Playing in the NFL is one of the most physically demanding sports. The players are exposed to many hard hits and are often injured. This plus given the fact the NFL is highly competitive, and there is a large group of talented players wanting to take the place of those who are injured or no longer able to perform at a high level, most careers are not long. The average length of a player's career in the National Football League is relatively short compared to other sports. One study shows the average career lasts around 3.3 years. Kickers and punters careers average 4.87 seasons. On the other end, the shortest average careers are the running backs, only 2.57 seasons. According to data compiled by another study, quarterbacks and offensive linemen are next on the list with average career spans of 4.44 and 3.63 seasons, respectively. Defensive linemen usually have longer careers than linebackers and cornerbacks. Wide receivers careers average just above running backs at 2.81 seasons

Some players avoid injury and maintain their high skill level. The following list has the top 250 players who have the most regular season game appearances. All have played at least a dozen seasons in the league. One player, George Blanda played in 4 decades from the 1940s to the 1970s. Blanda played 26 seasons and was 48 years old when he retired.

All-time most appearances Regular season only: (includes NFL, AFL, and AAFC games)

+Positions playedC Center G Guard NT Nose Tackle QB QuarterbackCB Cornerback K PlacekickerOL Off. Lineman RB Running BackDE Defensive End KR Kick Returner OT Off. Tackle S SafetyDTDefensive Tackle LB Linebacker P Punter TE Tight EndFB Fullback LS Long Snapper PR Punt ReturnerWR Wide Receiver

If more than one position is listed for a player, the BOLD listing is his primary position. This list is sorted by 1) games played, 2) first year played, 3) last year played

Bold denotes an active player Most games for that position^ Elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame*

