2007-present (15 seasons)

Teams: Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Oklahoma City Thunder, Philadelphia 76ers

Career Stats: 895 games, 32.4 minutes, 13.9 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 0.8 steals, 1.2 blocks per game

Al Horford is known for providing a veteran presence in every locker room he steps in. He demands the best from everyone he plays with and holds his team, including himself, to the highest standards. He’s a true veteran and is wanted by every team anytime he hits the market.

Horford was drafted third overall by the Atlanta Hawks in 2007 and spent his first nine seasons with the team. He then spent the next three with the Boston Celtics before landing in Philadelphia and Oklahoma City. He’s now back with the Celtics and playing as good as he ever has. 

14. George Hill

Age: 35 years old

Birthday: May 4, 1986

NBA Career: 2008-present (14 seasons)

Teams: Indiana Pacers, San Antonio Spurs, Milwaukee Bucks, Utah Jazz, Sacramento Kings, Cleveland Cavaliers, Philadelphia 76ers, Oklahoma City Thunder

Career Stats: 831 games, 27.5 minutes, 11.0 points, 3.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 0.9 steals, 0.3 blocks per game

George Hill was drafted 26th overall by the San Antonio Spurs in 2008. After a decent rookie season, Hill averaged 12.4 points and 11.6 points, respectively, in his final two seasons with the Spurs. He was a regular off the bench, but it wasn’t rare for him to start, especially in year two.

Hill spent the next five seasons with the Indiana Pacers and found success alongside Paul George. Since leaving the team after the 2015 season, he has played for six different teams. He frequently starts and is a regular contributor, though he rarely scores above 10 points in a game.

13. Jeff Green 

Age: 35 years old

Birthday: August 28, 1986

NBA Career: 2007-present (14 seasons)

Teams: Seattle Supersonics, Oklahoma City Thunder, Boston Celtics, Memphis Grizzlies, Cleveland Cavaliers, Washington Wizards, Orlando Magic, Brooklyn Nets, Los Angeles Clippers, Utah Jazz, Houston Rockets, Denver Nuggets

Career Stats: 993 games, 29.2 minutes, 12.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.7 steals, 0.5 blocks per game

Jeff Green was drafted fifth overall by the Boston Celtics in 2007, but was immediately sent to the Seattle Supersonics in a trade for Ray Allen. Green played well his rookie year, averaging 10.5 points and 4.7 rebounds in 80 games. He spent three and a half seasons with Seattle. 

Green has played for 12 teams over his 14-year career and he doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon. In his first season with the Denver Nuggets, Green has already played in 17 games and started 8 of them. He’s currently averaging 8.3 points in 22.3 minutes of action. 

12. Rudy Gay

Age: 35 years old

Birthday: August 17, 1986

NBA Career: 2006-present (16 seasons)

Teams: San Antonio Spurs, Memphis Grizzlies, Sacramento Kings, Toronto Raptors, Utah Jazz

Career Stats: 1,011 games, 32.4 minutes, 16.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.2 steals, 0.8 blocks per game

Rudy Gay was drafted eighth overall by the Houston Rockets in 2006. He made an immediate impact, averaging 10.8 points and 4.5 rebounds his rookie season. From 2007-2016, Gay dominated the NBA and averaged more than 17.2 points per game every single season. 

Gay has seen a dip in playing time and starts since 2017, but he still managed to score more than 10.8 points per game in each season since. He has been as consistent of a scorer as anyone in the NBA. He’s currently playing for the Utah Jazz in his first year with the team. 

11. Goran Dragić

Age: 35 years old

Birthday: May 6, 1986

NBA Career: 2008-present (14 seasons)

Teams: Phoenix Suns, Miami Heat, Houston Rockets, Toronto Raptors

Career Stats: 872 games, 27.9 minutes, 13.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.2 blocks per game

Goran Dragić was drafted by the San Antonio Spurs in the second round of the 2008 NBA Draft. He was traded to the Phoenix Suns in a draft day trade for Malik Hairston. He spent two and a half seasons with Phoenix before spending two and half more with the Houston Rockets.

Dragić averaged north of 10 points per game for the first time in his final season with the Rockets. He then made his way back to the Suns, where he dominated over the next two and a half seasons. He then dominated in Miami for seven seasons before landing himself in Toronto. 

