The 13 Best Seasons for NFL Quarterbacks Over 40

Aaron Rodgers was set to have a major year for the New York Jets in 2023. Even at 40 years old, many thought he could be a Most Valuable Player candidate for New York, ending the longest playoff drought in major American professional sports.

Instead, he tore his Achilles tendon just four plays into the season, and everyone was left to wonder what might have been.

Now, he enters 2024 at 41 years old, with questions about his future. Fortunately for Rodgers, several quarterbacks have shown age is just a number if you have the skill set that tests Father Time.

Tom Brady (2017)

Forewarning: you will see plenty of Tom Brady on this list, and with good reason.

Brady’s age 40 season is perhaps the greatest by someone that age or older, as he captured NFL MVP honors for his performance with the New England Patriots. Brady threw for 4,577 yards and 32 touchdowns with just eight interceptions, earning a Pro Bowl nod to go with the accolades. He would take the Pats to yet another Super Bowl, but they would fall short against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Tom Brady (2020)

Tom Brady’s excellence was not limited to New England, though.

Brady defied the odds in every way during the 2020 season, taking the biggest gamble of his career by leaving the New England Patriots for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Brady was 43 years old, but still threw 40 touchdowns to just 12 interceptions while amassing more than 4,600 passing yards. Tampa would win the Super Bowl against the Kansas City Chiefs, and Brady would collect the final (and perhaps most impressive) ring of his career while winning Super Bowl MVP.

Tom Brady (2021)

Even more impressive? The follow-up to his Super Bowl campaign. Because at 44 years old, Tom Brady was even better than the year prior.

Though the Bucs didn’t win it all in 2021, it would be hard to fault Brady for it. He threw for 5,316 yards and 43 touchdowns with just 12 picks. That was good for a 102.1 passer rating, absurd numbers for a quarterback in his 40s. Tampa would finish 13-4, and Brady would be runner-up in NFL MVP voting.

Brett Favre (2009)

Surely, we all remember Minnesota Vikings legend Brett Favre, right?

Though Favre made his name with the Green Bay Packers, he did have short stints with the New York Jets and then the Vikings. He was still extremely productive for Minnesota, though, throwing for 33 touchdowns to just seven interceptions at age 40. He surpassed 4,200 passing yards, and took the Vikings to the NFC Championship Game. He’d play one more season before hanging up the helmet for good.

Tom Brady (2018)

The 2017 season saw Tom Brady’s Patriots come up short to the Eagles, but that was not to be repeated the following year.

At 41, Brady connected for 29 touchdowns on 4,355 yards, punching another ticket to the Pro Bowl. But more impressive was TB12 leading New England to his final Super Bowl win with the franchise, as they took down the Los Angeles Rams, 13-3. It was a comeback win for Brady, cementing his age 41 season as one for the ages.

Tom Brady (2022)

Initially, Brady retired after the 2021 season. But the itch to play wasn’t quite gone, so he opted to return for one more year with the Bucs at 45 years old.

The season didn’t go quite as planned for Tampa, even though Brady did lead the team to a division title and the playoffs once more. He saw a dip in his production, but still managed to toss 25 touchdowns and turned it over through the air just nine times. His 4,694 passing yards at that age is one of the most impressive QB feats ever.

Drew Brees (2019)

Drew Brees was truly ageless, and played an elite level as he approached his 40s. His age 40 season, in fact, was an excellent one.

Brees missed five games due to injury, but still threw 27 touchdowns to just four interceptions, good for a 116.3 passer rating. His efficiency led the New Orleans Saints to an NFC South title, and he would also set the NFL record for completion percentage (74.3 percent) and career touchdowns that year.

Warren Moon (1997)

Warren Moon is widely viewed as one of the best pure athletes to play quarterback, something he reinforced at age 41.

Moon made the Pro Bowl as a member of the Seattle Seahawks in 1997, throwing for nearly 3,700 yards and finding the end zone 25 times through the air (and an additional time on the ground). He also carried a 59.3 completion percentage that season, among the best in the league. Moon would go on to play until he turned 44 years old.

Tom Brady (2019)

The season following a Super Bowl win comes with enormous expectations, and Tom Brady’s 2019 campaign didn’t disappoint. He remained extremely effective at 42 years old, throwing just eight interceptions to go along with 24 touchdowns.

Brady surpassed 4,000 passing yards in his final season with the Patriots, taking them to the playoffs one final time with a 12-4 record. They would lose in the AFC Wild Card Round to the Tennessee Titans, capping his iconic New England tenure.

Drew Brees (2020)

If the last 20 years have defined the age of the quarterback, Drew Brees stands the test of time as maybe the most efficient of the era.

Even through a myriad of injuries, Brees delivered big in his final season in the league. He completed more than 70 percent of his passes at age 41 in 2020, throwing for 24 touchdowns and just six interceptions. He would take the Saints to the playoffs one more time on a 12-4 record, and retire with plenty seemingly left in the tank.

Matt Hasselbeck (2015)

Matt Hasselbeck only played eight games in his age 40 season, but he proved he was more than capable of still playing at a high level even as a backup.

Hasselback would get the keys to the car when starter Andrew Luck went down due to injury, and led the Indianapolis Colts to a 4-0 record. He became the first quarterback over 40 to accomplish such a feat in his first four starts. Hasselbeck would finish his year with nine touchdowns and five interceptions, retiring after the season.

Vinny Testaverde (2004)

The pressure that comes with being named quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys is surely immense. To get that honor at 41 years old? Well, you’d have to ask Vinny Testaverde how that felt.

Testaverde started 15 games for Dallas in 2004, reuniting with former Jets head coach Bill Parcells. His season was rocky, throwing 17 touchdowns and 20 interceptions for Dallas, but he added a respectable 3,532 yards through the air to the Cowboys arsenal. It was the last season of his career in which he was a starter, and Dallas would finish 6-10.

Doug Flutie (2003)

Doug Flutie is best known for one of the greatest throws in college football history, but he would go on to have a lengthy professional career in which he played until 43 years old.

In 2003, he’d start five and play in seven games at 41, splitting time with a blossoming Drew Brees. Flutie threw for more than 1,000 yards and completed nine touchdowns, while also rushing for two. He would start one more game for San Diego in 2004, before finishing his career with the Patriots.