We all want to believe we age like fine wine. Experience begets fewer mistakes while wisdom tempers the urge to take undue risks, and a lifetime of living makes it easier to manage a variety of personalities. However, while those truisms might be served well in a C-suite or senior management, they are only part of what someone needs if they are going to play quarterback in the NFL on the wrong side of age 35.
However, several quarterbacks over 35 are starting and, in some cases, thriving in the NFL. Admittedly, Tom Brady spoiled us by excelling through his age-45 season, but he’s an outlier. However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t some grey bears out there still getting the job done to one degree or another.
How Do the Oldest QBs in the NFL Rank Amongst Themselves?
1. Aaron Rodgers, 41, Pittsburgh Steelers
Love or hate him, Rodgers is still out there managing the pocket and finding open receivers. He entered the 2025 season under a heavy cloud of scrutiny about whether he still has enough left in the tank for one more run, whether or not he would mesh with Arthur Smith’s offense, and whether he would be able to handle the rigors of a full regular season against elite defenses.
Rodgers has been impressive through the first five games, throwing for 1021 yards, 10 touchdowns, and three interceptions. Based on PFSN’s Quarterback Impact metric, the four-time NFL MVP is currently the 20th-ranked QB in the league with an impact score of 75.2.
He signed a one-year deal with the Steelers in the offseason, and so far, it has worked out well for both parties.
2. Joe Flacco, 40, Cincinnati Bengals
It’s almost absurd to write that subhead. Joe Flacco came off the couch in 2023 to lead the Browns to a playoff appearance and has since stayed on in the NFL. He started 2024 as the backup to Anthony Richardson with the Indianapolis Colts, where he eventually started six games.
The Browns signed Flacco as their backup in 2025. Still, after one of the strangest and most publicized quarterback battles in years, Flacco was named the Browns ‘ quarterback in almost anticlimactic fashion.
The Super Bowl-winning quarterback started four games for the Browns before being benched. He was then traded to the Cincinnati Bengals and is now their starting quarterback in Joe Burrow’s absence.
In five games this season, Flacco has thrown for 1,034 yards, four touchdowns, and six interceptions, while completing 59.5% of his throws. Based on PFSN’s Quarterback Impact metric, he is the 34th-ranked QB in the league.
Matthew Stafford, 37, Los Angeles Rams
When Stafford drops back to pass, you can feel the stadium collectively hold its breath. When he’s “healthy,” Stafford can still perform like a top-10 quarterback, but he’s dealing with an aggravated disc in his back. Compound this with his history of back injuries dating back to 2018, and it’s easy to see why Stafford is considered a week-to-week performer despite his efficiency and smarts under center.
Again, he’s still capable of making insane throws, and he just crossed the 60,000-yard threshold in passing yards. He’s leading a Rams team that could have one of the better offenses in the NFL while featuring a young defense that can get after the quarterback and create turnovers.
However, Stafford’s health could make or break the Rams’ season. So far, the 37-year-old quarterback has played fairly well, as he is ranked as the 11th-best QB in the league based on PFSN’s Quarterback Impact metric, while the Rams’ offense is the 10th-best in the league based on PFSN’s Offense Impact metric.
Week 6 NFL Power Rankings: Cardinals, Eagles Fall After Blowing Big Leads, Colts Continue to Rise
Russell Wilson started the season as the third-oldest starting quarterback in the league, but he was benched after just three games. The New York Giants started the season 0-3 with the veteran quarterback and ultimately pulled the plug.
Head coach Brian Daboll is fighting to save his job and he replaced Wilson with rookie Jaxson Dart. The move has turned out to be the right decision as the Giants are 2-1 since then with wins against the Los Angeles Chargers and Philadelphia Eagles.
