NFL players are widely recognized as the modern-day gladiators in professional sports. The physicality and toughness that are a staple of a career in the NFL are something the average person appreciates about NFL players.

To that end, an NFL player's average career length is less than three years. This could be surprising to some, but most mere mortals cannot consistently endure beating NFL players' bodies take throughout a season.

However, some stand out and have proven to be elite competitors. The following players have defied Father Time and are the oldest current players in the NFL:

Oldest players in NFL in 2024

Just two players in 2024 NFL player pool surpass 40 years old: Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers and Bears tight end Marcedes Lewis. Coincidentally, both players were teammates on the Green Bay Packers earlier in their careers.

Here's the full list of the top 11 oldest players in football:

1. QB Aaron Rodgers, Jets: 40 years old (Dec. 2, 1983)

2. TE Marcedes Lewis, Bears: 40 years old (May 19, 1984)

3. K Matt Prater, Rams: 39 years old (Aug. 10, 1984)

4. K Nick Folk, Titans: 39 years old (Nov. 5, 1984)

5. QB Joe Flacco, Colts: 39 years old (Jan. 16, 1985)

6. C/LS J.J. Jansen, Panthers: 38 years old (Jan. 20, 1986)

7. C/LS Jon Weeks, Texans: 38 years old (Feb. 17, 1986)

8. P Thomas Morstead, Jets: 38 years old (March 8, 1986)

9. C/LS Morgan Cox, Titans: 38 years old (April 26, 1986)

10. QB Josh Johnson, Ravens: 38 years old (May 15, 1986)

11. DL Calais Campbell, Dolphin: 38 years old (September 1, 1986)

Of the oldest active NFL players, three have the luxury of avoiding contact in most games: Matt Prater (39) and Nick Folk (39) are kickers, and Thomas Morstead (38) is a punter.

Who is the oldest player in NFL?

For years, Tom Brady was the oldest player in the NFL. That title now belongs to Aaron Rodgers. The New York Jets quarterback became the oldest active player in the NFL in 2023. Brady set the modern-day benchmark playing until the age of 45.

Rodgers is joined by his former teammate in Green Bay, Marcedes Lewis, now a Chicago Bear, as the current lone 40-club members in the NFL.

Rodgers played his first 18 seasons in Green Bay before joining the Jets before the 2023 season. He suffered a torn Achilles on just the fourth snap of the 2023 season, and some skeptics point to age as the cause of the injury. Rodgers worked his way back to the field for the 2024 season

Rodgers has four NFL MVPs under his belt and won a Super Bowl with the Packers in 2011.

Who is the oldest player in NFL history?

George Blanda is the oldest player in NFL history. He played until he was 48 years old. His career began in 1949 with the Chicago Bears, and his final season came in 1975, last playing a game in 1976 and retiring the same year. He was a quarterback and a kicker throughout his 26-year career.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Oldest players in the NFL: Jets QB Aaron Rodgers tops list