Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady will do something in Week One that has never been done before: He’ll start a game at quarterback in the NFL after his 45th birthday.
Brady turns 45 on August 3, and his announcement on Sunday that he’s coming out of retirement means he will be the Bucs’ starting quarterback at age 45. That will make him the oldest starting quarterback in NFL history.
Currently, Steve DeBerg is the oldest quarterback in NFL history. DeBerg started a game for the Falcons in 1998 at 44 years, 279 days old. Brady is the second-oldest starting quarterback in NFL history; he was 44 years, 173 days old in the Bucs’ playoff loss to the Rams in January.
The oldest player ever to play quarterback at all was George Blanda, who briefly came in at quarterback for the Raiders in 1975, at 48 years, 95 days old. But for the last few years of his career Blanda was primarily a kicker who only played quarterback occasionally off the bench.
Last year, Brady played very well and didn’t show any signs of age. At some point, Brady will be too old to play anymore. But he hasn’t reached that point yet.
FAQs
Steve DeBerg may not have been one of the best quarterbacks in NFL history, and he may not have ever won a Super Bowl, but he is known for being the oldest starting quarterback.
Who is the oldest quarterback in the NFL today? ›
While Aaron Rodgers ranks as the oldest NFL quarterback in the '23 season, he's not the oldest QB in NFL history yet; George Blanda wins the title at 48. The New York Jets and their fans were dealt a crushing blow as star quarterback Aaron Rodgers faced a major setback just moments into the 2023 NFL season.
Can a quarterback re enter a game? ›
Q: After an Emergency Third Quarterback enters a game, are QB1 or QB2 permitted to return to that game? A: Yes. If either QB1 or QB2 are evaluated for injury and cleared to return, either may re-enter the game.
How old was Tom Brady when he won his 4th Super Bowl? ›
How old were Tom Brady when he won his fourth super bowl?
| NAME | DATE | AGE |
|---|
| Tom Brady | 2/3/2002 | 24-184 |
| Tom Brady | 2/1/2004 | 26-182 |
| Tom Brady | 2/6/2005 | 27-187 |
| Tom Brady | 2/1/2015 | 37-182 |
3 more rowsA lot of people don't realize that George Blanda, playing for the Oakland Raiders, who was their back up QB and kicker, was in his mid 40s when he last went to a Super Bowl. Who was the oldest quarterback to retire from the NFL? That has to be George Blanda. He retired at age 48, the oldest ever.
Who is the oldest quarterback to ever win a Super Bowl? ›
It's been an amazing journey for me so far.” Tom Brady, who retired at age 45, was the oldest quarterback to ever win a Super Bowl, so that's likely the blueprint Wilson is aiming to follow.
Who is the smallest QB in the NFL? ›
Who Is The Shortest Quarterback in the NFL? At just five feet, ten inches, number one overall 2023 draft pick Bryce Young (who will start his NFL career in Carolina with the Panthers), and Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray rank as the current shortest. But shorter quarterbacks are certainly not uncommon.
Who is the youngest QB in the NFL? ›
Sam Darnold will be the youngest QB to start a season opener since the 1970 merger. Michael Vick and Alex Smith also started at the age of 21. Take a look at how these young quarterbacks performed in their first start compared to their career stats.
Who is the oldest NFL player ever? ›
Alameda, California, U.S. Blanda retired from pro football in August 1976 as the sport's oldest player at the age of 48, a mark that still stands. One of only two players to play in four different decades—the other one being John Carney, he holds the record for most extra points made (943) and attempted (959).
Can a QB catch his own pass? ›
That was until Jackson made a play of his own. The Ravens quarterback turned into a wide receiver, outrunning the defenders to catch his own pass and run for a 13-yard gain.
Most commonly, a sack is when a member of the defense tackles the quarterback of the team in possession while he is behind the line of scrimmage. Technically a sack can occur on a non-quarterback but only if that player is intending to pass the football forwards, otherwise it is known as a tackle for loss.
When can a QB not pass? ›
If the ball, whether in player possession or loose, crosses the line of scrimmage, a forward pass is not permissible, regardless of whether the ball returns behind the line of scrimmage before the pass is thrown.
Did Mahomes win two Super Bowls? ›
In the 2023 season, he advanced to Super Bowl LVIII, his fourth Super Bowl appearance in five seasons, where he defeated the 49ers in a rematch of Super Bowl LIV. With three Super Bowl wins in five seasons, many consider this a dynasty.
How old was Patrick Mahomes when he won a Super Bowl? ›
At just 24 years old, Patrick Mahomes achieved a historic milestone by leading the Kansas City Chiefs to victory in Super Bowl LIV. Facing the San Francisco 49ers, Mahomes orchestrated a comeback, scoring 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to secure the Chiefs' first title in fifty years.
How old was Tom Brady in Super Bowl 53? ›
Super Bowl LIII featured record setting age differences between each team's starting quarterbacks and head coaches, pitting 41-year-old Brady against 24-year-old Jared Goff, as well as 66-year-old Belichick against 33-year-old Sean McVay.
Who was the oldest NFL player to play a game? ›
Pro Football Hall of Fame
Blanda retired from pro football in August 1976 as the sport's oldest player at the age of 48, a mark that still stands. One of only two players to play in four different decades—the other one being John Carney, he holds the record for most extra points made (943) and attempted (959).
Who is the youngest quarterback to ever start an NFL game? ›
Interpreted as:
| NAME | AGE | DATE |
|---|
| Jacky Lee | 21-097 | 10/16/1960 |
| Tommy Maddox | 21-101 | 12/12/1992 |
| Sam Darnold | 21-103 | 9/16/2018 |
| Michael Vick | 21-103 | 10/7/2001 |
24 more rowsTom Brady has played the most NFL games at quarterback, 335. Jason Hanson holds the NFL record of 21 seasons with the same team as placekicker for the Lions. Jerry Rice played 303 games as a wide receiver, an NFL record. Bruce Matthews (left) played a record 296 games as an offensive lineman.
Who is the oldest NFL player right now? ›
Jason Peters
He has been a key figure in the NFL, earning nine Pro Bowl selections, six NFL All-Pro team honors, and being named to the 2010s NFL All-Decade Team. Peters is currently the oldest active player in the NFL, turning 42 in January 2024.
