List of most consecutive starts and games played by NFL players explained

This is a list of the most consecutive starts and games played by a player by position in the National Football League (NFL).^{[1] [2]}

Quarterback Brett Favre's streak of 297 consecutive games started is the longest all-time.^{[3] [4]} Among defensive players, Jim Marshall's 270 is the longest. Of special note is punter Jeff Feagles, who played in 352 consecutive games which is the longest of all-time for a special teams player.^[5] Special teams players are not credited with starts in the NFL.^[6] In 2018, Ryan Kerrigan became the most recent player to surpass someone at his position for consecutive starts, having broken the previous mark for left outside linebackers previously held by Jason Gildon.^[7]

Leaderboards

Bold denotes an active streak

Consecutive games started

All-time starts

Minimum 200 consecutive regular season starts^[8]

Rank	Player	Pos	Period	Teams	Consecutive starts	Playoffs	Total	References
1	Brett Favre	QB	September 27, 1992 – May 12, 2010	GB/NYJ/MIN	297	24	321	^[9] ^[10]
2	Jim Marshall	DE	September 17, 1961 – December 16, 1979	MIN	270	19	289	^[11] ^[12]
3	Bill Romanowski	LB	April 9, 1988 – September 22, 2003	SF/PHI/DEN/OAK	243	28	271
4T	Mick Tingelhoff	C	September 16, 1962 – December 17, 1978	MIN	240	19	259	^[13] ^[14]
	Philip Rivers	QB	November 9, 2006 – March 1, 2021		240	12	252	^[15] ^[16] ^[17]
5	Bruce Matthews	G	November 29, 1987 – June 1, 2002	OIL/TEN	229	15	244	^[18] ^[19]
6	Will Shields	RG	December 9, 1993 – December 31, 2006	KC	223	8	231	^[20] ^[21]
7T	Alan Page	DT	August 10, 1967 – December 20, 1981	MIN/CHI	215	19	234	^[22] ^[23]
	Ronde Barber	CB	November 21, 1999 – December 30, 2012	TB	215	9	224	^[24] ^[25]
	London Fletcher	LB	December 11, 2000 – December 29, 2013	SLR/BUF/WAS	215	6	221	^[26] ^[27]
10T	Jim Otto	C	November 9, 1960 – December 14, 1974	OAK	210	13	223	^[28] ^[29]
	Eli Manning	QB	November 24, 2004 – November 23, 2017	NYG	210	12	222	^[30] ^[31]
12T	Derrick Brooks	LB	January 9, 1996 – December 28, 2008	TB	208	11	219	^[32] ^[33]
	Peyton Manning	QB	June 9, 1998 – February 1, 2011	IND	208	19	227	^[34] ^[35]
14	Gene Upshaw	LG	October 9, 1967 – April 10, 1981	OAK	207	24	231	^[36] ^[37]
15	Randall McDaniel	LG	October 22, 1989 – June 1, 2002	MIN/TB	202	16	218	^[38] ^[39]

Active leaders

Minimum 100 consecutive regular season starts^[40]

