List of NFL players by games played
Playing in the NFL is one of the most physically demanding sports. The players are exposed to many hard hits and are often injured. This plus given the fact the NFL is highly competitive, and there is a large group of talented players wanting to take the place of those who are injured or no longer able to perform at a high level, most careers are not long. The average length of a player's career in the National Football League is relatively short compared to other sports. One study shows the average career lasts around 3.3 years.[1] Kickers and punters careers average 4.87 seasons.[1] On the other end, the shortest average careers are the running backs, only 2.57 seasons.[1] According to data compiled by another study,[2] quarterbacks and offensive linemen are next on the list with average career spans of 4.44 and 3.63 seasons, respectively. Defensive linemen usually have longer careers than linebackers and cornerbacks. Wide receivers careers average just above running backs at 2.81 seasons[2]
Some players avoid injury and maintain their high skill level. The following list has the top 250 players who have the most regular season game appearances. All have played at least a dozen seasons in the league. One player, George Blanda[3] played in 4 decades from the 1940s to the 1970s. Blanda played 26 seasons and was 48 years when he retired.
All-time most appearances
[edit]Regular season only:[4] (includes NFL and AFL games)
C | Center | G | Guard | NT | Nose Tackle | QB | Quarterback |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CB | Cornerback | K | Placekicker | OL | Off. Lineman | RB | Running Back |
DE | Defensive End | KR | Kick Returner | OT | Off. Tackle | S | Safety |
DT | Defensive Tackle | LB | Linebacker | P | Punter | TE | Tight End |
FB | Fullback | LS | Long Snapper | PR | Punt Returner | WR | Wide Receiver |
If more than one position is listed for a player, the BOLD listing is his primary position. This list is sorted by 1) games played, 2) first year played, 3) last year played
Bold denotes an active player | Most games for that position^ | Elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame* |
Rank | Name | Position | Period | Games |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Morten Andersen* | K ^ | 1982–2007 | 382 |
2 | Adam Vinatieri | K | 1996–2019 | 365 |
3 | Gary Anderson | K | 1982–2004 | 353 |
4 | Jeff Feagles | P ^ | 1988–2009 | 352 |
5 | George Blanda* | K, QB | 1949–1975 | 340 |
6 | Tom Brady | QB ^ | 2000–2022 | 335 |
7 | Jason Hanson | K | 1992–2012 | 327 |
8 | Phil Dawson | K | 1999–2018 | 305 |
9 | Jerry Rice* | WR ^ | 1985–2004 | 303 |
10 | John Carney | K | 1988–2010 | 302 |
Brett Favre* | QB | 1991–2010 | ||
12 | John Kasay | K | 1991–2011 | 301 |
13 | Matt Stover | K | 1991–2009 | 297 |
Andy Lee | P | 2004–2022 | ||
15 | Bruce Matthews* | OL ^ | 1983–2001 | 296 |
16 | Darrell Green* | CB ^ | 1983–2002 | 295 |
17 | Drew Brees | QB | 2001–2020 | 287 |
18 | Shane Lechler | P | 2000–2017 | 286 |
19 | Sean Landeta | P | 1985–2005 | 284 |
