# List of NFL players by games played

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 and AFL games)
Positions played :
| C | Center | G | Guard | NT | Nose Tackle | QB | Quarterback |
| CB | Cornerback | K | Placekicker | OL | 0Off. Lineman0 | RB | Running Back |
| DE | Defensive End | KR | 0Kick Returner0 | OT | Off. Tackle | S | Safety |
| DT | 0Defensive Tackle0 | LB | Linebacker | P | Punter | TE | Tight End |
| FB | Fullback | LS | Long Snapper | PR | 0Punt Returner0 | WR | 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 Played :
| Rank | Name | Position | Period | Games |
| 1 | Morten Andersen* | K ^ | 1982–2007 | 382 |
| 2 | Adam Vinatieri | K | 1996–2019 | 365 |
| 3 | Gary Anderson | K | 1982–2004 | 353 |
| 4 | Jeff Feagles | P ^ | 1988–2009 | 352 |
| 5 | George Blanda* | K, QB | 1949–1975 | 340 |
| 6 | Tom Brady | QB ^ | 2000–2022 | 335 |
| 7 | Jason Hanson | K | 1992–2012 | 327 |
| 8 | Phil Dawson | K | 1999–2018 | 305 |
| 9 | Jerry Rice* | WR ^ | 1985–2004 | 303 |
| 10 | John Carney | K | 1988–2010 | 302 |
| 10 | Brett Favre* | QB | 1991–2010 | 302 |
| 12 | John Kasay | K | 1991–2011 | 301 |
| 13 | Matt Stover | K | 1991–2009 | 297 |
| 13 | Andy Lee | P | 2004–2022 | 297 |
| 15 | Bruce Matthews* | OL ^ | 1983–2001 | 296 |
| 16 | Darrell Green* | CB ^ | 1983–2002 | 295 |
| 17 | Drew Brees | QB | 2001–2020 | 287 |
| 18 | Shane Lechler | P | 2000–2017 | 286 |
| 19 | Marcedes Lewis | TE ^ | 2006–present | 285 |
| 20 | Sean Landeta | P | 1985–2005 | 284 |
| 20 | Sebastian Janikowski | K | 2000–2018 | 284 |
| 22 | Jim Marshall | DE ^ | 1960–1979 | 282 |
| 23 | Trey Junkin | LS ^, TE, LB | 1983–2002 | 281 |
| 24 | Bruce Smith* | DE | 1985–2003 | 279 |
| 25 | Clay Matthews | LB ^ | 1978–1996 | 278 |
| 26 | Norm Johnson | K | 1982–1999 | 273 |
| 27 | Jason Witten | TE | 2003–2020 | 271 |
| 28 | Tony Gonzalez* | TE | 1997–2013 | 270 |
| 29 | Junior Seau* | LB | 1990–2009 | 268 |
| 30 | Peyton Manning* | QB | 1998–2015 | 266 |
| 30 | Julius Peppers* | DE, LB | 2002–2018 | 266 |
| 30 | Robbie Gould | K | 2005–2022 | 266 |
| 33 | Jan Stenerud* | K | 1967–1985 | 263 |
| 33 | Lomas Brown | OT ^ | 1985–2002 | 263 |
| 33 | Jason Elam | K | 1993–2009 | 263 |
| 33 | Larry Fitzgerald | WR | 2004–2020 | 263 |
| 37 | Ray Brown | G ^ | 1986–2005 | 262 |
| 38 | Mason Crosby | K | 2007–2023 | 261 |
| 38 | Calais Campbell | DE | 2008–present | 261 |
| 40 | Nick Lowery | K | 1978–1996 | 260 |
| 40 | Don Muhlbach | LS | 2004–2020 | 260 |
