What is the longest someone has been on a NFL team?

Answer 1

The most seasons a player has played for the same NFL team is 20 by OT Jackie Slater of the Rams between 1976-1995 and CB Darrell Green of the Washington Redskins between 1983-2002.

NOTE: OT/K Lou Groza played 22 seasons for the Cleveland Browns between 1946-1967. The Browns were members of the All American Football Conference between 1946-1949 and joined the NFL in 1950.

The most games a player has played for a single NFL team is 296 by OL Bruce Matthews of the Houston Oilers/Tennessee Oilers/Titans franchise between 1983-2001. Matthews missed only seven games (three of which were during the 1987 strike) in 19 seasons of play.

Of the other players mentioned above, Green played 295 games, Groza played 268 games, and Slater played 259 games.

The current (2009) player who has played the longest for one team is K Jason Hanson of the Detroit Lions who is in his 18th season with the team and has appeared in 284 games (through 15 games of the 2009 season).