Consecutive games played

All-time games played

Top 25 players for consecutive regular season games played^{[42] [43]}

Rank	Player	Pos	Period	Teams	Consecutive games	Playoffs	Total	References
1	Jeff Feagles	P	April 9, 1988 – March 1, 2010	NE/PHI/ARI/SEA/NYG	352	11	363	^[44]
2	Brett Favre	QB	September 13, 1992 – May 12, 2010	ATL/GB/NYJ/MIN	299	24	323	^[45] ^[46]
3	Jim Marshall	DE	September 25, 1960 – December 16, 1979	CLE/MIN	282	19	301	^[47]
4	Mason Crosby	K	September 9, 2007 – January 8, 2023	GB	258	23	281	^[48] ^[49]
5	London Fletcher	LB	June 9, 1998 – December 29, 2013	SLR/BUF/WAS	256	9	265
6	Shane Lechler	P	September 29, 2002 – December 31, 2017	OAK/HOU	254	10	264	^[50] ^[51]
7	L. P. Ladouceur	LS	February 10, 2005 – March 1, 2021	DAL	253	9	262	^[52] ^[53]
8	Morten Andersen	K	October 25, 1987 – December 15, 2002	NO/ATL/NYG/KC	248	8	256	^[54]
9	Chris Gardocki	P	November 28, 1991 – December 31, 2006	CHI/IND/CLE/PIT	244	14	258	^[55] ^[56]
10	Bill Romanowski	LB	April 9, 1988 – September 22, 2003	SF/PHI/DEN/OAK	243	28	271	^[57] ^[58]
11	Philip Rivers	QB	December 31, 2005 – March 1, 2021	SD/LAC/IND	241	12	253
12T	Mick Tingelhoff	C	September 16, 1962 – December 17, 1978	MIN	240	19	259
	Ryan Longwell	K	January 9, 1997 – January 1, 2012	GB/MIN	240	13	253	^[59] ^[60]
	Ronde Barber	DB	June 9, 1998 – December 30, 2012	TB	240	9	249
15	Sam Koch	P	October 9, 2006 – December 27, 2020	BAL	239	18	257	^[61] ^[62] ^[63]
16	Jason Witten	TE	October 19, 2003 – December 31, 2017	DAL	235	8	243	^[64] ^[65]
17T	Jim Bakken	K	November 25, 1962 – December 17, 1978	SLC	234	2	236	^[66] ^[67]
	Gary Anderson	K	October 25, 1987 – July 1, 2002	PIT/PHI/SF/MIN/TEN	234	17	251	^[68] ^[69]
19	Bruce Matthews	OL	November 29, 1987 – June 1, 2002	OIL/TEN	232	15	247	^[70]
20	Jim Turner	K	December 9, 1964 – December 17, 1979	NYJ/DEN	228	8	236	^[71] ^[72]
21T	George Blanda	K/QB	November 9, 1960 – December 21, 1975	OIL/OAK	224	18	242	^[73] ^[74]
	John Hadl	QB/P	July 9, 1962 – December 18, 1977	SD/LAR/GB/OIL	224	4	228	^[75] ^[76]
	Dan Stryzinski	P	September 9, 1990 – December 28, 2003	PIT/TB/ATL/KC/NYJ	224	4	228	^[77] ^[78]
	Will Shields	RG	May 9, 1993 – December 31, 2006	KC	224	8	232	^[79]
	Derrick Brooks	LB	March 9, 1995 – December 28, 2008	TB	224	11	235	^[80]
	Kevin Carter	DE/DT	March 9, 1995 – December 28, 2008	SLR/TEN/MIA/TB	224	9	233	^[81] ^[82]
	Ethan Albright	LS	January 9, 1996 – March 1, 2010	BUF/WAS	224	6	230	^[83] ^[84]
	John Denney	LS	November 9, 2005 – December 30, 2018	MIA	224	2	226	^[85] ^[86]

Consecutive starts by position

Offensive skilled

Position	Player	Period	Teams	Consecutive starts	Playoffs	Total	References
Quarterback	Brett Favre	September 27, 1992 – May 12, 2010	GB/NYJ/MIN	297	24	321
Tight end	Jason Witten	December 16, 2006 – December 31, 2017	DAL	179	7	186
Wide receiver	Tim Brown	December 14, 1992 – July 12, 2003	RAI/OAK	176	9	185	^[87] ^[88]
Running back	Walter Payton	July 12, 1975 – September 20, 1987	CHI	170	8	178	^[89] ^[90]
Fullback	Jim Brown	September 29, 1957 – December 19, 1965	CLE	118	4	122	^[91] ^[92]

Offensive linemen

Position	Player	Period	Teams	Consecutive starts	Playoffs	Total	References
Center	Mick Tingelhoff	September 16, 1962 – December 17, 1978	MIN	240	19	259
Right guard	Will Shields	December 9, 1993 – December 31, 2006	KC	223	8	231
Left guard	Gene Upshaw	October 9, 1967 – April 10, 1981	OAK	207	24	231
Left tackle	Doug Dieken	November 21, 1971 – December 16, 1984	CLE	194	4	198	^[93]
Right tackle	Jon Runyan	August 31, 1997 – December 28, 2008	TEN/PHI	192	21	213	^[94] ^[95]

Defensive linemen

Position	Player	Period	Teams	Consecutive starts	Playoffs	Total	References
Defensive end	Jim Marshall	September 17, 1961 – December 16, 1979	MIN	270	19	289	^[96]
Defensive tackle	Alan Page	August 10, 1967 – December 20, 1981	MIN/CHI	215	19	234
Nose tackle	Fred Smerlas	July 9, 1980 – September 20, 1987	BUF	107	3	110	^[97] ^[98]