| 40 | J. J. Jansen | LS | 2009–present | 260 |
| 43 | Jackie Slater* | OT | 1976–1995 | 259 |
| 43 | Lee Johnson | P | 1985–2002 | 259 |
| 45 | David Binn | LS | 1994–2010 | 256 |
| 45 | London Fletcher | LB | 1998–2013 | 256 |
| 45 | Sam Koch | P | 2006–2022 | 256 |
| 48 | Earl Morrall | QB | 1956–1976 | 255 |
| 48 | Irving Fryar | WR | 1984–2000 | 255 |
| 48 | Tim Brown* | WR | 1988–2004 | 255 |
| 48 | Dustin Colquitt | P | 2005–2021 | 255 |
| 48 | Thomas Morstead | P | 2009–present | 255 |
| 53 | Charles Woodson* | S ^ | 1998–2015 | 254 |
| 53 | Matt Prater | K | 2007–present | 254 |
| 55 | L.P. Ladouceur | LS | 2005–2020 | 253 |
| 56 | Mike Kenn | OT | 1978–1994 | 251 |
| 57 | Pat Leahy | K | 1974–1991 | 250 |
| 57 | Eddie Murray | K | 1980–2000 | 250 |
| 57 | Eugene Robinson | S | 1985–2000 «» | 250 |
| 60 | Ben Roethlisberger | QB | 2004–2021 | 249 |
| 61 | Al Del Greco | K | 1984–2000 | 248 |
| 61 | Jason Peters | OT | 2004–2023 | 248 |
| 61 | Aaron Rodgers | QB | 2005–present | 248 |
| 64 | Fran Tarkenton* | QB | 1961–1978 | 246 |
| 64 | Jeff Van Note | C ^ | 1969–1986 | 246 |
| 64 | Blair Bush | C ^ | 1978–1994 | 246 |
| 67 | Mike Webster* | C | 1974–1990 | 245 |
| 67 | Patrick Mannelly | LS | 1998–2013 | 245 |
| 69 | Ray Donaldson | C | 1980–1996 | 244 |
| 69 | Ricky Proehl | WR | 1990–2006 | 244 |
| 69 | Chris Gardocki | P | 1991–2006 | 244 |
| 69 | Matt Turk | P | 1995–2011 | 244 |
| 69 | Terrell Suggs | LB | 2003–2019 | 244 |
| 69 | Philip Rivers | QB | 2004–2020 | 244 |
| 69 | Jon Weeks | LS | 2010–present | 244 |
| 76 | Bill Romanowski | LB | 1988–2003 | 243 |
| 77 | Dan Marino* | QB | 1983–1999 | 242 |
| 77 | Nick Folk | K | 2007–present | 242 |
| 79 | Ed White | G | 1969–1985 | 241 |
| 79 | Craig Hentrich | P | 1994–2009 | 241 |
| 79 | Kevin Mawae* | C | 1994–2009 | 241 |
| 79 | Ronde Barber* | CB | 1997–2012 | 241 |
| 79 | Matt Bryant | K | 2002–2019 | 241 |
| 79 | Frank Gore | RB ^ | 2005–2020 | 241 |
| 85 | Ron McDole | DE | 1961–1978 | 240 |
| 85 | Mick Tingelhoff* | C | 1962–1978 | 240 |
| 85 | Ryan Longwell | K | 1997–2012 | 240 |
| 88 | Charlie Joiner* | WR | 1969–1986 | 239 |
| 88 | Jerry Fontenot | C | 1989–2004 | 239 |
| 88 | Chris Mohr | P | 1989–2004 | 239 |
| 88 | Lorenzo Neal | FB ^ | 1993–2008 | 239 |
| 88 | Andrew Whitworth | OT, G | 2006–2021 | 239 |
| 88 | Matthew Slater | WR | 2008–2023 | 239 |
| 94 | Reggie Roby | P | 1983–1998 | 238 |
| 94 | Rod Woodson* | CB, KR, PR, S | 1987–2003 | 238 |
