The Gifted Seniors

The Pro Football Hall of Fame recently posted this list of players that played the great game of football into their 40s. The list is made up of mostly quarterbacks, kickers, and punters. The players that seem to have another layer of protection placed upon them with each passing year. The most remarkable are those that aren't quarterbacks, kickers, or punters. Darrell Green, Jerry Rice, Jackie Slater, Bruce Smith, Junior Seau, Jim Marshall, Jeff Van Note, and the incredible Nessers in particular.

Hall of Famers are highlighted.

Player	Pos.	Last Season/Team	Birthdate
-48-
George Blanda	QB-K	1975 Oakland Raiders	September 17, 1927
-47-
Morten Andersen	K	2007 Atlanta Falcons	August 19, 1960
-45-
Ben Agajanian	K	1964 San Diego Chargers	August 28, 1919
Gary Anderson	K	2004 Tennessee Titans	July 16, 1959
John Carney	K	2010 New Orleans Saints	April 20, 1964
Bobby Marshall	E	1925 Duluth Kelleys	March 12, 1880
John Nesser	G-T	1921 Columbus Panhandles	April 25, 1876
-44-
Steve DeBerg	QB	1998 Atlanta Falcons	January 19, 1954
Warren Moon	QB	2000 Kansas City Chiefs	November 18, 1956
Eddie Murray	K	2000 Washington Redskins	August 29, 1956
Vinny Testaverde	QB	2007 Carolina Panthers	November 13, 1963
Adam Vinatieri*	K	2018 Indianapolis Colts	December 28, 1972
-43-
Ray Brown	G	2005 Washington Redskins	December 12, 1962
Matt Bryant*	K	2018 Atlanta Falcons	May 29, 1975
Phil Dawson*	K	2018 Arizona Cardinals	January 23, 1975
Jeff Feagles	P	2009 New York Giants	March 7, 1966
Doug Flutie	QB	2005 New England Patriots	October 23, 1962
Lou Groza	T-K	1967 Cleveland Browns	January 25, 1924
Sean Landeta	P	2005 Philadelphia Eagles	January 6, 1962
Jan Stenerud	K	1985 Minnesota Vikings	November 26, 1942
Matt Turk	P	2011 Houston Texans/Jacksonville Jaguars	June 16, 1968
-42-
Darrell Green	CB	2002 Washington Redskins	February 15, 1960
Jason Hanson	K	2012 Detroit Lions	June 7, 1970
John Kasay	K	2011 New Orleans Saints	October 27, 1969
Shane Lechler	P	2017 Houston Texans	August 7, 1976
Earl Morrall	QB	1976 Miami Dolphins	May 17, 1934
Jerry Rice	WR	2004 Oakland Raiders/Seattle Seahawks	October 13, 1962
-41-
Bryan Barker	P	2005 St. Louis Rams	June 28, 1964
Tom Brady*	QB	2018 New England Patriots	August 3, 1977
Mark Brunell	QB	2011 New York Jets	September 17, 1970
Brett Favre	QB	2010 Minnesota Vikings	October 10, 1969
Lee Johnson	P	2002 Philadelphia Eagles	November 27, 1961
Trey Junkin	TE	2002 New York Giants	January 23, 1961
Jim Marshall	DE	1979 Minnesota Vikings	December 30, 1937
Jackie Slater	T-G	1995 St. Louis Rams	May 27, 1954
Matt Stover	K	2009 Indianapolis Colts	January 27, 1968
Ken Strong	HB-K	1947 New York Giants	April 21, 1906
-40-
Darren Bennett	P	2005 Minnesota Vikings	January 9, 1965
Charlie Conerly	QB	1961 New York Giants	September 19, 1921
Len Dawson	QB	1975 Kansas City Chiefs	June 20, 1935
Vince Evans	QB	1995 Oakland Raiders	June 14, 1955
Joe Ferguson	QB	1990 Indianapolis Colts	April 23, 1950
Jim Hart	QB	1984 Washington Redskins	April 29, 1944
Matt Hasselbeck	QB	2015 Indianapolis Colts	September 25, 1975
Mike Horan	P	1999 St. Louis Rams	February 1, 1959
Sebastian Janikowski*	K	2018 Seattle Seahawks	March 2, 1978
Brad Johnson	QB	2008 Dallas Cowboys	September 13, 1968
Sonny Jurgensen	QB	1974 Washington Redskins	August 23, 1934
Dave Krieg	QB	1998 Tennessee Oilers	October 20, 1958
Pat Leahy	K	1991 New York Jets	March 19, 1951
Nick Lowery	K	1996 New York Jets	May 27, 1956
Bruce Matthews	OL	2001 Tennessee Titans	August 8, 1961
Clay Matthews	LB	1996 Atlanta Falcons	March 15, 1956
Phil Nesser	G-T-WB	1921 Columbus Panhandles	December 10, 1880
Sav Rocca	P	2013 Washington Redskins	November 20, 1973
Junior Seau	LB	2009 New England Patriots	January 19, 1969
Bruce Smith	DE	2003 Washington Redskins	June 18, 1963
Jim Thorpe	HB	1928 Chicago Cardinals	May 28, 1888
Johnny Unitas	QB	1973 San Diego Chargers	May 7, 1933
Jeff Van Note	C	1986 Atlanta Falcons	February 7, 1946
Wade Wilson+	QB	1999 Oakland Raiders	February 1, 1959

* Player on an active roster during the 2018 NFL season
Hall of Fame member indicated in italics.
+ Wilson was on active roster in 1999 but did not play in any games.