We all know that it is not easy to make it to the NFL, the best football league in the world, let alone stay for several years. Player ages are a factor as they are always replaced by emerging talent.
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However, throughout the history of the NFL, there have been a handful of players who have managed to play in the league for over 20 years. These players are the perfect definition of longevity, consistency and hard work.
11 Earl Morrall (21 Seasons)
Earl Morrall played in the NFL from 1956 to 1976, wearing the uniforms of the San Francisco 49ers, Pittsburgh Steelers, Detroit Lions, New York Giants, Baltimore Colts and Miami Dolphins. Morrall was a backup quarterback for most of his career, playing 255 games, but only 102 as a starter. His best season came in 1968, when he took MVP honors, recording 26 touchdown passes and 9.2 yards per pass attempt. Morrall was also a three-time Super Bowl winner.
10 Sean Landeta (21 Seasons)
Punter Sean Landeta played nine seasons with the New York Giants (winning two championships), six seasons with the St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams, five with the Philadelphia Eagles, one season with the Green Bay Packers and one with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Sean Landeta was a two-time Pro-Bowler, and he had a great career overall, recording 1,401 punts, the third most all-time, behind only Shane Lechler and Jeff Feagles.
9 Vinny Testaverde (21 Seasons)
Vinny Testaverde was a true journeyman, playing for seven different teams throughout his 21-year career. Testaverde was never an outstanding player, but his consistency and sacrifice allowed him to stay at the highest level for a long time, leaving excellent stats. He completed 3,787 passes for 46,233 yards, with 275 touchdown passes, being top-20 all-time in those three departments. Vinny Testaverde had a Hall of Fame-worthy career, but he does not receive the credit he really deserves.
8 Jason Hanson (21 Seasons)
Unlike Vinny Testaverde, and the vast majority of players, Jason Hanson played his entire career for one team, the Detroit Lions, becoming not only a legend for the team, but also one of the greatest kickers in history. Throughout 21 seasons, Jason Hanson scored 495 field goals (fourth most all-time) and converted 665 extra points (ninth all-time). When Jason Hanson was focused, he always scored, even when kicking from 50 yards out.
7 Jeff Feagles (22 Seasons)
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Jeff Feagles is considered by many to be the greatest punter of all time, and the numbers speak for themselves, as he had 1,713 punts, with 71,211 punting yards, making him the all-time leader in both categories. Feagles began his NFL career in 1988 with the New England Patriots, played with the Philadelphia Eagles between 1990 and 1993, then four seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, five with the Seattle Seahawks, and finally played seven years with the New York Giants.
6 Tom Brady (22 Seasons)
Tom Brady is considered the greatest quarterback of all time for a reason, as he has demonstrated his talent and greatness throughout his 22 seasons in the NFL. Seven-time Super Bowl champion, five-time Super Bowl MVP, three-time AP MVP, all-time leader in approximate value touchdown passes pass completions and passing yards.
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Tom Brady is such a phenom that he had one of his best seasons at age 44, completing 485 passes for 5,316 yards, and 43 touchdown passes, this guy is unbelievable.
5 John Carney (23 Seasons)
Logically, kickers and punters have longer careers than other players, so it is not surprising to see several on this list. John Carney played 23 seasons in the NFL, between 1988 and 2010, what a great career. He played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Los Angeles Rams, San Diego Chargers, New Orleans Saints, Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City Chiefs and the New York Giants. Carney had a total of 468 field goals made, with a percentage of 82.4, and 628 extra points made, with 98.43%.
4 Gary Anderson (23 Seasons)
Gary Anderson made 538 field goals (third all-time) and converted 827 extra points (fifth all-time), with an excellent percentage of 99.15. He had a fantastic 23-year career. Anderson participated in four Pro Bowls, and his best season was 1998, in which he had 35 field goals made in 35 attempts, and 59 extra points made in the same number of attempts. He did not miss a single kick in the whole season, which was truly impressive.
3 Adam Vinatieri (24 Seasons)
Adam Vinatieri is a legendary kicker, who starred in several memorable moments, such as his 41-yard game-winner with four seconds left in Super Bowl 38, or the 48-yard game-winning kick against the St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl 36. He was undoubtedly very important in the New England Patriots' dynasty.
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Adam Vinatieri played 24 seasons in the NFL, 10 with the Pats, and 14 with the Indianapolis Colts. He finished his career as the all-time leader in field goals made (599) and second in extra points made (874).
2 Morten Andersen (25 Seasons)
Morten Andersen played 25 seasons in the NFL. He started his career in 1982 with the New Orleans Saints, and 13 years later, he wore an Atlanta Falcons uniform. In 2001, he played with the New York Giants, then played a couple of years with the Kansas City Chiefs, one season with the Minnesota Vikings and finished his career in 2007 with the Atlanta Falcons. Andersen participated in seven Pro Bowls, kicked 565 field goals and converted 849 extra points.
1 George Blanda (26 Seasons)
The player who played in the NFL the longest is George Blanda, who played no more than 26 seasons, from 1949 to 1975. Frankly, Blanda was not a phenomenal quarterback, but he still made a big impact in his time. Blanda led the league in pass completions four times and also led the league in passing yards on a couple of occasions. In addition, the NFL Hall of Famer delivered 236 touchdown passes in his career, and he is the all-time leader in extra points made (943) as well.