10. P.J. Tucker

Age: 36 years old

Birthday: May 5, 1985

NBA Career: 2006-present (11 seasons)

Teams: Phoenix Suns, Houston Rockets, Toronto Raptors, Milwaukee Bucks, Miami Heat

Career Stats: 723 games, 29.1 minutes, 7.1 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.2 steals, 0.3 blocks per game

P.J. Tucker was drafted by the Toronto Raptors in the second round of the 2006 NBA Draft and appeared in 17 games as a rookie. After that season, he played overseas for the next five seasons in Israel, Ukraine, Greece, Italy, and Germany. He returned to the NBA in 2012.

After revitalizing his career with the Phoenix Suns, he landed back in Toronto for the remainder of the 2016-17 season. He then continued to provide quality minutes as a starter and bench player with the Houston Rockets before winning a championship with the Milwaukee Bucks.

9. Chris Paul

Age: 36 years old

Birthday: May 6, 1985

NBA Career: 2005-present (17 seasons)

Teams: New Orleans Hornets, New Orleans Pelicans, Los Angeles Clippers, Houston Rockets, Phoenix Suns, Oklahoma City Thunder

Career Stats: 1,106 games, 34.6 minutes, 18.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, 9.4 assists, 2.1 steals, 0.1 blocks per game

Chris Paul was drafted by the New Orleans Hornets with the fourth overall pick in the 2005 NBA Draft. He spent his next six seasons with the team, averaging north of 20 points per game twice, as well as leading the league in assists twice and leading the league in steals three times.

He then enjoyed an entertaining six-year stint with the Los Angeles Clippers, where he led the league in assists two more times and steals three more times. Entering the current 2021-22 season, he had never averaged less than 15.6 points per game in his entire 17-year career. 

8. Paul Millsap

Age: 36 years old

Birthday: February 10, 1985

NBA Career: 2006-present (16 seasons)

Teams: Utah Jazz, Atlanta Hawks, Denver Nuggets, Brooklyn Nets

Career Stats: 1,064 games, 28.4 minutes, 13.6 points, 7.1 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.2 steals, 1.0 block per game

Paul Millsap entered the league as a second round draft choice of the Utah Jazz in 2006. He played in every game his first two seasons, but failed to average double-digit points. He had his breakout season in 2008-09, finishing the season with 13.5 points and 8.6 rebounds per game. 

Millsap would go on to record more than 11.6 points per game in each of the next 11 seasons and he did it for three different teams. He consistently brings down rebounds, plays excellent defense, and can score as good as anyone. He currently plays for the Brooklyn Nets. 

7. LeBron James

Age: 36 years old

Birthday: December 30, 1984

NBA Career: 2003-present (19 seasons)

Teams: Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, Los Angeles Lakers

Career Stats: 1,318 games, 38.2 minutes, 27.0 points, 7.4 rebounds, 7.4 assists, 1.6 steals, 0.7 blocks per game

Many people thought LeBron James would become one of the greatest players ever when he was drafted first overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2003. That was 19 seasons ago and it’s safe to say those people were right as James continues to dominate at the age of 36. 

He spent his first seven years in Cleveland and despite incredible numbers, wasn’t going to win a ring. He then played in Miami for four years and won two titles, went back to Cleveland for four years and won another title, and has played in LA for four years — winning a fourth title in 2020. 

6. Taj Gibson

Age: 36 years old

Birthday: June 24, 1985

NBA Career: 2009-present (13 seasons)

Teams: Chicago Bulls, Minnesota Timberwolves, New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder

Career Stats: 854 games, 24.9 minutes, 9.2 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.0 assist, 0.6 steals, 1.1 blocks per game

Taj Gibson was drafted by the Chicago Bulls with the 26th pick in the 2009 draft. Gibson spent his first eight seasons with the team as a regular bench player and frequent starter. He averaged double-digit points in three seasons with Chicago and was doing it the year he was traded.

Gibson saw a dip in production after being traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder, but revitalized his career in Minnesota. With the Timberwolves, he averaged 12.2 points and 7.1 rebounds in 2017 and 10.8 points and 6.5 rebounds in 2018. He currently plays for the New York Knicks.