| 94 | Bryan Barker | P | 1990–2005 | 238 |
| 94 | Brad Maynard | P | 1997–2011 | 238 |
| 98 | David Akers | K | 1998–2013 | 237 |
| 99 | Clyde Simmons | DE | 1986–2000 | 236 |
| 99 | Ted Washington | NT ^ | 1991–2007 | 236 |
| 99 | Ethan Albright | LS, C | 1995–2010 | 236 |
| 99 | Antonio Gates* | TE | 2003–2018 | 236 |
| 99 | Eli Manning | QB | 2004–2019 | 236 |
| 104 | Matt Bahr | K | 1979–1995 | 235 |
| 104 | Pete Metzelaars | TE | 1982–1997 | 235 |
| 104 | Olindo Mare | K | 1997–2012 | 235 |
| 104 | Mike Leach | LS | 2000–2015 | 235 |
| 108 | Jim Bakken | K | 1962–1978 | 234 |
| 108 | Stan Brock | OT | 1980–1995 | 234 |
| 108 | John Elway* | QB | 1983–1998 | 234 |
| 108 | Andre Reed* | WR | 1985–2000 | 234 |
| 108 | Cris Carter* | WR | 1987–2002 | 234 |
| 108 | Kendall Gammon | LS | 1992–2006 | 234 |
| 108 | Tony Richardson | FB | 1995–2010 | 234 |
| 108 | Lawyer Milloy | S | 1996–2010 | 234 |
| 108 | Matt Ryan | QB | 2008–2022 | 234 |
| 117 | James Lofton* | WR | 1978–1993 | 233 |
| 117 | Rohn Stark | P | 1982–1997 | 233 |
| 117 | Vinny Testaverde | QB | 1987–2007 | 233 |
| 117 | Jason Taylor* | DE, LB | 1997–2011 | 233 |
| 117 | Morgan Cox | LS | 2010–present | 233 |
| 122 | Chris Doleman* | DE | 1985–1999 | 232 |
| 122 | Reggie White* | DE | 1985–2000 | 232 |
| 124 | Frank Winters | C | 1987–2002 | 231 |
| 125 | James Farrior | LB | 1997–2011 | 230 |
| 125 | Derrick Mason | WR | 1997–2011 | 230 |
| 127 | Steve Christie | K | 1990–2004 | 229 |
| 127 | Keith Traylor | NT | 1991–2007 | 229 |
| 129 | Jim Turner | K | 1964–1979 | 228 |
| 129 | Henry Ellard | WR | 1983–1998 | 228 |
| 129 | Jim Sweeney | C | 1984–1999 | 228 |
| 129 | Kevin Greene* | LB | 1985–1999 | 228 |
| 129 | Ray Lewis* | LB | 1996–2012 | 228 |
| 129 | Mike Adams | S | 2004–2019 | 228 |
| 135 | Rickey Jackson* | LB | 1981–1995 | 227 |
| 135 | Jim Jeffcoat | DE | 1983–1997 | 227 |
| 135 | Raleigh McKenzie | OL | 1985–2000 | 227 |
| 135 | Casey Wiegmann | C | 1997–2011 | 227 |
| 139 | Paul Krause* | S | 1964–1979 | 226 |
| 139 | Emmitt Smith* | RB | 1990–2004 | 226 |
| 139 | Donnie Jones | P | 2004–2018 | 226 |
| 139 | Cameron Jordan | DE | 2011–present | 226 |
| 143 | Carl Eller* | DE | 1964–1979 | 225 |
| 143 | Albert Lewis | CB | 1983–1998 | 225 |
| 143 | Hardy Nickerson | LB | 1987–2002 | 225 |
| 143 | Keith Brooking | LB | 1998–2012 | 225 |
| 143 | Jerry Hughes | DE | 2010–present | 225 |
| 148 | John Hadl | QB | 1962–1977 | 224 |
| 148 | Ed "Too Tall" Jones | DE | 1974–1989 | 224 |