Linebackers

Position	Player	Period	Teams	Consecutive starts	Playoffs	Total	References
Linebacker	London Fletcher	June 9, 1998 – December 29, 2013	SLR/BUF/WAS	256	9	265
Linebacker	Bill Romanowski	April 9, 1988 – September 22, 2003	SF/PHI/DEN/OAK	243	28	271
Outside linebacker	Derrick Brooks	January 9, 1996 – December 28, 2008	TB	224	11	235
Linebacker	London Fletcher	December 11, 2000 – December 29, 2013	SLR/BUF/WAS	215	6	221
Middle linebacker	Lee Roy Jordan	September 18, 1966 – December 12, 1976	DAL	154	19	173	^[99] ^[100]

Defensive backs

Position	Player	Period	Teams	Consecutive starts	Playoffs	Total	References
Defensive back	Ronde Barber	November 21, 1999 – December 30, 2012	TB	215	9	224
Cornerback	Ronde Barber	November 21, 1999 – September 9, 2012	TB	200	9	209	^[101]
Safety	Willie Wood	September 17, 1961 – December 19, 1971	GB	154	9	163	^[102] ^[103] ^[104]
Strong safety	Bill Thompson	September 16, 1973 – December 20, 1981	DEN	134	5	139	^[105] ^[106]
Free safety	Darryl Williams	November 10, 1992 – December 27, 1998	CIN/SEA	108	0	108	^[107] ^[108]

Special teams

Position	Player	Period	Teams	Consecutive games	Playoffs	Total	References
Punter	Jeff Feagles	April 9, 1988 – March 1, 2010	NE/PHI/ARI/SEA/NYG	352	11	363
Kicker	Mason Crosby	September 9, 2007 – January 8, 2023	GB	258	23	281
Long snapper	L. P. Ladouceur	February 10, 2005 – March 1, 2021	DAL	253	9	262
Kick/Punt returner	Carl Roaches	July 9, 1980 – December 16, 1984	OIL	73	1	74	^[109] ^[110]

Note: Games played by special teams players such as kickers and punters are not recognized officially as starts by the NFL.^{[1] [6] [54]}

See also

• Iron man
• List of most consecutive starts by an NFL quarterback
• List of NFL players by games played
• List of NFL individual records#Starts
• List of most consecutive games with touchdown passes in the NFL