5. Trevor Ariza

Age: 36 years old

Birthday: June 30, 1985

NBA Career: 2004-present (18 seasons)

Teams: Houston Rockets, Washington Wizards, New Orleans Hornets, New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers, Orlando Magic, Sacramento Kings, Miami Heat, Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers

Career Stats: 1,094 games, 29.7 minutes, 10.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.5 steals, 0.3 blocks per game

Trevor Ariza entered the league as a second round draft pick of the New York Knicks in 2004. He has bounced around a lot over his 18-year career, playing for 10 teams and his longest stint coming with the Houston Rockets for five years. He also played for Washington for three years.

Ariza has been a consistent starter in the league since 2009, which was his first season with Houston. He has averaged double-digit points in nine different seasons, plays stellar defense, and shoots well from beyond the arc. He’s a great veteran presence in any NBA locker room. 

4. LaMarcus Aldridge

Age: 36 years old

Birthday: July 19, 1985

NBA Career: 2006-present (16 seasons)

Teams: Portland Trail Blazers, San Antonio Spurs, Brooklyn Nets

Career Stats: 1,045 games, 34.0 minutes, 19.3 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.7 steals, 1.1 blocks per game

LaMarcus Aldridge was drafted second overall by the Portland Trail Blazers in 2006 behind Andrea Bargnani, who went first overall to the Toronto Raptors. Aldridge played his first nine seasons in Portland and averaged north of 20 points per game in five consecutive seasons. 

He then moved on to the San Antonio Spurs, where he played for five and a half seasons. He averaged north of 20 points per game two more times, this time with the Spurs, before being traded to the Brooklyn Nets. He briefly retired, but returned in time for the 2021-22 season.

3. Andre Iguodala

Age: 37 years old

Birthday: January 28, 1984

NBA Career: 2004-present (18 seasons)

Teams: Philadelphia 76ers, Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat, Denver Nuggets

Career Stats: 1,204 games, 32.4 minutes, 11.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals, 0.5 blocks per game

Andre Iguodala was drafted ninth overall by the Philadelphia 76ers in 2004 and he started every game his rookie year, averaging 9.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game. He then averaged double-digit points in eight straight seasons with the 76ers and Denver Nuggets.

Iguodala hasn’t done that since the 2012-13 season, but he has continued to provide a veteran presence off the bench in a more limited role. He’s a three-time champion and even won the NBA Finals MVP in 2014-15. He currently ranks 43rd on the all-time games played list. 

2. Carmelo Anthony

Age: 37 years old

Birthday: May 29, 1984

NBA Career: 2003-present (19 seasons)

Teams: Denver Nuggets, New York Knicks, Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Los Angeles Lakers, Portland Trail Blazers

Career Stats: 1,209 games, 34.9 minutes, 22.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.5 blocks per game

Carmelo Anthony was the third overall draft pick by the Denver Nuggets in 2003 behind LeBron James and Darko Miličić. He has been incredibly efficient every single team he plays for and continues to score the ball with ease in his 19th season with the Los Angeles Lakers. 

Anthony averaged above 20.8 points per game in each of his first 14 seasons in the league. While he hasn’t scored more than 16.2 points per game since the 2016-17 season, he has flourished in a lessened role off the bench. He’s still searching for his first championship. 

1. Udonis Haslem

Age: 41 years old

Birthday: June 9, 1980

NBA Career: 2003-present (19 seasons)

Teams: Miami Heat

Career Stats: 863 games, 25.0 minutes, 7.6 points, 6.7 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 0.5 steals, 0.3 blocks per game

Udonis Haslem is a living legend for the Miami Heat and is much more than just a player-coach that spends all of his time on the sideline. While he’s on the bench often, he still logs minutes here and there. In fact, he has appeared in four games this season and logged 17 minutes. 

In his prime, Haslem was a double-double waiting to happen. He was known for his stout defense, consistent mid-range jumper, and non-stop hustle plays. Though he went undrafted and spent a year in France, Haslem has turned in an illustrious and long professional career.

Who Are the Oldest NBA Players of All-Time?

It might seem like players last forever in the league these days, but older players are nothing new to the NBA. They’ve been around as long as the NBA has been around and have proven that age doesn’t always have to be a barrier. You can find success in your older years. 

