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Aging like fine wine

Stafford a reminder that old can be good

Matthew Stafford is expected to win the league MVP, and while there may be some Patriots fans who want to argue the point, no one can deny he had an amazing season. Not unprecedented, though.

Stafford is 37, and that's an age where most football players at any position have retired or, if they're still hanging around, notably declining. But there have been a decent number of recent examples of quarterbacks not only still playing but excelling.

I looked at quarterbacks who've entered the league since 1990, and how they fared once they'd reached the age of 35. How many of those guys had a season, like Stafford, putting up top-12 numbers in fantasy leagues? More than you might think.

There have been 39 top-12 seasons (1 point for every 20 passing and 10 rushing yards, 4-point TD passes) by quarterbacks aged 35 or older in the last 20 years. Those seasons have been authored by 14 different quarterbacks.

Tom Brady (not surprising; he played til he was 45) had eight such seasons. Brett Favre (six) and Drew Brees (5) are next. Aaron Rodgers has four, and he might play next year, but he's not putting up those kind of numbers these days (his last top-12 season was in 2021).

Table sorted by fantasy points. Peyton Manning's 2013 season for the Broncos looks pretty uncatchable, but Stafford made a nice run.

35-YEAR-OLD QBS FINISHING WITH TOP-12 NUMBERS
YearPlayerAgePassTDIntRunTDPtsRk
2013Peyton Manning, Den.3754775510-311498.81
2021Tom Brady, T.B.4453164312812457.93
2020Aaron Rodgers, G.B.3742994851493440.33
2018Ben Roethlisberger, Pitt.3651293416983429.22
2016Drew Brees, N.O.3752083715202422.42
2025Matthew Stafford, LAR37470746810419.52
2015Tom Brady, N.E.384770367533410.42
2020Tom Brady, T.B.434633401263410.37
2012Tom Brady, N.E.354827348324404.63
2014Peyton Manning, Den.3847273915-240394.03
2014Drew Brees, N.O.3549523317681393.54
2012Peyton Manning, Den.364659371160383.66
2021Aaron Rodgers, G.B.3841153741013382.58
2015Carson Palmer, Ari.3646713511241382.05
2015Drew Brees, N.O.3648703211141378.96
2018Aaron Rodgers, G.B.3544422522692367.07
2017Tom Brady, N.E.404577328280363.73
2018Drew Brees, N.O.393992325224356.99
2020Matt Ryan, Atl.3545812611922356.312
2016Philip Rivers, S.D.3543863321350354.86
2018Philip Rivers, LAC374308321270354.110
2008Kurt Warner, Ari.3745833014-20351.04
2022Tom Brady, T.B.454694259-11344.610
2009Brett Favre, Min.40420233770343.67
2014Tom Brady, N.E.374109339570343.211
2017Philip Rivers, LAC3645152810-20337.67
2019Aaron Rodgers, G.B.3640022641831334.412
2017Ben Roethlisberger, Pitt.3542512814470333.39
2004Brett Favre, G.B.3540883017360332.06
2013Tom Brady, N.E.3643432511180323.011
2017Drew Brees, N.O.384334238122321.911
2007Brett Favre, G.B.3841552815120321.07
2003Brad Johnson, T.B.3538112621330299.79
2007Kurt Warner, Ari.3634172717151286.410
2005Brett Favre, G.B.3638812029620284.38
2007Jon Kitna, Det.3540681820630283.611
2005Trent Green, K.C.3540141710820278.99
2006Brett Favre, G.B.3738851818291275.28
2008Brett Favre, NYJ3934722222431274.111

Stafford says he'll take a little time before deciding whether to return for the 2026 season. Considering how well 2025 went, I don't think there's much doubt he'll give it one more year.

--Andy Richardson

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