List of NFL players by games played

The average length of a player's career in the National Football League is relatively short compared to other sports.

[1] On the other end, the shortest average careers are the running backs, only 2.57 seasons.

[1] According to data compiled by another study,[2] quarterbacks and offensive linemen are next on the list with average career spans of 4.44 and 3.63 seasons, respectively.

Wide receivers careers average just above running backs at 2.81 seasons[2] Some players avoid injury and maintain their high skill level.

The following list has the top 250 players who have the most regular season game appearances.

Morten Andersen played in 382 NFL games, more than any other player.
Tom Brady has played the most NFL games at quarterback, 335.
Jason Hanson holds the NFL record of 21 seasons with the same team as placekicker for the Lions.
Jerry Rice played 303 games as a wide receiver, an NFL record.
Bruce Matthews (left) played a record 296 games as an offensive lineman. His brother Clay (right) holds the record for games at linebacker.
No one has played more games at the cornerback position than Darrell Green
Jim Marshall holds the record for most games played at defensive end, 282.
Jason Witten is second for longevity record for tight ends with 271 games played.
Lou Groza , who set the standard for longevity, was both a kicker and offensive tackle for 268 (52 AAFC ) games from the 1940s through the 1960s.
David Binn played 256 games as a long snapper.
Rod Woodson leads all kick and punt returners with 238 games played. He was primarily a cornerback and also played safety.
Emmitt Smith played a record 226 games at running back for the Cowboys and Cardinals before Frank Gore broke that record and retired with the current record of 241 games.