It has a lot to do with perspective and obviously genetics, but some are able to dip into the fountain of youth long after Father Time starts asking them to get out. With a good routine, healthy habits and plenty of care, anyone can achieve the feat of slowing the aging process.
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And the same is true on the football field.
Look no further than the likes of Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers and others who have played at a high level into their fourth decade of life. Brady won a Super Bowl at age-43 and even Philip Rivers made a triumphant return to the gridiron at 44 years old after being retired for the previous four seasons.
Plenty of quarterbacks have managed to play well beyond the expected shelf life for someone in the NFL. That will only continue in 2026 as Rodgers returns to the field for a 22nd season in the pros.
Here’s what to know about some of the oldest quarterbacks to play in the NFL and where Rodgers ranks.
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Aaron Rodgers played football at Pleasant Valley High School in Chico, California from 1998 to 2001. During his junior and senior seasons as starting quarterback, Rodgers amassed 4,419 passing yards while helping the Vikings to a 17-7 mark.
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Aaron Rodgers played football at Pleasant Valley High School in Chico, California from 1998 to 2001. During his junior and senior seasons as starting quarterback, Rodgers amassed 4,419 passing yards while helping the Vikings to a 17-7 mark.
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California Golden Bears quarterback Aaron Rodgers looks to throw against USC at the Los Angeles Coliseum on Oct. 9, 2004.
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Quarterback Aaron Rodgers, drafted 24th overall by the Green Bay Packers, poses with family and friends during the 2005 NFL draft at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City on April 23, 2005.
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Aaron Rodgers, the Green Bay Packers’ first round pick in the 2005 NFL draft, is introduced by GM Ted Thompson on April 24, 2005.
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Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers drops back to pass against the Dallas Cowboys at Texas Stadium on Nov. 29, 2007.
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Aaron Rodgers reacts after he threw a 7-yard touchdown to John Kuhn in the third quarter of the 2010 NFC divisional playoff game against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome on Jan. 15, 2011. Rodgers threw for three touchdowns and ran for a third in the Packers’ 48-21 win.
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Aaron Rodgers pumps his fist in the air celebrating the 2010 NFC championship game victory over the Chicago Bears on Jan. 23, 2011 at Soldier Field.
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NFL commissioner Roger Goodell presents the Super Bowl MVP trophy to Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers at a news conference on Feb. 7, 2011 in Dallas, Texas. The Packers defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 31-25 to win Super Bowl XLV.
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Aaron Rodgers celebrates the Super Bowl XLV title with Green Bay Packer fans during a Return to Titletown Celebration on Feb. 8, 2011 at Lambeau Field.
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President Barack Obama receives a jersey from quarterback Aaron Rodgers (L) of the Green Bay Packers during a reception for the National Football League Super Bowl XLV champions on the south lawn of the White House on Aug. 12, 2011 in Washington, D.C. The Packers, lead by head coach Mike McCarthy, finished the 2010 season with a winning record of 10-6, and defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 31-25 to win the championship.
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Aaron Rodgers plays during the first round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am golf tournament at Spyglass Hill Golf Course on Feb. 8, 2018.
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Danica Patrick and Aaron Rodgers look on during the fourth quarter of Game 2 of the first round of the 2019 NBA playoffs between the Detroit Pistons and Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum on April 17, 2019. Rodgers has an ownership stake in the NBA team.
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Aaron Rodgers is shown with back up quarterbacks Tim Boyle (left) and Jordan Love during the team’s training camp in Green Bay, Wis., on Aug. 24, 2020.
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Aaron Rodgers served as guest host of “Jeopardy!” for two weeks from April 6-15, 2021.
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Aaron Rodgers celebrates his rushing touchdown during a 24-14 win against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Oct. 17, 2021.
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Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur and quarterback Aaron Rodgers stand arm in arm late in the fourth quarter of a 24-10 win against the Washington Football Team on Oct. 24, 2021, at Lambeau Field
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Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is lifted up by guard Lucas Patrick after breaking Brett Favre’s franchise record for touchdown passes during a Christmas Day 2021 game against the Cleveland Browns.
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Aaron Rodgers walks off the field with teammate Randall Cobb following a season-ending loss to the Detroit Lions on Jan, 8, 2023 at Lambeau Field.
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Aaron Rodgers was traded to the New York Jets prior to the 2023 season after spending the first 18 years of his NFL career with the Green Bay Packers.
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New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers is injured after a sack by Buffalo Bills defensive end Leonard Floyd during his first drive with the Jets on Sept. 11, 2023.
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Aaron Rodgers looks on from the sideline during the New York Jets’ 30-0 loss against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on Dec. 17, 2023.
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New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) signs a fan’s helmet before the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida, on Dec. 15, 2024.
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New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) and wide receiver Davante Adams (17) high-five each other as they walks off the field after a 32-25 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars game at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida, on Dec. 15, 2024.
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New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) throws his 500th career touchdown pass in the second quarter of the game against the Miami Dolphins on Jan. 5, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J.
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New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) celebrates his touchdown pass to New York Jets wide receiver Davante Adams (17) (not pictured) during the fourth quarter of their game against the Miami Dolphins at MetLife Stadium on Jan. 5, 2025.
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The ball used by New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers for his 500th touchdown pass is seen on the sideline during the second quarter of the Jets game against the Miami Dolphins at MetLife Stadium on Jan. 5, 2025.
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New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) walks off the field with wide receiver Davante Adams (17) after a win against the Miami Dolphins at MetLife Stadium on Jan. 5, 2025.
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Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers fumbles as he is hit by the Houston Texans’ Will Anderson Jr. The Texans’ Sheldon Rankins (90) returned the fumble for a touchdown as Houston went on to a 30-6 wild-card playoff win at Acrisure Stadium on Jan. 12, 2026.
How old is Aaron Rodgers?
Rodgers is 42 years old.
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The quarterback was born on Dec. 2, 1983 in Chico, California.
Oldest QBs to start a game in NFL history
Tom Brady is the oldest quarterback in NFL history to start a game. Brady accomplished that feat at the age of 45 on Sept. 11, 2022 when he started for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a 19-3 win over the Dallas Cowboys in Week 1. It was the first of 17 regular-season starts for Brady in his final season.
Here’s a look at the oldest quarterbacks to start a game in the NFL and how many they started in that season:
Tom Brady, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2022: 45 years old (17 starts)
Doug Flutie, San Diego Chargers, 2004: 42 years old (1 start)
Oldest QBs in NFL history
George Blanda is the oldest quarterback to attempt a pass in NFL history. The Oakland Raiders quarterback and kicker was 48 years old at the time and completed 1-of-3 pass attempts during the 1975 season.
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The Hall of Famer also remains the oldest quarterback in NFL history to throw a touchdown pass, which came during the 1974 season at the age of 47.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How old is Aaron Rodgers? Where he ranks among oldest QBs in NFL history