References

Notes and References

1. Web site: Seifert . Kevin . ESPN.com: Double Coverage: Favre vs. Ripken . October 28, 2010 . April 20, 2012 . Espn.go.com.
2. Web site: November 24, 2004 . Packers.com: Iron-Man Favre To Make 200th Consecutive Start As Packers-Rams Clash On Monday Night Football . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110715032353/http://www0.nfl.packers.com/news/releases/2004/11/24/2/ . July 15, 2011 . April 20, 2012 . nfl.packers.com.
3. Web site: Vikings QB Favre 'grateful' after his NFL-record 271st start in a row . September 21, 2009 . NFL.com.
4. Web site: Favre's consecutive start streak comes to an end at 297 . December 14, 2010 . NFL.com.
5. Web site: November 27, 2005 . Feagles feat recognized . April 20, 2012 . Profootballhof.com.
6. Web site: Jeff Feagles - Game Logs . November 11, 2010 . NFL.com.
7. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/G/GildJa00.htm Jason Gildon Stats
8. Web site: NFL Iron Man Brett Favre finally sits one out . January 11, 2011 . Statesman.com.
9. Web site: Brett Favre set for tests with streak over . January 13, 2011 . ESPN.com. December 13, 2010 .
10. Web site: Brett Favre - Game Logs . December 14, 2010 . NFL.com.
11. Web site: Jim Marshall - Game Logs . November 11, 2010 . NFL.com.
12. Web site: Former Viking Marshall congratulates Favre on iron-man record . January 11, 2011 . NFL.com.
13. Web site: Mick Tingelhoff - Game Logs . November 13, 2010 . NFL.com.
14. Web site: No. 51 Mick Tingelhoff . January 13, 2011 . Huskers.com.
15. Web site: Philip Rivers - Profile . October 7, 2013 . NFL.com.
16. https://www.ocregister.com/2018/11/03/phillip-rivers-path-to-200-consecutive-starts-with-chargers-marked-by-unmatched-toughness/ Path to 200
17. https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/chargers-rams/story/2021-01-20/philip-rivers-retiring-chargers-colts-saint-michael-high-school-alabama Philip Rivers retiring from NFL after 17 seasons
18. Web site: Bruce Matthews - Game Logs . January 11, 2011 . NFL.com.
19. News: Weir . Tom . August 3, 2007 . Iron Man Matthews earns his bronze bust in Canton . USA Today . January 13, 2011.
20. Web site: Will Shields - Game Logs . November 13, 2010 . NFL.com.
21. Web site: Carl Peterson on Will Shields . January 13, 2011 . KCChiefs.com.
22. Web site: Alan Page - Game Logs . November 13, 2010 . NFL.com.
23. A Page Out Of NFL History . Sports Illustrated . November 13, 2010.
24. Web site: Ronde Barber - Game Logs . May 9, 2013 . NFL.com.
25. Web site: Ronde Barber retires after 16 seasons . May 9, 2013 . FoxSports.com.
26. Web site: London Fletcher - Profile . October 27, 2012 . NFL.com.
27. Web site: London Fletcher . November 9, 2013 . Washington Redskins Media Guide.
28. Web site: Jim Otto - Game Logs . January 11, 2011 . NFL.com.
29. Web site: HOF: JIM OTTO . January 13, 2011 . Pro Football Hall of Fame.
30. Web site: Eli Manning - Game Logs . January 2, 2018 . NFL.com.
31. News: Giants end Eli Manning's 13-year streak, will start Geno Smith . January 2, 2018 . Washington Post.
32. Web site: Derrick Brooks - Game Logs . November 13, 2010 . NFL.com.
33. Web site: Ex-Buc Derrick Brooks officially retires from NFL . January 13, 2011 . TBO.com.
34. Web site: Peyton Manning - Game logs . September 7, 2011 . NFL.com.
35. Web site: Streak ends: Colts' Manning ruled out Sunday; Collins to start . September 7, 2011 . NFL.com.
36. Web site: Gene Upshaw - Game Logs . December 9, 2010 . NFL.com.
37. Web site: HOF: GENE UPSHAW . January 13, 2011 . Pro Football Hall of Fame.
38. Web site: Randall McDaniel - Game Logs . January 11, 2011 . NFL.com.
39. Web site: HOF: RANDALL MCDANIEL . January 13, 2011 . NFL.com.
40. Web site: NFL Insider: Greenway, Allen rank high among NFL ironmen . November 10, 2013 . Startribune.com.
41. Web site: Jake Matthews - Profile . March 30, 2023 . NFL.com.
42. Web site: Fletcher joins NFL's elite 250 club . November 18, 2013 . November 18, 2013.
43. News: Pedulla . Tom . September 1, 2006 . Feagles' retirement kick ricochets . Usatoday.com . April 20, 2012.
44. Web site: Giants punter Jeff Feagles retires after 22 seasons and record 352 consecutive games . January 13, 2011 . The Gaea Times.
45. Web site: Favre's starts streak ends at 297 . January 27, 2011 . ESPN.com. December 13, 2010 .
46. http://www.profootballhof.com/players/brett-favre/highlights/ Brett Favre Career Highlights HOF
47. Web site: Giants punter Feagles tops Marshall's record for consecutive games played . January 27, 2011 . Spokesman-Review.
48. Web site: Mason Crosby Career Game Log . January 6, 2021 . ProFootballReference.com.
49. Web site: On the doorstep of history: Packers' Mason Crosby approaching franchise record . October 13, 2022 . Packer Report.
50. Web site: Shane Lechler - Game Logs . November 28, 2018 . NFL.com.
51. https://texanswire.usatoday.com/2017/12/06/shane-lechler-plays-in-250th-consecutive-game/ Shane Lechler Plays in 250th Consecutive Game
52. Web site: L.P. Ladouceur - Profile . December 31, 2018 . NFL.com.