| 148 | Carl Hairston | DE, DT | 1976–1990 | 224 |
| 148 | Art Monk* | WR | 1980–1995 | 224 |
| 148 | Mark Royals | P | 1987–2003 | 224 |
| 148 | Dan Stryzinski | P | 1990–2003 | 224 |
| 148 | Will Shields* | G | 1993–2006 | 224 |
| 148 | John Lynch* | S | 1993–2007 | 224 |
| 148 | Derrick Brooks* | LB | 1995–2008 | 224 |
| 148 | Kevin Carter | DE | 1995–2008 | 224 |
| 148 | Brian Dawkins* | S | 1996–2011 | 224 |
| 148 | John Denney | LS | 2005–2018 | 224 |
| 160 | Max Montoya | G | 1979–1994 | 223 |
| 160 | Brian Mitchell | KR^, PR | 1990–2003 | 223 |
| 160 | Isaac Bruce* | WR | 1994–2009 | 223 |
| 160 | Brett Kern | P | 2008–2022 | 223 |
| 164 | Marcus Allen* | RB | 1982–1997 | 222 |
| 164 | Randall McDaniel* | G | 1988–2001 | 222 |
| 164 | Matthew Stafford | QB | 2009–present | 222 |
| 167 | Justin Smith | DE | 2001–2014 | 221 |
| 167 | Terence Newman | CB | 2003–2017 | 221 |
| 169 | Tom Tupa | P, QB | 1988–2004 | 220 |
| 169 | Dave Moore | TE, LS | 1992–2006 | 220 |
| 169 | Bob Whitfield | OT | 1992–2006 | 220 |
| 169 | Duane Brown | OT | 2008–2023 | 220 |
| 173 | John Randle* | DT ^ | 1990–2003 | 219 |
| 173 | Jeff Zgonina | DT ^ | 1993–2009 | 219 |
| 173 | Wayne Gandy | OT | 1994–2008 | 219 |
| 173 | Terrell Owens* | WR | 1996–2010 | 219 |
| 173 | Takeo Spikes | LB | 1998–2012 | 219 |
| 173 | Dominic Raiola | C | 2001–2014 | 219 |
| 173 | Steve Smith, Sr. | WR | 2001–2016 | 219 |
| 173 | Stephen Gostkowski | K | 2006–2020 | 219 |
| 181 | Sonny Jurgensen* | QB | 1957–1974 | 218 |
| 181 | Alan Page* | DT | 1967–1981 | 218 |
| 181 | Jim Ritcher | OL | 1980–1995 | 218 |
| 181 | Joe Nash | NT, DT | 1982–1996 | 218 |
| 181 | Dan Turk | LS | 1985–1999 | 218 |
| 181 | Randy Moss* | WR | 1998–2012 | 218 |
| 181 | Dwight Freeney* | DE | 2002–2017 | 218 |
| 188 | Jerrel Wilson | P | 1963–1978 | 217 |
| 188 | Gene Upshaw* | G | 1967–1981 | 217 |
| 188 | Guy Morriss | OL | 1973–1987 | 217 |
| 188 | Bill Bates | S | 1983–1997 | 217 |
| 188 | Eric Allen* | CB | 1988–2001 | 217 |
| 188 | Hines Ward | WR | 1998–2011 | 217 |
| 194 | Lou Groza* | K, OT | 1950–1967 | 216 |
| 194 | Dave Butz | DT | 1973–1988 | 216 |
| 194 | Dave Brown | CB | 1975–1989 | 216 |
| 194 | Darryl Talley | LB | 1983–1996 | 216 |
| 194 | Dwight Stone | KR, WR | 1987–2000 | 216 |
| 194 | Michael Strahan* | DE | 1993–2007 | 216 |
| 194 | Kevin Huber | P | 2009–2022 | 216 |
| 194 | Ryan Succop | K | 2009–2022 | 216 |
| 194 | Nick Bellore | LB | 2011–present | 216 |
