I remember when I first heard that you can be as old as 40 to be in the NFL. I thought it was crazy! I mean, how could you be the best in the world at such a late age? Age in sports has always been a contentious topic, so “how old can you be to be in the NFL?” is the million dollar question.
Believe it or not, age is just a number in the NFL. A player is eligible to play as soon as he reaches his 18th birthday. After graduating from college, most players enter the NFL draft at 21 or 22. Recent examples of players over the age of 25 succeeding are Tom Brady, who won the Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2020 at the age of 43, and Julius Peppers, who had a 16-year career in the NFL.
However, age doesn’t guarantee success. Though the odds may be slim, there is still a chance that a young player can outperform an older one. This is mainly because younger players can keep up with the physical demands of the sport better than those who are more seasoned. Moreover, NFL teams are drawn to young players because of the potential upside they may bring.
Players that are in their 30s still remain competitive as their needs may be different from those of a youngster. Veteran players usually have more experience which can be used to outsmart younger opponents. They may also have a better understanding of the nuances of a given position that a rookie may not be aware of yet.
Though age is an asset in certain positions, in others it could be a hindrance. For example, running backs, receivers, and quarterbacks, who need to have that quick reaction time, are more likely to suffer from age-related declines. Ageism may also be present in the locker room as younger players may be favored or promoted by coaches over those who are much older.
But age has not stopped players from making an impact in the NFL. Bernie Kosar, who played until he was 35 and Brett Favre, who played until he was 41 are two of the most renowned examples of this. What matters most is the level of commitment and desire that any player has for the game of football. It is that same desire that pushes some players to age gracefully and upper their game in the later stages of their career.
It never ceases to amaze me just how much knowledge and experience a player can gather over their career. NFL teams are not only looking for the physical stats, but the mental ones as well. I think this is amazing as it encourages players to keep up with the game’s latest strategies as well as staying in shape, thereby keeping them healthy and competitive as they age.
It’s interesting to think that, when it comes to the NFL, age is just a number. For a player, it’s not about how young they are but their commitment to the game and the passion they have for it. So, my takeaway from all this is that, if you keep yourself physically and mentally prepared, no matter your age, you still have a chance to succeed in the NFL.