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The 2025-26 NFL Playoff field is set with Week 18 having come to a conclusion. Fourteen teams will now battle it out for the right to be called Super Bowl champion.
For some players, this will be their first shot at winning a professional football championship. For other seasoned vets, it offers an opportunity to add to their postseason resumes.
Oldest Players in the NFL Playoffs
A number of familiar faces will take the field this playoff season. Most will be seen either under center or on special teams.
Many of these stars have defied the test of time to continue producing at a very high level on the backends of their NFL careers. In fact, for some, they’re in the midst of some of the best seasons of their lives.
Age hasn’t slowed them down!
Here, we’ll take a look at the 10 oldest players in the 2025-26 NFL Playoffs. Let’s start with the most veteran superstar, who led his team to the postseason at 42 years old.
Aaron Rodgers
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Aaron Rodgers started the year as the oldest player in the NFL, altogether. That crown was briefly stolen by 44-year-old Philip Rivers after a midseason entrance, but it’s now been regained in the postseason.
Rodgers is 42 years old, born on December 2nd, 1983. He is one of the oldest starting quarterbacks to ever make the NFL Playoffs.
His age hasn’t prevented him from having a productive year. In the 2025 regular season, the passer threw for 3,322 yards and 24 scores to just seven interceptions while leading the Steelers to 10 wins.
This will be his 14th trip to the postseason in 21 years. He’s appeared in 22 games, posting an 11-10 starting record with one Super Bowl victory.
Matt Prater
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Prater has been in the league nearly two decades dating back to 2007. The kicker spent the majority of his time with the Broncos and Lions but now finds himself in the final weeks of Year 1 with the Bills.
The veteran has had a solid season in Buffalo, connecting on 18 of 20 field goals. He’s converted on 46 of his 49 extra point attempts to lead the team in scoring.
Prater was born on August 10, 1984, making him 41 years old this playoff season. This trip will represent his seventh to the postseason, and first since 2021.
The kicker is 14-for-16 on playoff field goals with a long of 55 yards. He has never won a Super Bowl but has appeared in nine games.
JJ Jansen
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Jansen is in his 17th season as the Carolina Panthers’ long snapper, joining the franchise in 2009. The veteran special teamer is 39 years old, born on January 20th, 1986.
Should the Panthers see success in the postseason, he could celebrate a 40th birthday in the NFL Playoffs.
Across his lengthy professional career, Jansen’s tallied 23 tackles and forced a fumble. He’s made four previous postseason appearances with the organization, with one coming in 2015 when Carolina played for a Super Bowl title.
He’ll hope to become an NFL champion in his fifth trip.
Thomas Morstead
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Morstead has been in the league since 2009, making this his 17th season as an NFL player. The punter is currently with the 49ers after spending the last two seasons with the Jets.
Across those 17 years, 12 of which were played in New Orleans, he’s been a part of 10 teams to make the playoffs with this year’s San Francisco bunch included.
Morstead is 39 years old with a birthdate of March 8, 1986.
He won a Super Bowl in his first ever postseason appearance with the Saints. He’s played in 16 playoff games and is the NFL’s active leader in postseason punts and yardage.
Jon Weeks
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The second long snapper to appear on the list, he is part of a veteran San Francisco special teams unit that boasts two players on this list.
Weeks has played in the NFL since 2010 with almost all of his time being spent with the Houston Texans. This is his first year with the 49ers.
This will be the center’s ninth trip to the NFL Playoffs as a professional football player. Over that time, he’s appeared in 14 games.
Andy Dalton
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Dalton is the second-oldest quarterback in this year’s NFL Playoff field, entering at 38 years old with a birthdate of October 29, 1987.
The veteran passer is one of two Carolina Panthers represented in the group of 10 oldest players this postseason. Unlike the previous signal caller mentioned on this list, however, he no longer plays in a starting capacity.
Dalton is the backup to Bryce Young under center. He has started one game this year, a loss to the Bills.
Across 15 NFL seasons, the quarterback has made playoffs five times including this year. This will be his first postseason opportunity with the Panthers as his four previous trips came when he was a member of the Cincinnati Bengals.
He’s played in four playoff games, going 0-4 as a starter with one touchdown pass and six interceptions.
Jake McQuaide
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McQuaide is in Year 15 of his professional career after signing midseason with the Los Angeles Rams. He has appeared in nine games this year as the team’s long snapper.
This represents his second stint with the franchise, one of five NFL teams he’s suited up for since 2011.
McQuaide is 38 years old, having been born on December 7th, 1987. This will be his sixth trip to the postseason, and fourth with the Rams. He’s appeared in 10 playoff games.
Brandon Graham
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Graham is the oldest defensive player in this year’s NFL Playoff field. The pass rusher enters his postseason opener at age 37 years old. His birthdate is April 3rd, 1988.
A member of the Philadelphia Eagles, he’s played in nine games this year while racking up eight tackles and three sacks.
Graham has been in the league since 2010, with this year being his 16th as both a pro and an Eagle. He was activated midseason from injured reserve and has made an immediate impact.
Now, he’ll look to continue the production into the postseason. This will represent his eighth time in the NFL Playoffs as he seeks a third Super Bowl title.
Matthew Stafford
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Stafford is having the resurgence of a lifetime in Year 17 as an NFL star. The 37-year-old signal caller leads the NFC in both passing yards and touchdowns, with his 46 scores setting a career-high.
The quarterback led the Los Angeles Rams to 12 wins to get back to the postseason where he’ll soon make his seventh NFL Playoff trip.
Stafford has played in 10 games in those previous six runs, going 5-5 with one Super Bowl title. This will be his fourth postseason opportunity with the Rams after going three times with the Lions.
As a playoff passer, he’s averaged just under 300 yards per game with 19 touchdowns and six picks.
Trent Williams
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Williams is the first true offensive lineman on the list following a run of long snappers. He is wrapping up his 15th season in the NFL.
The last six of those campaigns have been spent in San Francisco after beginning his career with Washington. This year, he appeared in 16 games as a tackle while earning his 12th Pro Bowl invite.
Williams was born on July 19, 1988, making him 37 years old. The former first-round NFL Draft pick will soon make his fifth trip to the postseason.
He’s played in 11 playoff games, at one point making three straight trips to the conference title game with no Super Bowl rings to show for it. He looks to change that in 2026.