In fact, six players in particular were older than Udonis Haslem (41 years old) is right now — Nat Hickey (45 years old), Kevin Willis (44 years old), Robert Parrish (43 years old), Vince Carter (43 years old), Dikembe Mutombo (42 years old), and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (42 years old). 

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In addition to that, Bob Cousy, Herb Williams, John Stockton, and Charles Jones were all 41 years old. On the flip side, some of the youngest players in the NBA were Andrew Bynum, Jermaine O’Neal, Jim Browne, and Kobe Bryant — all of whom were under 18 years, 73 days.

25 of the Oldest NFL Players Right Now

No one provides more of a veteran presence than the oldest NFL players in the league, but that’s not all they do for their team. In fact, many of the oldest NFL players produce just as much — if not more — than their younger counterparts. They defy Father Time every snap they play. 

Most football players struggle to make it one year in the NFL, let alone long enough to be considered one of the oldest NFL players in the league. You have to be a special player to find yourself on a roster year-in and year-out, especially in your mid- to late-30s and early-40s. 

The good news is players have access to a wide variety of new technology, gadgets, science, techniques, and much more than ever before. They’re able to stay in much better shape and the game is even tailored to reduce heavy injuries that might lead to a shortened career in the NFL.

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Who Are the Oldest NFL Players?

25 of the Oldest NFL Players Right Now
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The oldest NFL players are a unique mix of veterans. Some of them play offense, some play defense, and some are on the special teams unit. Some of them are future Hall of Famers and some of them are still playing at a high level, but they’re all still writing the end of their legacy.

If you had to guess who the oldest NFL players were in the league, who are the first few players that come to mind? I’m sure there are a few we would agree on, but there are some others that most of us wouldn’t think of — especially off the top of our head. It’s a diverse group of players.

Don’t worry, we’re going to count down the 25 oldest NFL players in the league right now. That way, your curiosity doesn’t have to eat you alive. For the sake of this list, we’re going to focus on the oldest NFL players that are active during the 2021-22 season — not including free agents. 

25. RB Adrian Peterson

Age: 36 years old

Birthday: March 21, 1985

NFL Career: 2007-present (15 seasons)

Teams: Minnesota Vikings, Arizona Cardinals, Washington Redskins, Detroit Lions, New Orleans Saints, Tennessee Titans

Career Stats: 183 games, 3,219 rushes, 14,902  rushing yards, 119 rushing touchdowns, 305 receptions, 2,474 receiving yards, 6 receiving touchdowns

Adrian Peterson was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings with the seventh overall draft pick in the 2007 draft. He has turned out an impressive 15-year career thus far and is already a seven-time Pro Bowl player, four-time All-Pro, one-time MVP, one-time OPOY, and one-time OROY. 

Peterson played 8 games for the Tennessee Titans during the 2021-22 season before being released ahead of Week 11. If he wants to continue playing, he’ll surely find another gig.

24. C Alex Mack

Age: 36 years old

Birthday: November 19, 1985

NFL Career: 2009-present (13 seasons)

Teams: Cleveland Browns, Atlanta Falcons, San Francisco 49ers

Career Stats: 189 games, 189 games started, 4 fumble recoveries

Alex Mack has been one of the most talented, consistent, reliable, and professional centers in the NFL ever since he was drafted 21st overall by the Cleveland Browns in 2009. He’s a six-time Pro Bowl player, has completed 10 16-game seasons, and is a future Hall-of-Famer.

The 2021-22 season is Alex Mack’s first season with the San Francisco 49ers after a five-year stint with the Atlanta Falcons. He’s as reliable as ever in both the passing and rushing game.

23. QB Joe Flacco

Age: 36 years old

Birthday: January 16, 1985

NFL Career: 2008-present (14 seasons)

Teams: Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets, Denver Broncos

Career Stats: 178 games, 98-78 record, 41,269 passing yards, 61.7% completion percentage, 227 touchdowns, 144 interceptions, 16 rushing touchdowns

Joe Flacco was drafted 18th overall by the Baltimore Ravens in 2008 and immediately became the team’s starting quarterback. He led them to five-straight winning seasons and didn’t suffer a losing season until 2015. He never put up big numbers, but he knew how to manage a game.

