Although we have honored the longest-active NFL players, those who came before them are equally important as they played a significant role in shaping the culture and history of this sport. Many retired football players, who are the oldest living, were old enough to serve in the military during World War II. Let's now explore the Top 10 oldest living football players list with admin Wintips.
The most oldest living football players today
1/ Cecil Souders (January 3, 1921
Also a war veteran in World War II, Cecil Souders thrice earned All-American honors for Ohio State University before turning pro. While Souders was drafted by the Washington Redskins in 1945, he didn't begin his professional career until 1947 when he played for the Detroit Lions.
Souders remained with the Lions until the end of the 1949 season. Currently, Cecil Souders is the oldest living former football player at the age of 99. Though Souders' college career boasts more achievements than his professional one, he is a hero both on and off the field.
2/ Ken Casanega (February 18, 1921) - Oldest living football players
Ken Casanega was part of the newly established San Francisco 49ers in 1946, alongside another member on this list, Jesse Freitas Sr. (coincidentally, both Casanega and Freitas will turn 98 in February). Like Freitas, Casanega served in the military during World War II and also played football at Santa Clara University before the outbreak of the war.
Casanega mentioned that he had no intention of becoming a professional football player after the war, but decided to join the San Francisco 49ers when Tony Morabito called and informed him they were forming a new professional team. Morabito, also a Santa Clara alum, and 49ers captain Buck Shaw, a former Santa Clara coach, appealed to Casanega's Santa Clara roots and persuaded him to join the 49ers.
3/ Charley Trippi (December 14, 1921) - Oldest living football players
Charley Trippi was an early football superstar, often referred to as the "quadruple threat." According to Trippi, "Back then, the more you could do, the more you could demand in salary. I could run, pass, kick, and catch, and that made me valuable." Trippi played 9 seasons for the Chicago Cardinals (now Arizona Cardinals) and had an impressive career.
Because Trippi was so versatile and could do many things, he played in several seasons at positions including left halfback, quarterback, and offensive wingback. Trippi spent his final years as part of the Cardinals' defensive unit. Trippi was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1959 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1968.
4/ Dub Jones (December 29, 1924)
Dub Jones, born William Augustus Jones, is one of the few former professional football players who is now in his late 90s. Jones was drafted by the Chicago Cardinals in 1946 but did not sign with the team as he wanted to stay at Louisiana State University to complete his education. However, the Miami Seahawks offered Jones a contract worth $12,000 (about $160,973 today), and he accepted. .Shortly after, Jones was transferred to the Brooklyn Dodgers, where he played sparingly.
At the beginning of the 1947 season, Jones suffered some injuries and was traded to the Cleveland Browns, where he ultimately shone after recovering from his injuries. Jones remained with the Browns until his retirement in 1955. He returned to the Browns as a coach in 1963 and left football in 1968.
5/ Bud Grant (May 20, 1927) - Oldest living football players
Bud Grant is better known for his successful coaching career, but he was also a professional athlete not only in the NFL but also in the Canadian Football League (CFL) as well as the NBA. After graduating from college, Grant was actually drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in 1950, but instead chose to play for the Minneapolis Lakers of the NBA from 1949 to 1951.
Grant joined the Eagles midway through the 1951 season and played until the following season. He then played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the CFL until 1956. The following year, Grant began his coaching career with the Blue Bombers for nearly a decade. Eventually, Grant became the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings in 1967 and remained there for 18 seasons.
6/ Hugh McElhenny (December 31, 1928) - Oldest living football players
Hugh McElhenny was and remains one of the most famous San Francisco 49er athletes ever. McElhenny began his NFL career with the 49ers in 1952 and played with the team until 1960. During his final two years with the 49ers, McElhenny suffered multiple injuries and was included in the 1961 NFL expansion draft and selected by the newly formed Minnesota Vikings for the 1961 season.
During his time in the NFL, McElhenny was dubbed "The King" for his charismatic and elusive running style. McElhenny has an extremely long stride and high knees, which helps him get on the field quickly. At the time of his retirement, McElhenny was just one of three players to reach more than 11,000 versatile yards.
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7/ Bill McColl (April 2, 1930)
Dr. Bill McColl was a star college football player who played in the NFL for the Chicago Bears. McColl grew up playing several sports outside of football, including basketball, baseball and track and field. When McColl graduated from high school in 1948, he was considered one of Southern California's top athletes and he decided to attend Stanford University as a pre-med student.
Despite his rigorous academic schedule, McColl prevailed in the field, and in 1952 he was picked up by George Halas' Chicago Bears. McColl spent all eight seasons of his NFL career with the Bears. After McColl retired from the NFL, he worked as an orthopedic surgeon and served in Korea as a Presbyterian missionary physician from 1962 to 1964.
8/ Joe Schmidt (January 19, 1932) - Oldest living football players
Joe Schmidt is another former NFL player who also had a long tenure as a coach. In total, as both a player and coach, Schmidt was associated with the Detroit Lions from 1953 to 1972. Initially a linebacker (referred to as a "defensive halfback" at the time), Schmidt asserted himself as the defensive leader of the Lions.
Schmidt earned immense respect from his team and was selected as the Lions' captain for nine consecutive seasons. While not the first middle linebacker, Schmidt played a significant role in solidifying the importance of this position in football.
9/ Raymond Berry (February 27, 1933) - Oldest living football players
Raymond Berry was a split end, precursor to the wide receiver, for the Baltimore Colts from 1955 to 1967. After his playing career, Berry served as an assistant coach for various teams before becoming the head coach of the New England Patriots from 1984 to 1989.
Interestingly, Berry didn't fit the typical mold of a football player and was often considered small and unassuming. However, Berry worked diligently to compensate for his inherent lack of physicality and went on to become one of the greatest wide receivers of his era. Berry's dedication to his craft paid off, and he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1973.
10/ Lenny Moore (November 25, 1933)
Lenny Moore played with Raymond Berry for the Baltimore Colts from 1956 to 1967. Unlike most of the other players on this list, Moore did not go on to become a coach. Moore was a full-back/winger and was one of the reasons the Colts were such a top team during that period.
Moore was famous for his speed, which made him an excellent runner. He's also a great scorer, scoring 63 rushing touchdowns in 12 seasons in the NFL. Moore suffered a knee injury in 1962 and lost his starting spot, but quickly returned the following season.
Conclude
So, we've taken a look at Top 10 oldest living football players together with the betting website. Each player below has played in the National Football League (NFL) or one of its predecessors. Before the American Football League (AFL) merged with the NFL in 1970, there was no AFC, NFC, Super Bowl, Pro Bowl, or any of the modern traditions that fans love today. However, many of these former players are legends and early heroes of the NFL era. Thank you for your interest in sports content today.
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