Analysis: Quarterbacking excellence can continue after Big 4-0
NFL
Published on : 5/23/2025
By Ryan Michael
Special to the Pro Football Hall of Fame
(Editor’s note: This article is the latest in an ongoing series looking at quarterbacks’ achievements that have aged well over the past 80 NFL seasons.)
On Sept. 24, 1961, New York Giants quarterback Charlie Conerly entered the 14th season of his NFL career. Prior to that day, no player in NFL history had attempted a pass after turning 40 years of age. In a 17-14 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, Conerly completed six of 16 passes for 47 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions — making history in the process.
Since that date, including the postseason, 17 players have attempted 50 or more passes, 12 players have attempted 100 or more passes and six players have attempted 500 or more passes after hitting “the Big 4-0.”
Aaron Rodgers, one of the six players to attempt 500 or more passes, could climb further up the all-time list in 2025.
Most passing attempts after the age of 40, including postseason (1920-2024):
Yes, playing the quarterback position after age 40 is a rare sight, and playing it at an elite level rarer still.
Had LEN DAWSON'S 140 passing attempts in 1975 been enough to qualify, he would have led the NFL in completion percentage at the age of 40 (66.4%).
WARREN MOON became the first player in NFL history to attempt more than 500 passes after his 40th birthday. At age 41 in 1997, he led the league in passing yards per game (245.2) during his first season with the Seattle Seahawks. Including his time in the Canadian Football League, Moon’s career spanned from 1978-2000, long enough to overlap with the pro careers of FRAN TARKENTON, who began his career in 1961, and Tom Brady, who ended his career in 2022.
When BRETT FAVRE joined the Minnesota Vikings in 2009, he produced one of the greatest single seasons in Vikings franchise history. His 107.2 passer rating and 7.61 adjusted net yards per passing attempt both established new career highs.
In terms of overall efficiency, Drew Brees produced the most polished post-age 40 resume the game has seen. His 106.6 passer rating leads all qualified passers in the age-bracket, more than 10 points higher than the quarterback in second place, Tom Brady (96.3). At the age of 40 in 2019, Brees led the NFL in completion-percentage at 74.3%, a mark higher than any other NFL quarterback has produced at any age. His 74.4% mark in 2018 at the age of 39 remains the NFL’s single-season record.
In terms of overall body of work after the age of 40, Brady stands alone: 2,878 of 4,422 for 31,938 yards, 218 touchdown passes, 78 wins, three conference championships (2017-18 and 2020), two Super Bowl victories (2018 and 2020), two seasons leading the NFL in passing yards (2017 and 2021), one season leading the NFL in touchdown passes (2021) and one NFL MVP Award (2017).
Brady and Brees hold the lion’s share of single-season post-age 40 NFL records.
Notable single-season records at the age of 40+:
In 2024, Rodgers ranked in the top 10 in completions (368, eighth), passing yards (3,897, eighth) passing first downs (192, eighth) and touchdown passes (28, tied for seventh).
Nearly 64 years since Conerly became the first player in history to attempt a pass after turning 40, examples of quarterbacks doing the same remain sparse. Those who have not only played at an advanced age but have done so at an elite level, are especially worthy of recognition.
Ryan Michael is a sportswriter, a statistician for KOA’s “Broncos Country Tonight” and a contributor to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. You can follow him on X (@theryanmichael) and on “Broncos Country Tonight”.
This article is the latest in an ongoing series highlighting noteworthy quarterback play over the past 80 seasons. Information from Pro-Football-Reference.com’s database helped make the research possible.
Special to the Pro Football Hall of Fame
(Editor’s note: This article is the latest in an ongoing series looking at quarterbacks’ achievements that have aged well over the past 80 NFL seasons.)
On Sept. 24, 1961, New York Giants quarterback Charlie Conerly entered the 14th season of his NFL career. Prior to that day, no player in NFL history had attempted a pass after turning 40 years of age. In a 17-14 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, Conerly completed six of 16 passes for 47 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions — making history in the process.
Since that date, including the postseason, 17 players have attempted 50 or more passes, 12 players have attempted 100 or more passes and six players have attempted 500 or more passes after hitting “the Big 4-0.”
Aaron Rodgers, one of the six players to attempt 500 or more passes, could climb further up the all-time list in 2025.
Most passing attempts after the age of 40, including postseason (1920-2024):
- Tom Brady — 4,422
- Drew Brees — 914
- Brett Favre — 834
- Warren Moon — 823
- Vinny Testaverde — 776
- Aaron Rodgers — 584
Yes, playing the quarterback position after age 40 is a rare sight, and playing it at an elite level rarer still.
Had LEN DAWSON'S 140 passing attempts in 1975 been enough to qualify, he would have led the NFL in completion percentage at the age of 40 (66.4%).
