The Steelers are heading into this season with 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers at the helm (he’ll actually turn 42 in December). It is certainly an unorthodox approach to be “all-in” on a quarterback of that age. Consider that since 1961 only 18 quarterbacks have started an NFL game aged 40 or older. That number is rather astonishing considering a 2024 ESPN study of the Super Bowl era (since 1966) identified 721 different quarterbacks who have started at least one NFL game. This being said, Rodgers is not just an old quarterback, he is a four-time NFL MVP and Super Bowl Champion, beating the Steelers in Super Bowl XLV. As Rodgers enters his 21st season, he is looking to bring a Super Bowl Championship to the very franchise that he defeated in his lone Super Bowl appearance 14 years ago.
While starting the season with a quarterback aged 40 or older is out of the ordinary, it is not unprecedented. Within the Steelers’ same division, the Cleveland Browns’ starting quarterback this season will be 40-year-old Joe Flacco. This unique approach has seen success in the past, but also seen failure. Let’s take a look…
Rodgers is just one of 18 quarterbacks to start a season aged 40 or older. Flacco will become the 19th member of this esteemed group when he takes his first snap on Sunday. It will mark the third time two quarterbacks aged 40 or older have started a season opener in the same year. Below is the complete list of quarterbacks who have started at least one game at age 40 or older.
As you can see, the results are mixed. For instance, Steve DeBerg started that one game in 1998 after coming out of a five-year retirement. The result was a 28-3 Falcons loss where DeBerg was just 9 of 20 for 117 yards and an interception before he was taken out for Tony Graziani. Likewise, after 17 seasons with the Colts, Hall of Famer Johnny Unitas finished up his career going 1-3 for the San Diego Chargers throwing just three touchdown passes and amassing a total of just 471 passing yards.
On the other end of the spectrum, there have also been plenty of success stories for quarterbacks aged 40 or older. In 1997, at age 41, Warren Moon became the first quarterback to start 10+ games at age 40 or older and led the NFL in passing yards per game, throwing for 3,678 yards and 25 touchdowns. Also at age 41, Drew Brees led the Saints to a 9-3 record in 2020, completing 70.5% of his passes and throwing for 24 touchdowns. What makes this all the more impressive is that it was later revealed he was playing through 11 broken ribs, a collapsed lung, a torn rotator cuff, and torn fascia in his foot.
Rodgers’ predecessor in Green Bay, Brett Favre, had a resurgent season with Minnesota at age 40. He threw for an astonishing 4,202 yards and 33 touchdowns and had a 107.2 passer rating (the highest of his career) to lead the Vikings to the NFC Championship game where they ultimately lost in overtime to Brees and the Saints.
Of course, the most successful seasons for a quarterback aged 40 or older all belong to Tom Brady. At age 40, Brady led the Patriots to Super Bowl LII where they lost to the Eagles. In defeat, Brady threw three touchdown passes and a Super Bowl record 505 yards.
At age 43, in his first season with Tampa Bay, all he did was lead the Buccaneers to a Super Bowl Championship. That season, Brady completed 65.7% of his passes for 4,633 yards and 40 touchdowns! He became the first quarterback to throw for 40+ touchdowns over the age of 40 and the first starting quarterback age 40 or over to win a Super Bowl, capturing Super Bowl MVP honors as well. Statistically speaking, Brady outdid himself the next season. At age 44 he led the NFL in passing yards with 5,316 and passing touchdowns with 43. It still stands as the best statistical season for a quarterback aged 40 or older. In fact, just in his 40’s alone, Brady won two Super Bowls, one MVP, and had six playoff appearances.
To reiterate, only 18 quarterbacks have started an NFL game at age 40 or older. Of those 17, only seven started at least half of his team’s games, only four finished with a record above .500 and only three started a playoff game.
Will Rodgers’ 2025 season resemble that of Brady in his 40s or will it look more like Unitas’ final season? Only time will tell, but it will be interesting to watch it unfold.
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