Sebastian Janikowski | K | 2000–2018 | ||
21 | Jim Marshall | DE ^ | 1960–1979 | 282 |
22 | Trey Junkin | LS ^, TE, LB | 1983–2002 | 281 |
23 | Marcedes Lewis | TE ^ | 2006–present | 280 |
24 | Bruce Smith* | DE | 1985–2003 | 279 |
25 | Clay Matthews | LB ^ | 1978–1996 | 278 |
26 | Norm Johnson | K | 1982–1999 | 273 |
27 | Jason Witten | TE | 2003–2020 | 271 |
28 | Tony Gonzalez* | TE | 1997–2013 | 270 |
29 | Junior Seau* | LB | 1990–2009 | 268 |
30 | Peyton Manning* | QB | 1998–2015 | 266 |
Julius Peppers | DE, LB | 2002–2018 | ||
Robbie Gould | K | 2005–2022 | ||
33 | Jan Stenerud* | K | 1967–1985 | 263 |
Lomas Brown | OT ^ | 1985–2002 | ||
Jason Elam | K | 1993–2009 | ||
Larry Fitzgerald | WR | 2004–2020 | ||
37 | Ray Brown | G ^ | 1986–2005 | 262 |
38 | Mason Crosby | K | 2007–2023 | 261 |
39 | Nick Lowery | K | 1978–1996 | 260 |
Don Muhlbach | LS | 2004–2020 | ||
41 | Jackie Slater* | OT | 1976–1995 | 259 |
Lee Johnson | P | 1985–2002 | ||
43 | David Binn | LS | 1994–2010 | 256 |
London Fletcher | LB | 1998–2013 | ||
Sam Koch | P | 2006–2022 | ||
Calais Campbell | DE | 2008–present | ||
47 | Earl Morrall | QB | 1956–1976 | 255 |
Irving Fryar | WR | 1984–2000 | ||
Tim Brown* | WR | 1988–2004 | ||
Dustin Colquitt | P | 2005–2021 | ||
J. J. Jansen | LS | 2009–present | ||
52 | Charles Woodson* | S ^ | 1998–2015 | 254 |
Matt Prater | K | 2007–present | ||
54 | L.P. Ladouceur | LS | 2005–2020 | 253 |
55 | Mike Kenn | OT | 1978–1994 | 251 |
56 | Pat Leahy | K | 1974–1991 | 250 |
Eddie Murray | K | 1980–2000 | ||
Eugene Robinson | S | 1985–2000 | ||
Thomas Morstead | P | 2009–present | ||
60 | Ben Roethlisberger | QB | 2004–2021 | 249 |
61 | Al Del Greco | K | 1984–2000 | 248 |
Jason Peters | OT | 2004–2023 | ||
63 | Fran Tarkenton* | QB | 1961–1978 | 246 |
Jeff Van Note | C ^ | 1969–1986 | ||
Blair Bush | C ^ | 1978–1994 | ||
66 | Mike Webster* | C | 1974–1990 | 245 |
Patrick Mannelly | LS | 1998–2013 | ||
68 | Ray Donaldson | C | 1980–1996 | 244 |
Ricky Proehl | WR | 1990–2006 | ||
Chris Gardocki | P | 1991–2006 | ||
Matt Turk | P | 1995–2011 | ||
Terrell Suggs | LB | 2003–2019 | ||
Philip Rivers | QB | 2004–2020 | ||
74 | Bill Romanowski | LB | 1988–2003 | 243 |
Aaron Rodgers | QB | 2005–present | ||
76 | Dan Marino* | QB | 1983–1999 | 242 |
77 | Ed White | G | 1969–1985 | 241 |
Craig Hentrich | P | 1994–2009 | ||
Kevin Mawae* | C | 1994–2009 | ||
Ronde Barber* | CB | 1997–2012 | ||
Matt Bryant | K | 2002–2019 | ||
Frank Gore | RB ^ | 2005–2020 | ||
83 | Ron McDole | DE | 1961–1978 | 240 |
Mick Tingelhoff* | C | 1962–1978 | ||
Ryan Longwell | K | 1997–2012 | ||
Nick Folk | K | 2007–present | ||
Jon Weeks | LS | 2010–present | ||
88 | Charlie Joiner* | WR | 1969–1986 | 239 |
Jerry Fontenot | C | 1989–2004 | ||
Chris Mohr | P | 1989–2004 | ||
Lorenzo Neal | FB ^ | 1993–2008 | ||
Andrew Whitworth | OT, G | 2006–2021 | ||
Matthew Slater | WR | 2008–2023 | ||
94 | Reggie Roby | P | 1983–1998 | 238 |
Rod Woodson* | CB, KR, PR, S | 1987–2003 | ||
Bryan Barker | P | 1990–2005 | ||
