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NFL quarterbacks who made starts in their 40s
The NFL welcomed quarterback Aaron Rodgers back to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday night. Rodgers enters his 22nd NFL season and will turn 43 later this year.
Only a handful of quarterbacks have started games in their 40s, making it one of the leagueβs rarest ironman accomplishments.
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Even legends like Ben Roethlisberger, Dan Marino, and Peyton Manning retired before reaching that milestone. Here are some of the few quarterbacks who started games after turning 40.
Tom Brady
Brady not only started six seasons after turning 40, but he also won two Lombardi Trophies during that span. His longevity remains one of the greatest achievements in sports history.
During his 40s, Brady made three Super Bowl appearances, won two championships, and led his teams to the playoffs every season. He also led the NFL in multiple passing categories from 2017 to 2022.
Aaron Rodgers
Rodgers has made 33 starts since turning 40. His best season during that stretch came last year when he led the Steelers to their first AFC North title since 2020.
Now reunited with former head coach Mike McCarthy, Rodgers will try to join Brady as one of the few quarterbacks to win a Super Bowl after turning 40.
Drew Brees
Brees started 23 games after turning 40. Across those two seasons, he posted a completion percentage above 70 percent each year.
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He led the New Orleans Saints to the playoffs in both seasons, though injuries forced him to miss time. He retired after the 2020 season.
Brett Favre
Favre turned 40 during his memorable 2009 season with the Minnesota Vikings. He made his first start as a 40-year-old the day after his birthday and led the Vikings to a 38-10 win over the St. Louis Rams.
Favre made 27 starts after turning 40, extending his legendary streak of 301 consecutive games played. He cemented himself as the NFLβs original ironman quarterback.
Philip Rivers
One of the NFLβs wildest stories in 2025 came when Rivers returned from retirement at age 44 to play for the Indianapolis Colts. He had not taken a snap since the 2020 postseason.
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Rivers started three games in his brief comeback. At the time, he sat only one year away from Hall of Fame eligibility. He has since retired again, perhaps for good this time.
Vinny Testaverde
Testaverde started 25 games after turning 40. His final season came in 2007 when he appeared in seven games and started six.
In 2004, he served as the Dallas Cowboysβ primary quarterback and started 15 games.
Steve DeBerg
Like Rivers, DeBerg had been away from the game for years before the Atlanta Falcons called him back to the league. He appeared in eight games and made one start at age 44.
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DeBerg threw three touchdown passes during his lone season in his 40s.
Warren Moon
Moon is best known for his Hall of Fame career with the Houston Oilers, but he also became one of the few quarterbacks to start games in his 40s.
He made 25 starts across four seasons with the Seattle Seahawks and Kansas City Chiefs. His best season after turning 40 came in 1997 at age 41, when he threw 25 touchdown passes in 14 games and earned Pro Bowl honors.
Joe Flacco
Flacco joined this rare group last season when the Cleveland Browns named him their starting quarterback. A few weeks later, however, the Browns traded him to the Cincinnati Bengals.
His second start with Cincinnati became the highlight of his season. On Thursday Night Football, Flacco earned his only win and threw for 342 yards with three touchdown passes.