After 11 seasons with Baltimore, Flacco spent a year with the Denver Broncos and the past two seasons with the New York Jets. He has transitioned from starter to backup in the NFL.

22. WR/ST Matthew Slater

Age: 36 years old

Birthday: September 9, 1985

NFL Career: 2008-present (14 seasons)

Teams: New England Patriots

Career Stats: 200 games, 169 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery

Matthew Slater attended UCLA and while he was a wide receiver, he made a name for himself on special teams and kick coverage. His special teams play resulted in him being drafted by the New England Patriots in the fifth round of the 2008 NFL Draft. It was a match made in heaven.

Slater has played his entire 14-year career with the Patriots and while he hasn’t made much of a difference on offense, he’s one of the team’s best players on the special teams unit. 

21. QB Brian Hoyer

Age: 36 years old

Birthday: October 13, 1985

NFL Career: 2009-present (13 seasons)

Teams: New England Patriots, Cleveland Browns, Arizona Cardinals, Chicago Bears, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, San Francisco 49ers

Career Stats: 73 games, 16-23 record, 10,568 yards, 59.3% completion percentage, 53 touchdowns, 35 interceptions

Brian Hoyer went undrafted in 2009 after a mediocre four-year career as Michigan State University’s backup-turned-starter quarterback. After the draft, he immediately signed with the New England Patriots and spent his first three seasons with the team, though he never started.

Hoyer has played for seven different teams throughout his 13-year career and is largely relied on as a backup quarterback. He currently plays for the Patriots, his original team out of college.

20. QB Chad Henne

Age: 36 years old

Birthday: July 2, 1985

NFL Career: 2008-present (12 seasons)

Teams: Jacksonville Jaguars, Miami Dolphins, Kansas City Chiefs

Career Stats: 73 games, 18-36 record, 13,290 yards, 59.6% completion percentage, 60 touchdowns, 63 interceptions, 4 rushing touchdowns

Chad Henne was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He was eventually named the team’s regular starter for the 2009 and 2010 seasons, but finished with a 13-14 record and threw for 27 touchdowns and 33 interceptions in that two-year span.

Since then, Henne has largely played in a backup role — most recently to Patrick Mahomes. He has only started one game in the past six years, but threw for 218 yards and two touchdowns.

19. WR Danny Amendola

Age: 36 years old

Birthday: November 2, 1985

NFL Career: 2009-present (13 seasons)

Teams: New England Patriots, St. Louis Rams, Detroit Lions, Houston Texans, Miami Dolphins

Career Stats: 161 games, 889 targets, 607 receptions, 6,076 receiving yards, 22 receiving touchdowns

Danny Amendola entered the league in 2008 as an undrafted free agent out of Texas Tech, where he tallied 109 receptions, 1,245 yards, and 6 touchdowns his senior year. He spent his entire first year on the Dallas Cowboys’ practice squad and never saw any gametime action.

The St. Louis Rams signed Amendola after the Cowboys’ practice squad and that’s when his career really started. His career-highs are 85 receptions, 689 yards, and four touchdowns.

18. OL Ty Nsekhe

Age: 36 years old

Birthday: October 27, 1985

NFL Career: 2012-present (8 seasons)

Teams: St. Louis Rams, Washington Redskins, Buffalo Bills, Dallas Cowboys

Career Stats: 86 games played, 17 games started

Speaking of undrafted free agents, Ty Nsekhe went undrafted in 2009 after having a decent career at Texas State. He played in the Arena Football League for the first four years of his professional career and was a member of four different teams in that four-year span. 

In 2012, Nsekhe started to receive attention from the NFL, but struggled to land a good gig until 2015 with the Washington Redskins. In his eight-year career, Nsekhe has started 17 games. 

17. QB Matt Ryan

Age: 36 years old

Birthday: May 17, 1985

NFL Career: 2008-present (14 seasons)

Teams: Atlanta Falcons

Career Stats: 215 games, 117-98 record, 58,194 passing yards, 65.5% completion percentage, 362 touchdowns, 168 interceptions, 12 rushing touchdowns

Matt Ryan was the Atlanta Falcons’ third overall draft pick in 2008. He became the team’s starting quarterback immediately and led them to five-straight winning seasons to begin his career — including more than 10 wins in four of those seasons. He got better each season.

