The NFL is about to witness a rare and intriguing spectacle: a 40-year-old quarterback facing off against another 40-year-old quarterback. This unique scenario is set to unfold when Joe Flacco, now with the Cincinnati Bengals, takes on Aaron Rodgers of the Pittsburgh Steelers in a Thursday night showdown. But here's where it gets interesting: this isn't the first time we've seen this dynamic. In fact, it's happened only three times before, all in the same season: 2020. During that year, Tom Brady, then 43, and Drew Brees, 41, faced off three times, with Brady's Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Brees' New Orleans Saints battling it out. And get this: it's likely to happen again in just four weeks! The Bengals and Flacco will travel to Pittsburgh to face the Steelers and Rodgers. But who knows when it will happen next? The longevity of Tom Brady, who played until the age of 45, has inspired many quarterbacks to believe they can defy Father Time. Players like Russell Wilson and Dak Prescott have openly declared their intention to keep playing well into their 40s. However, the reality is more complex. Wilson, who will turn 37 next month, is running out of chances to start. His only path to playing past 40 might be as a backup, stepping in due to injury. Among the current crop of quarterbacks, Matthew Stafford (37) and Geno Smith (34) are the closest to reaching this milestone. Smith, in particular, has expressed his ambition for a 20-year career, which would take him past his 40th birthday. Other quarterbacks in their 30s include Prescott (32), Jared Goff (31), Baker Mayfield (30), and Patrick Mahomes (30). Meanwhile, Carson Wentz (32) and Kirk Cousins (37) are temporary starters and backups, respectively. All other starting quarterbacks are in their 20s, leaving a significant gap before another 40-vs.-40 showdown. The question remains: will these quarterbacks who aspire to play into their 40s actually make it that far? As their skills age, they may find themselves on the chopping block, with no NFL team willing to trust them with the starting role.
