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The original was posted on /r/nfl by /u/Benson879 on 2025-07-21 17:39:28+00:00.
Something interesting I noticed looking back in hindsight, the early 2000’s was an era dominated by incredible player longetivity:
Lost of longest tenured players during the 2002 NFL season:
K Morten Anderson: 21 seasons
K Gary Anderson: 21 seasons
CB Darrell Green: 20 seasons
LS Trey Junkin (sorry Giants fans) 20 seasons
P Sean Lendeta: 18 seasons
DE Bruce Smith: 18 seasons
WR Jerry Rice: 18 seasons
OT Lomas Brown 18 seasons
P Lee Johnson 18 seasons
QB Doug Flutie: 18 seasons (technically much less, was drafted in 85, played in USFL, CFL)
OG Ray Brown 17 seasons
QB Rich Gannon: 16 seasons
TE Mark Royals: 16 seasons
S Rod Woodson: 16 seasons
C Frank Winters: 16 seasons
WR Cris Carter: 16 seasons
P Tom Tupa: 15 seasons
WR Tim brown: 15 seasons
For comparison, only 9 players are currently on NFL rosters in year 15 onwards, 6 of which are in year 15-16.
I just found this interesting to notice this changing trend over the last 20 years. Shows the ripple effect of players getting much higher pay/more awareness of player safety over the last two decades.