Ryan has only had two winning seasons since and hasn’t been as effective as he once was, although he still racks up yards as good as anyone. He’s due for a change of scenery.

16. K Matt Prater

Age: 36 years old

Birthday: August 10, 1984

NFL Career: 2007-present (15 seasons)

Teams: Denver Broncos, Detroit Lions, Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons

Career Stats: 214 games, 406 field goals attempted, 336 field goals made, 82.8% field goal percentage, longest field goal 64 yards, 97.6% extra point percentage

Matt Prater went undrafted in 2006 after a four-year career at the University of Central Florida. He was signed by the Detroit Lions after the draft, but didn’t make the team and spent his first year as a free agent. He briefly played for Atlanta before catching his big break in 2008. 

Since 2008, Prater has been one of the best kickers in the league. He held records for longest field goal (64 yards), most consecutive 50+ field goals made (14) and 55+ field goals made (7).

15. TE Marcedes Lewis

Age: 37 years old

Birthday: May 19, 1984

NFL Career: 2006-present (16 seasons)

Teams: Jacksonville Jaguars, Green Bay Packers

Career Stats: 228 games, 709 targets, 415 receptions, 4,921 receiving yards, 37 receiving touchdowns

Marcedes Lewis was drafted 28th overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2006 and was expected to be the team’s franchise tight end moving forward. Although he has only tallied north of 500 yards in three seasons since then, he was a mainstay on the Jaguars for 12 years. 

Lewis has spent the past four seasons with the Green Bay Packers and hasn’t seen more than 19 targets in a single season with the team. He’s more of a veteran presence than anything. 

14. LS Clark Harris

Age: 37 years old

Birthday: July 10, 1984

NFL Career: 2018-present (14 seasons)

Teams: Cincinnati Bengals, Houston Texans

Career Stats: 198 games, 33 tackles

Clark Harris played college ball at Rutgers and was the team’s long snapper and tight end. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the final round of the 2007 draft, but didn’t make the team. After getting cut by the Detroit Lions, he would play four games for the Texans in 2008. 

Harris signed with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2009 and has been the team’s long snapper for the past 13 years. He has now played 194 of his 198 career games in the NFL with Cincinnati. 

13. K Nick Folk

Age: 37 years old

Birthday: November 5, 1984

NFL Career: 2007-present (14 seasons)

Teams: New York Jets, Dallas Cowboys, New England Patriots, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Career Stats: 188 games, 378 field goals attempted, 311 field goals made, 82.3% field goal percentage, 97.4% extra point percentage

Nick Folk was a sixth round draft choice of the Dallas Cowboys in 2007 and became the team’s starting kicker immediately. In his first two years, he hit 46 of his first 53 field goals, including 4/7 from beyond 50 yards. He then played seven seasons with the Jets and one with Tampa Bay.

Folk has spent the past three seasons with the New England Patriots and has hit 66 of his 73 field goal attempts in that span. He has missed seven extra points as a member of the Patriots.

12. K Mason Crosby

Age: 37 years old

Birthday: September 3, 1984

NFL Career: 2007-present (15 seasons)

Teams: Green Bay Packers

Career Stats: 235 games, 445 field goals attempted, 360 field goals made, 80.9% field goal percentage, 97.5% extra point percentage

Speaking of legendary kickers, Mason Crosby was drafted 15 spots behind Nick Folk in 2007. He has spent his entire 15-year career with the Green Bay Packers and is the all-time franchise leader in career attempts, career makes, longest field goal, and most consecutive field goals. 

He’s having one of his worst seasons in 2021-22, only hitting 15 of his 23 field goals and missing one extra point. This comes after a 2020 campaign where Crosby hit all 16 of his field goals.

11. QB Aaron Rodgers

Age: 37 years old

Birthday: December 2, 1983

NFL Career: 2005-present (17 seasons)

Teams: Green Bay Packers

Career Stats: 207 games, 134-65-1 record, 53,816 passing yards, 65.1% completion percentage, 433 touchdowns, 93 interceptions, 33 rushing touchdowns

Aaron Rodgers will go down as one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play and he still isn’t done putting up numbers. He was drafted 24th overall by the Green Bay Packers and spent the first three years of his career as the backup quarterback to Hall of Famer Brett Favre. 