| 203 | Ted Hendricks* | LB | 1969–1983 | 215 |
| 203 | Monte Coleman | LB | 1979–1994 | 215 |
| 203 | John Kidd | P | 1984–1998 | 215 |
| 203 | Champ Bailey* | CB | 1999–2013 | 215 |
| 207 | Ray Crockett | CB | 1989–2002 | 214 |
| 207 | Vonnie Holliday | DE | 1998–2012 | 214 |
| 207 | Domata Peko | NT | 2006–2019 | 214 |
| 210 | Jimmy Johnson* | CB | 1961–1976 | 213 |
| 210 | Pat Fischer | CB | 1961–1977 | 213 |
| 210 | Mark Moseley | K | 1970–1986 | 213 |
| 210 | Steve McMichael* | DT | 1980–1994 | 213 |
| 210 | Dave Krieg | QB | 1980–1998 | 213 |
| 210 | Kevin Gogan | G | 1987–2000 | 213 |
| 210 | Henry Thomas | DT | 1987–2000 | 213 |
| 210 | Todd Steussie | OL | 1994–2007 | 213 |
| 218 | Jeff Gossett | P | 1981–1996 | 212 |
| 218 | Rodney Holman | TE | 1982–1995 | 212 |
| 218 | Brian Hansen | P | 1984–1999 | 212 |
| 218 | Bruce Armstrong | OT | 1987–2000 | 212 |
| 218 | Roman Phifer | LB | 1991–2005 | 212 |
| 218 | Willie McGinest | LB | 1994–2008 | 212 |
| 218 | Rian Lindell | K | 2000–2013 | 212 |
| 218 | Karlos Dansby | LB | 2004–2017 | 212 |
| 218 | Justin Tucker | K | 2012–present | 212 |
| 218 | Johnny Hekker | P | 2012–present | 212 |
| 228 | Johnny Unitas* | QB | 1956–1973 | 211 |
| 228 | Len Dawson* | QB | 1957–1975 | 211 |
| 228 | Drew Hill | WR | 1979–1993 | 211 |
| 228 | Earnest Byner | RB | 1984–1997 | 211 |
| 228 | Ed West | TE | 1984–1997 | 211 |
| 228 | Jeff Dellenbach | C | 1985–1999 | 211 |
| 228 | Trace Armstrong | DE | 1989–2003 | 211 |
| 228 | Aeneas Williams* | CB, S | 1991–2004 | 211 |
| 228 | Jeff Saturday | C | 1999–2012 | 211 |
| 228 | Jay Feely | K | 2001–2014 | 211 |
| 228 | Reggie Wayne | WR | 2001–2014 | 211 |
| 228 | Johnathan Joseph | CB | 2006–2020 | 211 |
| 228 | Cameron Heyward | DT | 2011–present | 211 |
| 241 | Jim Otto* | C | 1960–1974 | 210 |
| 241 | Fred Cox | K | 1963–1977 | 210 |
| 241 | Jackie Smith* | TE | 1963–1978 | 210 |
| 241 | Elvin Bethea* | DE | 1968–1983 | 210 |
| 241 | Chris Bahr | K | 1976–1989 | 210 |
| 241 | Matt Birk | C | 1998–2012 | 210 |
| 241 | Bryan Anger | P | 2012–present | 210 |
| 241 | Demario Davis | LB | 2012–present | 210 |
| 249 | Randy White* | DT | 1975–1988 | 209 |
| 249 | Jessie Tuggle | LB | 1987–2000 | 209 |
| 249 | Terrell Buckley | CB | 1992–2005 | 209 |
| 249 | Keenan McCardell | WR | 1992–2007 | 209 |
| 249 | Matt Hasselbeck | QB | 1999–2015 | 209 |
| 249 | Brad Meester | C | 2000–2013 | 209 |
| 249 | Antoine Bethea | S | 2006–2019 | 209 |
| Rank | Name | Position | Period | Games |