Brad Maynard | P | 1997–2011 | ||
98 | David Akers | K | 1998–2013 | 237 |
99 | Clyde Simmons | DE | 1986–2000 | 236 |
Ted Washington | NT ^ | 1991–2007 | ||
Ethan Albright | LS, C | 1995–2010 | ||
Antonio Gates | TE | 2003–2018 | ||
Eli Manning | QB | 2004–2019 | ||
104 | Matt Bahr | K | 1979–1995 | 235 |
Pete Metzelaars | TE | 1982–1997 | ||
Olindo Mare | K | 1997–2012 | ||
Mike Leach | LS | 2000–2015 | ||
108 | Jim Bakken | K | 1962–1978 | 234 |
Stan Brock | OT | 1980–1995 | ||
John Elway* | QB | 1983–1998 | ||
Andre Reed* | WR | 1985–2000 | ||
Cris Carter* | WR | 1987–2002 | ||
Kendall Gammon | LS | 1992–2006 | ||
Tony Richardson | FB | 1995–2010 | ||
Lawyer Milloy | S | 1996–2010 | ||
Matt Ryan | QB | 2008–2022 | ||
117 | James Lofton* | WR | 1978–1993 | 233 |
Rohn Stark | P | 1982–1997 | ||
Vinny Testaverde | QB | 1987–2007 | ||
Jason Taylor* | DE, LB | 1997–2011 | ||
121 | Chris Doleman* | DE | 1985–1999 | 232 |
Reggie White* | DE | 1985–2000 | ||
123 | Frank Winters | C | 1987–2002 | 231 |
124 | James Farrior | LB | 1997–2011 | 230 |
Derrick Mason | WR | 1997–2011 | ||
126 | Steve Christie | K | 1990–2004 | 229 |
Keith Traylor | NT | 1991–2007 | ||
128 | Jim Turner | K | 1964–1979 | 228 |
Henry Ellard | WR | 1983–1998 | ||
Jim Sweeney | C | 1984–1999 | ||
Kevin Greene* | LB | 1985–1999 | ||
Ray Lewis* | LB | 1996–2012 | ||
Mike Adams | S | 2004–2019 | ||
Morgan Cox | LS | 2010–present | ||
135 | Rickey Jackson* | LB | 1981–1995 | 227 |
Jim Jeffcoat | DE | 1983–1997 | ||
Raleigh McKenzie | OL | 1985–2000 | ||
Casey Wiegmann | C | 1997–2011 | ||
139 | Paul Krause* | S | 1964–1979 | 226 |
Emmitt Smith* | RB | 1990–2004 | ||
Donnie Jones | P | 2004–2018 | ||
142 | Carl Eller* | DE | 1964–1979 | 225 |
Albert Lewis | CB | 1983–1998 | ||
Hardy Nickerson | LB | 1987–2002 | ||
Keith Brooking | LB | 1998–2012 | ||
146 | John Hadl | QB | 1962–1977 | 224 |
Ed "Too Tall" Jones | DE | 1974–1989 | ||
Carl Hairston | DE, DT | 1976–1990 | ||
Art Monk* | WR | 1980–1995 | ||
Mark Royals | P | 1987–2003 | ||
Dan Stryzinski | P | 1990–2003 | ||
Will Shields* | G | 1993–2006 | ||
John Lynch* | S | 1993–2007 | ||
Derrick Brooks* | LB | 1995–2008 | ||
Kevin Carter | DE | 1995–2008 | ||
Brian Dawkins* | S | 1996–2011 | ||
John Denney | LS | 2005–2018 | ||
Jerry Hughes | DE | 2010–present | ||
159 | Max Montoya | G | 1979–1994 | 223 |
Brian Mitchell | KR^, PR | 1990–2003 | ||
Isaac Bruce* | WR | 1994–2009 | ||
Brett Kern | P | 2008–2022 | ||
163 | Marcus Allen* | RB | 1982–1997 | 222 |
Randall McDaniel* | G | 1988–2001 | ||
165 | Justin Smith | DE | 2001–2014 | 221 |
Terence Newman | CB | 2003–2017 | ||
Cameron Jordan | DE | 2011–present | ||
168 | Tom Tupa | P, QB | 1988–2004 | 220 |
Dave Moore | TE, LS | 1992–2006 | ||
Bob Whitfield | OT | 1992–2006 | ||
Duane Brown | OT | 2008–2023 | ||
172 | John Randle* | DT ^ | 1990–2003 | 219 |
Jeff Zgonina | DT ^ | 1993–2009 | ||
Wayne Gandy | OT | 1994–2008 | ||
Terrell Owens* | WR | 1996–2010 | ||
Takeo Spikes | LB | 1998–2012 | ||
Dominic Raiola | C | 2001–2014 | ||
Steve Smith, Sr. | WR | 2001–2016 | ||