With 14 years of starting play under his belt, Rodgers currently ranks 10th all-time in passing yards, fifth all-time in passing touchdowns, and 10th all-time in pass completions. 

10. OL Richie Incognito

Age: 38 years old

Birthday: July 5, 1983

NFL Career: 2006-present (13 seasons)

Teams: Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, St. Louis Rams, Oakland Raiders, Las Vegas Raiders

Career Stats: 164 games played, 164 games started, 4 fumble recoveries

Richie Incognito was drafted in the third round of the 2005 NFL Draft by the St. Louis Rams. He spent most of his first four seasons with the team, as well as three games with the Buffalo Bills. He then spent four seasons with Miami, but was involved in a racist bullying altercation. 

After missing the 2014 season in punishment, Incognito reinvented his career with the Buffalo Bills over the next three years and has been with the Raiders for the past three seasons. 

9. K Robbie Gould

Age: 38 years old

Birthday: December 6, 1982

NFL Career: 2005-present (17 seasons)

Teams: Chicago Bears, San Francisco 49ers, New York Giants

Career Stats: 242 games, 471 field goals attempted, 408 field goals made, 86.6% field goal percentage, 97.5% extra point percentage

After playing college football at Penn State and going undrafted in the 2005 NFL Draft, Robbie Gould was signed by the New England Patriots. He was soon released, picked up by the Ravens, and then cut again before replacing the Chicago Bears’ kicker in Week 3 of that year. 

Over the next 11 years, Gould became the Chicago Bears’ all-time leading scorer and established himself as one of the great kickers in the league. He now plays for the 49ers. 

8. QB Ryan Fitzpatrick

Age: 38 years old

Birthday: November 24, 1982

NFL Career: 2005-present (17 seasons)

Teams: Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals, New York Jets, Miami Dolphins, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, St. Louis Rams, Tennessee Titans, Houston Texans, Washington Redskins

Career Stats: 166 games, 59-87-1 record, 34,990 passing yards, 60.7% completion percentage, 223 touchdowns, 169 interceptions, 21 rushing touchdowns

Ryan Fitzpatrick is a true trailblazer in the NFL, having played at least one game for nine different teams and won at least one game as starting quarterback for seven of those teams. He was originally drafted by the St. Louis Rams in the seventh round of the 2005 NFL Draft. 

Throughout his 17-year career, Fitzpatrick has largely been a replacement QB. His best season came in 2015 when he went 10-6 with the Jets and set career-highs in yards and touchdowns. 

7. P Andy Lee

Age: 39 years old

Birthday: August 11, 1982

NFL Career: 2004-present (18 seasons)

Teams: San Francisco 49ers, Arizona Cardinals, Cleveland Browns, Carolina Panthers

Career Stats: 275 games, 1,387 punts, 64,690 punt yards, longest punt 82 yards, 46.6 yards per punt

It’s about time we had a punter on this list. Andy Lee was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the sixth round in 2005. He spent the first 11 years of his career with the team and totaled north of 3,155 punt yards in each season. He punted the ball more than 100 times in 2005 and 2007.

After his time with the 49ers, Lee spent a season with Cleveland and Carolina before landing with the Arizona Cardinals, where he has spent the past five years of his illustrious NFL career. 

6. P Sam Koch

Age: 39 years old

Birthday: August 13, 1982

NFL Career: 2006-present (16 seasons)

Teams: Baltimore Ravens

Career Stats: 249 games, 1,142 punts, 51,719 punt yards, longest punt 74 yards, 45.3 yards per punt

Speaking of punters, Sam Koch was born just two days after Andy Lee. He was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the sixth round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He hasn’t had to move anywhere since entering the league, spending his entire 16-year career up to this point with the Ravens.

While he used to punt the ball more often, Koch only needed to punt the ball 91 times in 2019 and 2020. Those numbers are starting to increase again, with 45 punts so far in 2021-22. 

