Players with the Most Regular Season Games Played in NFL History

Danish-Born Morten Andersen Played In More NFL Regular Season Games Than Anybody Else

Twenty-five season, five-team kicker Morten Andersen got as close to 400 regular season games played as anyone in NFL history. Andersen booted 565 field goals and 849 extra points in 382 games.

The top three players who played the most games – the only who suited up over 350 times – all “touched” the ball with their feet: two kickers and a punter.

Hybrid QB-K George Blanda is the first (at least partially) non-K/P to appear on today’s list, but the first complete non-kicker/punter to play in over 300 games is arguably the best player ever, too.

It’s Jerry Rice. Now how about that kind of longevity for a wide receiver – and not just any wide receiver. Rice left it all out there all the time from the beginning to the end of his Hall of Fame career.

Only one other pure non-kicker/punter played in over 300 contests. It makes sense that it’s quarterback Brett Favre, famous for his all-time QB record 297 consecutive games started. Favre is the NFL’s all-time Iron Man.

Of the top 20 players with the most games played, more than half (11) were either punters or kickers. They just don’t suffer the wear and tear other positions do.

So, let’s take ’em out in list two below.

What about most total games played (regular + postseason) or just plain old most postseason games? Answers here and here, in that order.

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MOST GAMES PLAYED, ALL POSITIONS

	PLAYER	POS.	GAMES PLAYED	CAREER SPAN
1.	Morten Andersen	K	382	1982-2007
2.	Gary Anderson	K	353	1982-2004
3.	Jeff Feagles	P	352	1988-2009
4.	George Blanda	QB-K	340	1949-1975
5.	Jason Hanson	K	327	1992-2012
6.	Jerry Rice	WR	303	1985-2004
7.	John Carney	K	302	1988-2010
7.	Brett Favre	QB	302	1991-2010
9.	John Kasay	K	301	1991-2011
10.	Matt Stover	K	297	1991-2009
11.	Bruce Matthews	G-C-T	296	1983-2001
12.	Darrell Green	CB	295	1983-2002
13.	Adam Vinatieri *	K	290	1996-Present
14.	Sean Landeta	P	284	1985-2005
15.	Jim Marshall	DE	282	1960-1979
16.	Trey Junkin	TE-LB	281	1983-2002
17.	Bruce Smith	DE	279	1985-2003
18.	Clay Matthews	LB	278	1978-1996
19.	Norm Johnson	K	273	1982-1999
20.	Tony Gonzalez	TE	270	1997-2013

*

MOST GAMES PLAYED, MINUS KICKERS AND PUNTERS

	PLAYER	POS.	GAMES PLAYED	CAREER SPAN
1.	Jerry Rice	WR	303	1985-2004
2.	Brett Favre	QB	302	1991-2010
3.	Bruce Matthews	G-C-T	296	1983-2001
4.	Darrell Green	CB	295	1983-2002
5.	Jim Marshall	DE	282	1960-1979
6.	Trey Junkin	TE-LB	281	1983-2002
7.	Bruce Smith	DE	279	1985-2003
8.	Clay Matthews	LB	278	1978-1996
9.	Tony Gonzalez	TE	270	1997-2013
10.	Junior Seau	LB	268	1990-2009
11.	Lomas Brown	T	263	1985-2002
12.	Ray Brown	G	262	1986-2005
13.	Jackie Slater	T	259	1976-1995
14.	Peyton Manning *	QB	256	1998-Present
14.	London Fletcher	LB	256	1998-2013
14.	David Binn	C	256	1994-2010
17.	Tim Brown	WR	255	1988-2004
17.	Irving Fryar	WR	255	1984-2000
17.	Earl Morrall	QB	255	1956-1976
20.	Mike Kenn	T	251	1978-1994

* Active

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