WARREN MOON became the first player in NFL history to attempt more than 500 passes after his 40th birthday. At age 41 in 1997, he led the league in passing yards per game (245.2) during his first season with the Seattle Seahawks. Including his time in the Canadian Football League, Moon’s career spanned from 1978-2000, long enough to overlap with the pro careers of FRAN TARKENTON, who began his career in 1961, and Tom Brady, who ended his career in 2022.
When BRETT FAVRE joined the Minnesota Vikings in 2009, he produced one of the greatest single seasons in Vikings franchise history. His 107.2 passer rating and 7.61 adjusted net yards per passing attempt both established new career highs.
In terms of overall efficiency, Drew Brees produced the most polished post-age 40 resume the game has seen. His 106.6 passer rating leads all qualified passers in the age-bracket, more than 10 points higher than the quarterback in second place, Tom Brady (96.3). At the age of 40 in 2019, Brees led the NFL in completion-percentage at 74.3%, a mark higher than any other NFL quarterback has produced at any age. His 74.4% mark in 2018 at the age of 39 remains the NFL’s single-season record.
In terms of overall body of work after the age of 40, Brady stands alone: 2,878 of 4,422 for 31,938 yards, 218 touchdown passes, 78 wins, three conference championships (2017-18 and 2020), two Super Bowl victories (2018 and 2020), two seasons leading the NFL in passing yards (2017 and 2021), one season leading the NFL in touchdown passes (2021) and one NFL MVP Award (2017).
Brady and Brees hold the lion’s share of single-season post-age 40 NFL records.
Notable single-season records at the age of 40+:
- Passing attempts: 733 (Tom Brady, 2022)
- Passing completions: 490 (Tom Brady, 2022)
- Passing yards: 5,316 (Tom Brady, 2021)
- Touchdown passes: 43 (Tom Brady, 2021)
- Yards per attempt: 8.3 (Brett Favre, 2009)
- Adjusted net yards per attempt: 8.33 (Drew Brees, 2019)
- Completion percentage: 74.3% (Drew Brees, 2019)
- Touchdown percentage: 7.1% (Drew Brees, 2019)
- Interception percentage: 1.1% (Drew Brees, 2019)
- Sack percentage: 2.91% (Tom Brady, 2022)
- Passer rating: 116.3 (Drew Brees, 2019)
In 2024, Rodgers ranked in the top 10 in completions (368, eighth), passing yards (3,897, eighth) passing first downs (192, eighth) and touchdown passes (28, tied for seventh).
Nearly 64 years since Conerly became the first player in history to attempt a pass after turning 40, examples of quarterbacks doing the same remain sparse. Those who have not only played at an advanced age but have done so at an elite level, are especially worthy of recognition.
Ryan Michael is a sportswriter, a statistician for KOA’s “Broncos Country Tonight” and a contributor to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. You can follow him on X (@theryanmichael) and on “Broncos Country Tonight”.
This article is the latest in an ongoing series highlighting noteworthy quarterback play over the past 80 seasons. Information from Pro-Football-Reference.com’s database helped make the research possible.
More of this series
- Analysis: Charlie Conerly’s giant accomplishments hold up as eras pass
- Y.A. Tittle’s journey from San Francisco to New York
- Analysis: An appreciation of Sammy Baugh’s historic 1943 season
- Legendary seasons for Sid Luckman, Peyton Manning separated by 70 years
- Looking back at TB12’s historic 2011 season 12 years later
- Russell Wilson’s decade of dominance in Seattle remains elite
- Roger Staubach’s 1971: The greatest season you’ve never heard about
- Silver anniversary: Randall Cunningham’s solid gold season with Vikings
- 50 years since Unitas’ last pass: Some things you might not know about No. 19
- Race to the top: Brady’s battle with Brees for the NFL’s most hallowed record
- Analysis: Did Andrew Luck exceed hype or fall short?
- Silver anniversary of John’s Elway’s sterling final game
- As cold as ice: Perception of Matt Ryan’s legacy after ‘28-3’
- Cam Newton leads high-flying 2015 Carolina Panthers
- Peyton Manning’s four-year rodeo in Mile High City
- Dan Marino eclipsed long-standing TD record 40 years ago
- Analysis: Quarterbacking excellence can continue after Big 4-0
Previous Article
Class of 2025 featured exhibit on display at Pro Football Hall of Fame
An Emmy Award, a lasso, a size 15E purple cleat and a state of Wisconsin license plate are among the artifacts formally introduced to guests Saturday morning when three members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2025 helped unveil the museum’s newest exhibit.
Next Article
2 schools receive 'Character Grants' from Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame presented two Stark County schools with grants Thursday in conjunction with the Hall's yearlong "Character" exhibit.