By Playing the NFL seasons isn’t something that the players will do for a long time. According to the WSJ, the average career of a NFL player is only 2.66 years, a number which is seemingly declining.
Here are the oldest football players that are currently listed as active as of November 2022 (before the start of the 2022 NFL season).
1. Tight End – Jason Witten
Jason Witten has come out of retirement to now join the list as one of the oldest safeties at 38 years old. Drafted by the Former Dallas Cowboys in the third round of the 2003 draft, Witten made a name for himself. In his 16 seasons with Dallas, he made a career high of 12,977 receiving yards. Still a force to be reckoned with, he secured two first-team All-Pro selections, Eleven Pro Bowls.
Jason Witten announced his retirement in April 2018. “I would go on to become a sports analyst for ESPN’s “Monday Night Football”, he said. But just a year later, he signed another contract with the Cowboys. It was a $4.5 million deal. Witten registered 63 receptions for 529 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns.
2. Offensive Lineman – Andrew Whitworth
Andrew Whitworth is the oldest offensive lineman in the NFL. He’s 38 years old, but as it seems, he’s got several more years ahead of him. He was drafted number 55 overall by the Cincinnati Bengals. Whitworth had an impressive college career at LSU. During his time at LSU, he was named to three Pro Bowls. He was then selected All-Pro in 2015 for the first time.
Whitworth signed a three-year contract with the Rams in April. He was named to the Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro that season, which helped Rams lead the NFC Champion title and a Super Bowl in the 2018 season.
3. Cornerback – Johnathan Joseph
Initially drafted in 2006 by the Bengals, Johnathan Joseph was a first-round pick out of South Carolina. He is one of the oldest cornerback at 36 in the league. He had his best season immediately after being signed by the Texans. In his first two years in Houston, he was named to the Pro Bowl.
The Patriots signed Johnathan Joseph in 1996 as an undrafted free agent. He had a decorated career. It included three Super Bowls with England, three Pro Bowls, and one with the Colts. After 9 seasons, he became a free agent. Johnathan then signed a 1.5M dollars contract with the Titans in May.
4. Wide Receiver – Larry Fitzgerald
Larry Fitzgerald was first selected in the 2004 draft as a no. 3 overall pick. He’s 37 as the oldest wide receiver in the league. He’s entering the 17th NFL season. In fact, the veteran receiver told reporters Thursday that it’s his only motivation for remaining in the league.
“That would definitely validate me,” Fitzgerald said. “You wouldn’t see me around here anymore if that happened.”
5. Running Back – Frank Gore
At 37 years old, Frank Gore is the oldest running back in the NFL league. He spent most of his career as an all-time leader in rushing yards playing for the San Francisco 49ers.
First drafted by the Chiefs in the third round of the 2005 draft, Frank went on to play for the Indianapolis Colts, the Miami Dolphins, the Buffalo Bills and most recently the Jets.
6. Defensive End – Calais Campbell
Calais Campbell is one of the oldest defensive linemen at just 34 years old. He was drafted by the Cardinals where he played until 2016.
He then became a free agent in 2017 and was eventually traded in 2020 to the Ravens. Calais was drafted in the sixth round of the 2006 draft and went on to become the franchise’s second Super Bowl Championship.