5. P Dustin Colquitt

Age: 39 years old

Birthday: May 6, 1982

NFL Career: 2005-present (17 seasons)

Teams: Kansas City Chiefs, Atlanta Falcons, Jacksonville Jaguars, Pittsburgh Steelers

Career Stats: 250 games, 1,173 punts, 52,622 punt yards, longest punt 81 yards, 44.9 yards per punt

We’re not done with the punters quite yet. Dustin Colquitt is the third and final punter on our list of the oldest NFL players right now. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the third round of the 2005 NFL Draft, which is a high pick for a punter and he proved why over the next 15 years. 

He would only miss two games for the Chiefs over the next 15 years. The 2020 season was the first one he spent outside of Kansas City and he’s now the punter for the Atlanta Falcons. 

4. Jason Peters

Age: 39 years old

Birthday: January 22, 1982

NFL Career: 2004-present (17 seasons)

Teams: Philadelphia Eagles, Buffalo Bills, Chicago Bears

Career Stats: 223 games played, 213 games started, 9 tackles, 6 fumble recoveries

Jason Peters played defensive line, offensive line, and tight end at the University of Arkansas. He went undrafted in 2004 and no one thought he would turn out to be one of the best offensive tackles of his generation. By 2005, he was a regular starter for the Buffalo Bills at tackle. 

Peters was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles ahead of the 2009 campaign and spent the next 11 years as their starting left tackle. He’s now playing his first season with the Chicago Bears.

3. Andrew Whitworth

Age: 39 years old

Birthday: December 12, 1981

NFL Career: 2006-present (16 seasons)

Teams: Cincinnati Bengals, Los Angeles Rams

Career Stats: 233 games played, 229 games started, 8 fumble recoveries

Andrew Whitworth is another one of the greatest offensive lineman of this generation. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the second round of the 2006 draft and spent the first 11 years of his career as the team’s starting left tackle. He only missed eight games in that span.

For the past five seasons, Whitworth has been the starting left tackle for the Los Angeles Rams. He only played nine games last season after suffering a torn MCL and damaged PCL.

2. Ben Roethlisberger

Age: 39 years old

Birthday: March 2, 1982

NFL Career: 2004-present (18 seasons)

Teams: Pittsburgh Steelers

Career Stats: 242 games, 161-78-1 record, 5,274 completions, 62,607 passing yards, 64.5% completion percentage, 409 touchdowns, 205 interceptions, 19 rushing touchdowns

Ben Roethlisberger is the second oldest quarterback in the league right now and is currently in the tail-end of his career. He entered the league as the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 11th overall draft pick in 2004 and led the team to a 13-0 record his rookie year (2,621 yards and 17 touchdowns).

Since then, Roethlisberger has finished with a winning record in 13 of his 18 seasons. He has made 6 Pro Bowl appearances, he’s a two-time champion, and won the OROY award in 2004.

1. Tom Brady

Age: 44 years old

Birthday: August 3, 1977

NFL Career: 2000-present (22 seasons)

Teams: New England Patriots, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Career Stats: 311 games, 237-72 record, 7,062 completions, 82,381 passing yards, 64.1% completion percentage, 610 touchdowns, 199 interceptions, 26 rushing touchdowns

Tom Brady is currently the oldest NFL player in the league and the next closest player was born nearly five years after him. He was drafted by the New England Patriots in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft and spent his first 20 seasons with the team before joining the Tampa Bay Bucs. 

Brady will go down as the greatest player of all-time. He has more Super Bowl wins than any franchise — not just player. He’s the all-time leader in passing yards and passing touchdowns, has made 14 Pro Bowl appearances, won three MVP awards, and is a future Hall-of-Famer.

Who Are the Oldest NFL Players of All-Time?

As you can see, some of the oldest NFL players in the league right now are still dominating on the field on a weekly basis. They understand how to play to their strengths, how to avoid injuries, how to take care of their body, how to play properly, and how to prepare for the game ahead. 

While Tom Brady is the oldest in the league today, he still has a long way to go before being considered one of the oldest NFL players of all-time. That list includes a number of players that played into their late-40s, as well as a ton more players that played into their early-40s. 

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Some of the oldest NFL players of all-time include George Blanda (48), Morten Anderson (47), Adam Vinatieri (46), John Carney (46), John Nesser (46), Ben Agajanian (45), Gary Anderson (45), and Bobby Marshall (45). Tom Brady is close, but still several years away. 

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