Okay, so the other day I was watching some NFL highlights and this question popped into my head: who actually played the longest in the NFL? I mean, we all know some guys play for a ridiculously long time, but I wanted to know the exact answer. So, I started digging.
First, I just hit up Google. You know, the usual “who played the most years in the NFL” search. I got a bunch of articles, but they were kind of all over the place, some with different answers. Not super helpful.
Then, I tried checking out some of the bigger sports sites. They usually have good stats, but I wanted something really solid, something I could totally trust.
Digging Deeper into NFL Records
Finally, I decided I would be my own resolver. I spent hours upon hours of time that I will never get back, to find the answer to this trivial question.
- Morten Andersen: 25 seasons. Kicker and Punter. This guy was kicking field goals when some of the current players were probably still in diapers!
- George Blanda: 26 seasons. Quarterback and kicker. Another legend who played across multiple decades. It’s crazy to think about!
- Adam Vinatieri: 24 seasons. Kicker. Super Bowl hero, and he just kept going and going.
After looking at all the information. It’s George Blanda who played the most seasons in NFL, at 26 seasons.
It was a fun little research project, and I’m glad I finally settled it for myself. Turns out, those guys who stick around for decades are even more impressive than I thought!
