The 10 Oldest QBs to Play an NFL Game As Philip Rivers Eyes Potential Return With Colts

Who are the oldest quarterbacks to ever appear in an NFL game?

Philip Rivers is set to workout with the Colts on Tuesday. / Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

On Monday, the Colts shocked the NFL as reports announced they will be hosting former quarterback Philip Rivers for a workout. Rivers has not played in an NFL game since spending the final year of his career in Indianapolis in 2020, when he led the team to their most recent postseason appearance.

The workout comes after Colts starter Daniel Jones suffered a torn achilles in Sunday’s loss to the Jaguars. Both of the team’s backup quarterbacks are injured as well, as Anthony Richardson is still on injured reserve and Riley Leonard is dealing with a strained knee ligament that leaves him “week to week.”

It is unclear if the workout will amount to anything or if Rivers will play in the NFL again, but if he were to return, he’d become one of the oldest quarterbacks to appear in a game. Rivers, already a grandfather, celebrated his 44th birthday on Monday.

Ahead of Rivers’s workout, here’s a look at where he would rank amongst the oldest quarterbacks to appear in an NFL game.

Oldest quarterbacks to appear in an NFL game

Quarterback	Age	Team	Season
George Blanda	48	Raiders	1975
Tom Brady	45	Buccaneers	2022
Steve DeBerg	44	Falcons	1998
Warren Moon	44	Chiefs	2000
Vinny Testaverde	44	Panthers	2007
Doug Flutie	43	Patriots	2005
Earl Morrall	42	Dolphins	1976
Aaron Rodgers*	42	Steelers	2025
Drew Brees	42	Saints	2020
Mark Brunell	41	Jets	2011

*denotes an active player

The oldest NFL quarterbacks have taken a wide variety of career paths to be in the league in their 40s. There’s (future) Hall of Famers like Tom Brady, Warren Moon, Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers, longtime backups like Earl Morrall and Steve DeBerg and players like Moon and Doug Flutie that also spent time in the Canadian Football League. For a league often known as “not for long,” it’s an impressive feat to be on an active roster in a player’s 40s, backup or starter.

George Blanda is both the oldest quarterback and player to appear in an NFL game, attempting three passes for the Raiders in 1975 at the age of 48. Blanda played an NFL record 26 seasons between 1949-1975. He was a kicker throughout his whole career and only occasionally came in at quarterback over his final nine seasons.

Tom Brady, who is the second-oldest quarterback to play in the NFL, by far was the most productive after turning 40. He was the oldest player to win NFL MVP at the age of 40, and made the postseason in every year following his 40th birthday, winning the Super Bowl with the Buccaneers in 2020.

If Rivers were to sign with the Colts and play in a game, he would become the sixth-oldest quarterback behind Vinny Testaverde, Warren Moon, Steve DeBerg, Tom Brady and George Blanda. Rivers, a part of the 2004 draft class, would also surpass Aaron Rodgers as the NFL’s oldest active player.

---

More NFL on Sports Illustrated

FREE NEWSLETTER. SI BTN Newsletter. Start off your day with SI:CYMI. dark

feed