Stephen Gostkowski | K | 2006–2020 | ||
180 | Sonny Jurgensen* | QB | 1957–1974 | 218 |
Alan Page* | DT | 1967–1981 | ||
Jim Ritcher | OL | 1980–1995 | ||
Joe Nash | NT, DT | 1982–1996 | ||
Dan Turk | LS | 1985–1999 | ||
Randy Moss* | WR | 1998–2012 | ||
Dwight Freeney | DE | 2002–2017 | ||
Matthew Stafford | QB | 2009–present | ||
188 | Jerrel Wilson | P | 1963–1978 | 217 |
Gene Upshaw* | G | 1967–1981 | ||
Guy Morriss | OL | 1973–1987 | ||
Bill Bates | S | 1983–1997 | ||
Eric Allen | CB | 1988–2001 | ||
Hines Ward | WR | 1998–2011 | ||
194 | Lou Groza* | K, OT | 1950–1967 | 216 |
Dave Butz | DT | 1973–1988 | ||
Dave Brown | CB | 1975–1989 | ||
Darryl Talley | LB | 1983–1996 | ||
Dwight Stone | KR, WR | 1987–2000 | ||
Michael Strahan* | DE | 1993–2007 | ||
Kevin Huber | P | 2009–2022 | ||
Ryan Succop | K | 2009–2022 | ||
202 | Ted Hendricks* | LB | 1969–1983 | 215 |
Monte Coleman | LB | 1979–1994 | ||
John Kidd | P | 1984–1998 | ||
Champ Bailey* | CB | 1999–2013 | ||
206 | Ray Crockett | CB | 1989–2002 | 214 |
Vonnie Holliday | DE | 1998–2012 | ||
Domata Peko | NT | 2006–2019 | ||
209 | Jimmy Johnson* | CB | 1961–1976 | 213 |
Pat Fischer | CB | 1961–1977 | ||
Mark Moseley | K | 1970–1986 | ||
Steve McMichael | DT | 1980–1994 | ||
Dave Krieg | QB | 1980–1998 | ||
Kevin Gogan | G | 1987–2000 | ||
Henry Thomas | DT | 1987–2000 | ||
Todd Steussie | OL | 1994–2007 | ||
217 | Jeff Gossett | P | 1981–1996 | 212 |
Rodney Holman | TE | 1982–1995 | ||
Brian Hansen | P | 1984–1999 | ||
Bruce Armstrong | OT | 1987–2000 | ||
Roman Phifer | LB | 1991–2005 | ||
Willie McGinest | LB | 1994–2008 | ||
Rian Lindell | K | 2000–2013 | ||
Karlos Dansby | LB | 2004–2017 | ||
Nick Bellore | LB | 2011–present | ||
226 | Johnny Unitas* | QB | 1956–1973 | 211 |
Len Dawson* | QB | 1957–1975 | ||
Drew Hill | WR | 1979–1993 | ||
Earnest Byner | RB | 1984–1997 | ||
Ed West | TE | 1984–1997 | ||
Jeff Dellenbach | C | 1985–1999 | ||
Trace Armstrong | DE | 1989–2003 | ||
Aeneas Williams* | CB, S | 1991–2004 | ||
Jeff Saturday | C | 1999–2012 | ||
Jay Feely | K | 2001–2014 | ||
Reggie Wayne | WR | 2001–2014 | ||
Johnathan Joseph | CB | 2006–2020 | ||
238 | Jim Otto* | C | 1960–1974 | 210 |
Fred Cox | K | 1963–1977 | ||
Jackie Smith* | TE | 1963–1978 | ||
Elvin Bethea* | DE | 1968–1983 | ||
Chris Bahr | K | 1976–1989 | ||
Matt Birk | C | 1998–2012 | ||
244 | Randy White* | DT | 1975–1988 | 209 |
Jessie Tuggle | LB | 1987–2000 | ||
Terrell Buckley | CB | 1992–2005 | ||
Keenan McCardell | WR | 1992–2007 | ||
Matt Hasselbeck | QB | 1999–2015 | ||
Brad Meester | C | 2000–2013 | ||
Antoine Bethea | S | 2006–2019 | ||
Rank | Name | Position | Period | Games |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Average playing career length in the National Football League". Retrieved October 14, 2024.
- ^ a b "What Is The Average Length of an NFL Career, By Position?". Retrieved October 14, 2024.
- ^ "George Blanda game logs". Retrieved October 14, 2024.
- ^ "Most NFL games played". Pro football reference.com. Retrieved April 10, 2016.