+Regular season games playedRank Name PositionPeriodGames1* K ^ 1982–2007 3822* K 1996–2019 365 3 K 1982–2004 3534 P ^ 1988–2009 3525* K, QB 1949–1975 3406 QB ^ 2000–2022 335 7 K 1992–2012 3278 K 1999–2018 3059* WR ^ 1985–2004 30310 K 1988–2010 302* QB 1991–201012 K 1991–2011 301 13 K 1991–2009 297 P 2004–2022 15 * OL ^ 1983–2001 296 16* CB ^ 1983–2002 295 17 TE ^ 2006–2025 290 18 * QB 2001–2020 28719 P 2000–2017 28620 P 1985–2005 284K 2000–201822 DE ^ 1960–1979 282 DE ^ 2008–present 24 LS ^, TE, LB 1983–2002 281 LS 2009–present 26* DE 1985–2003 27927 LB ^ 1978–1996 27828 K 1982–1999 273 29 P 2009–2025 272 30 TE 2003–2020 271 31* TE 1997–2013 270 32 K 2007–2025 269 33 * OT, K 1946–1967 268 * LB 1990–2009 QB 2005–present 36* QB 1998–2015 266* DE, LB 2002–2018 K 2005–2022 39 LS 2010–present 265 40 * K 1967–1985 263 OT ^ 1985–2002 K 1993–2009 * WR 2004–2020 44 G ^ 1986–2005 26245 K 2007–2023 261 K 2007–present 47 K 1978–1996 260 LS 2004–202049* OT 1976–1995 259 P 1985–2002 51 LS 1994–2010 256 LB 1998–2013 P 2006–2022₵54 QB 1956–1976 255 WR 1984–2000 * WR 1988–2004 P 2005–2021 58 * S ^ 1998–2015 254 LS 2010–present 60 LS 2005–2020 253 61 OT 1978–1994 25162 K 1974–1991 250 K 1980–2000 S 1985–2000 65 QB 2004–2021 249 66 K 1984–2000 248 OT 2004–2023 68 QB 2004–2020, 2025 24769* QB 1961–1978 246 C ^ 1969–1986 C ^ 1978–199472* C 1974–1990 245 LS 1998–2013 DE 2011–present 75 C 1980–1996 244 WR 1990–2006 P 1991–2006 P 1995–2011 LB 2003–2019 80 LB 1988–2003 243 QB 2009–present 82* QB 1983–1999 24283 G 1969–1985 241 P 1994–2009 * C 1994–2009 * CB 1997–2012 K 2002–2019 RB ^ 2005–202089 DE 1961–1978 240*C 1962–1978 K 1997–2012 92* WR 1969–1986 239 C 1989–2004 P 1989–2004 FB ^ 1993–2008 OT, G 2006–2021 WR 2008–202398 P 1983–1998 238* CB, KR, PR, S 1987–2003 P 1990–2005 P 1997–2011 102 K 1998–2013 237103 DE 1986–2000 236 NT ^ 1991–2007 LS, C 1995–2010 * TE 2003–2018 QB 2004–2019 108 K 1979–1995 235 TE 1982–1997 K 1997–2012 LS 2000–2015112 K 1962–1978 234 OT 1980–1995 * QB 1983–1998 * WR 1985–2000 * WR 1987–2002 LS 1992–2006 FB 1995–2010 S 1996–2010 QB 2008–2022 121* WR 1978–1993 233 P 1982–1997 QB 1987–2007 * DE, LB 1997–2011 125* DE 1985–1999 232* DE 1985–2000 LB 2011–2025 DT ^ 2011–present 129 C 1987–2002 231 LB 2012–present P 2012–present P 2012–present 133 LB 1997–2011 230 WR 1997–2011 135 K 1990–2004 229 NT 1991–2007 137 K 1964–1979 228 WR 1983–1998 C 1984–1999 * LB 1985–1999 * LB 1996–2012 S 2004–2019143* LB 1981–1995 227 DE 1983–1997 OL 1985–2000 C 1997–2011147* S 1964–1979 226* RB 1990–2004 P 2004–2018150* DE 1964–1979 225 CB 1983–1998 LB 1987–2002 LB 1998–2012 DE 2010–2024 155 QB 1962–1977 224 DE 1974–1989 DE, DT 1976–1990* WR 1980–1995 P 1987–2003 P 1990–2003 * G 1993–2006 * S 1993–2007 * LB 1995–2008 DE 1995–2008 * S 1996–2011 LS 2005–2018 167 G 1979–1994 223 KR^, PR 1990–2003 * WR 1994–2009 P 2008–2022 171* RB 1982–1997 222* G 1988–2001173 DE 2001–2014 221 CB 2003–2017 175 P, QB 1988–2004 220 TE, LS 1992–2006 OT 1992–2006 OT 2008–2023179* DT 1990–2003 219 DT 1993–2009 OT 1994–2008 * WR 1996–2010 LB 1998–2012 C 2001–2014 WR 2001–2016 K 2006–2020 LB 2012–2025 LS 2012–present 189* QB 1957–1974 218* DT 1967–1981 OL 1980–1995 NT, DT 1982–1996 LS 1985–1999 * WR 1998–2012 * DE 2002–2017196 P 1963–1978 217* G 1967–1981 OL 1973–1987 S 1983–1997 * CB 1988–2001 WR 1998–2011202 DT 1973–1988 216 CB 1975–1989 LB 1983–1996 KR, WR 1987–2000 * DE 1993–2007 P 2009–2022 K 2009–2022 209* LB 1969–1983 215 LB 1979–1994 P 1984–1998 * CB 1999–2013 LB 2012–2025 DE 2010–2025215 CB 1989–2002 214 DE 1998–2012 NT 2006–2019 G 2012–2025219* CB 1961–1976 213 CB 1961–1977 K 1970–1986 * DT 1980–1994 QB 1980–1998 G 1987–2000 DT 1987–2000 OL 1994–2007 LS 2012–2025228 P 1981–1996 212 TE 1982–1995 P 1984–1999 OT 1987–2000 LB 1991–2005 LB 1994–2008 K 2000–2013 LB 2004–2017 K 2012–2024 237* QB 1956–1973 211* QB 1957–1975 WR 1979–1993 RB 1984–1997 TE 1984–1997 C 1985–1999 DE 1989–2003 * CB, S 1991–2004 C 1999–2012 K 2001–2014 WR 2001–2014 CB 2006–2020 S 2012–present 250* C 1960–1974 210 K 1963–1977 * TE 1963–1978 * DE 1968–1983 K 1976–1989 C 1998–2012 QB 2008–present FB 2013–present P 2013–present Rank Name PositionPeriodGames

See also List of most consecutive starts and games played by National Football League players

References