Philip Rivers recently became one of the oldest players in NFL history when he suited up for the Colts aged 44.
It’s the Super Bowl, and there are seconds left on the clock. You snap on a fourth and long, deciding to toss up a Hail Mary.
That is essentially what the injury-hit Indianapolis Colts are doing by bringing Philip Rivers out of retirement at 44.
With their quarterback room shredded by injuries, Indy have turned to a familiar and experienced arm.
Stuff365 takes a look at the eight oldest players in NFL history, with Rivers narrowly missing the cut.
George Blanda – 48 (Quarterback and kicker)
Blanda was still handling kicking duties at 48 and doing so in games that mattered. His final appearance came in the AFC Championship, where he converted a field goal and extra point for the Raiders against the Steelers.
Over 26 seasons, he played quarterback and kicker across the AFL and NFL, scoring more points than anyone in professional football at the time of his retirement.
He spent his final years almost exclusively as a specialist, used in late-game situations and pressure kicks, a role that allowed him to extend his career long after he stopped starting at quarterback.
Morten Andersen – 47 (Kicker)
Andersen appeared in 382 NFL games, still the most in league history. By the time he retired, he had kicked for five franchises and outlasted entire coaching trees.
In 2006, at 46, he became the NFL’s all-time leading scorer, a record built on availability rather than short peaks.
He was still playing meaningful snaps late into his final season and only stepped away when contract offers dried up, not because his leg gave out
Adam Vinatieri – 47 (Kicker)
Vinatieri’s late-career seasons were not ceremonial. He remained a central figure in high-leverage situations, long after most kickers fade into roster depth.
His Super Bowl-winning kicks with New England came early in his career, but his years in Indianapolis compounded some incredible records in his 40s.
By the time he played his final game at 47, he held the NFL records for points scored, field goals made, postseason points, and overtime field goals.
John Carney – 46 (Kicker)
Carney’s career spanned from the late 1980s to 2010, cutting across rule changes, roster expansions, and shifting special-teams priorities.
He kicked for eight franchises and returned mid-season with New Orleans at 46 when the Saints needed stability.
He became the oldest active player in the league that season and still sits at number four on today’s list of the oldest players in NFL history.
Tom Brady – 45 (Quarterback)
Brady was still a full-time starter at 45 and finished his final season leading the NFL in passing yards. Two years earlier, at 43, he took the Buccaneers through the playoffs and won the Super Bowl, throwing three touchdowns in the title game.
He played 23 seasons, started more games than any quarterback in history, and retired holding the league records for passing yards, touchdown passes, and postseason wins.
Brady left the NFL while still operating at a level most quarterbacks never reach at any age.
Gary Anderson – 45 (Kicker)
In 1998, at 39, Anderson became the first kicker in NFL history to complete a perfect regular season, converting all of his field goals and extra points for the Vikings.
That unmatched level of accuracy kept him in demand well beyond the typical lifespan of the position.
He finished his career at 45 with the Titans, ranking among the NFL’s all-time leaders in points scored and field goals made, and retired after 23 seasons without ever missing time due to a decline in leg strength.
Warren Moon – 44 (Quarterback)
Moon entered the NFL later than most after spending six seasons in the CFL, yet still appeared in NFL games at 44.
His final season came with the Chiefs, where he served as a veteran option behind Elvis Grbac and remained capable of stepping in if needed.
Across his professional career, Moon threw for more than 49,000 yards, winning NFL Offensive Player of the Year. He also earned nine Pro Bowl selections, relying on arm strength and pocket command rather than mobility to extend his playing days.
Vinny Testaverde – 44 (Quarterback)
Testaverde started NFL games at 44, becoming one of only four quarterbacks to do so. In his final season with the Panthers, he stepped in mid-season and made spot starts after injuries forced Carolina to reshuffle its depth chart.
He played 21 NFL seasons across seven franchises, finishing with more than 46,000 passing yards and 275 touchdown passes.
Testaverde remained an option deep into his 40s because teams trusted him to operate an offence on short notice. Much like Philip Rivers may have to do for the Colts.
Philip Rivers – 44 (Quarterback)
Rivers last played in 2020, starting all 16 games for Indianapolis and leading them to the playoffs before stepping away.
He started all 16 regular-season games that year, throwing for 4,169 yards with 24 touchdowns and 11 interceptions as the Colts finished 11–5 and reached the playoffs.
His comeback appearance at 44 came in an emergency role, with Indianapolis again short on quarterback options. Rivers completed 18 of 27 passes for 120 yards and a touchdown, taking one sack and finishing with a passer rating of 73.1.