53. Web site: L.P. Ladouceur Statistics . October 7, 2019 . Pro-Football-Reference.com.
54. Web site: Morten Andersen - Game Logs . November 13, 2010 . NFL.com.
55. Web site: Chris Gardocki - Game Logs . February 11, 2011 . NFL.com.
56. Web site: Chris Gardocki Statistics . February 11, 2011 . Pro-Football-Reference.com.
57. Web site: Bill Romanowski - Game Logs . January 27, 2011 . NFL.com.
58. Web site: Q&A with Bill Romanowski . January 27, 2011 . New Orleans Saints History.
59. Web site: Ryan Longwell - Game Logs . September 10, 2012 . NFL.com.
60. Web site: Vikings Cut Ryan Longwell; Likely to Start Blair Walsh . September 10, 2012 . BleacherReport.com.
61. Web site: Sam Koch - Profile . December 30, 2019 . NFL.com.
62. Web site: Sam Koch Statistics . December 30, 2019 . Pro Football Reference.
63. Web site: Ravens punter Sam Koch not expected to play against Bengals . January 6, 2021 . NBC Sports.
64. http://www.nfl.com/player/jasonwitten/2505629/gamelogs?season=2017 Jason Witten - Game Logs
65. http://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/cowboys-te-jason-witten-to-retire-join-monday-night-football-booth-report-says/1lgfb8yh5dfpo1hnjmlj3kpgui Jason Witten to Retire
66. Web site: Jim Bakken - Game Logs . February 11, 2011 . NFL.com.
67. News: September 8, 1995 . NFL Ironmen . SFGate.com . February 11, 2011.
68. Web site: Gary Anderson - Game Logs . February 11, 2011 . NFL.com.
69. Web site: Gary Anderson Statistics . February 11, 2011 . Pro-Football-Reference.com.
70. Web site: TSHOF:Matthews, Bruce . February 11, 2011 . Texas Sports Hall of Fame.
71. Web site: Jim Turner - Game Logs . February 11, 2011 . NFL.com.
72. Web site: New York Jets Famous Players: Jim Turner . February 11, 2011 . FootballJets.com.
73. Web site: George Blanda - Game Logs . May 28, 2012 . NFL.com.
74. Web site: GEORGE BLANDA Career Highlights . May 28, 2012 . Pro Football Hall of Fame . October 4, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101004000703/http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/member.aspx?PlayerId=29&tab=Highlights . dead .
75. Web site: John Hadl - Game Logs . May 28, 2012 . NFL.com.
76. Web site: NFL Press release about Jim Marshall Day . May 28, 2012 . The Football Search Engine.
77. Web site: Dan Stryzinski - Game Logs . May 28, 2012 . NFL.com.
78. Web site: Dan Stryzinski Statistics . May 28, 2012 . Pro Football Reference.
79. Web site: Former Chiefs' star Shields honored . May 28, 2012 . ESPN.com. February 10, 2009 .
80. Web site: Derrick Brooks announces retirement from NFL . https://archive.today/20130115065453/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/NFL/2010/08/11/14988766.html . usurped . January 15, 2013 . May 28, 2012 . TBO.com.
81. Web site: Kevin Carter - Game Logs . May 28, 2012 . NFL.com.
82. Web site: Former Gator Kevin Carter Named 2010 SEC Football Legend . May 28, 2012 . Gatorzone.com.
83. Web site: Ethan Albright - Game Logs . January 7, 2011 . NFL.com.
84. Web site: Ethan Albright Bio . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100826041117/http://www.redskins.com/gen/players/Ethan_Albright.jsp . August 26, 2010 . January 13, 2011 . Redskins.com.
85. Web site: John Denney - Career Stats . September 25, 2019 . NFL.com.
86. Web site: Miami Dolphins release long snapper John Denney, DT Vincent Taylor as roster overhaul continues . September 25, 2019 . The Palm Beach Post.
87. Web site: Tim Brown - Game Logs . November 13, 2010 . NFL.com.
88. Web site: Tim Brown Statistics . January 13, 2011 . Pro-Football-Reference.com.
89. Web site: Walter Payton - Game Logs . November 17, 2010 . NFL.com.
90. Web site: George rejects Titans' latest offer, asks for release . January 13, 2011 . SignOnSanDiego.com.
91. Web site: Joe Thomas will reach 100 consecutive starts on Sunday: Cleveland Browns Insider . October 9, 2013 . Cleveland.com. September 27, 2013 .
92. Web site: Jim Brown Statistics . January 13, 2011 . Pro-Football-Reference.com.
93. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/D/DiekDo00.htm Doug Dieken Statistics
94. Web site: Jon Runyan - Game Logs . December 9, 2010 . NFL.com.
95. Web site: Shawn Andrews out; Eagles work out Jon Runyan . January 13, 2011 . Delco Times.
96. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/MarsJi00.htm Jim Marshall Statistics
97. Web site: Fred Smerlas - Game Logs . December 10, 2010 . NFL.com.
98. November 14, 1988 . A Wild And Crazy Guy . Sports Illustrated . January 13, 2011.
99. Web site: Lee Roy Jordan - Game Logs . April 20, 2012 . NFL.com.
100. Web site: Lee Roy Jordan - Alabama Encyclopedia . April 20, 2012 . Encyclopediaofalabama.org.
101. News: September 14, 2012 . Schiano wins over Buccaneers by paying respect to veteran Barber . Sport Illustrated . February 4, 2013.
102. Web site: Willie Wood - Game Logs . December 9, 2010 . NFL.com.
103. Web site: HOF: Willie Wood . January 13, 2011 . Pro Football Hall of fame.
104. Web site: Willie Wood Statistics:Right Safety-Left Safety-Free Safety . January 13, 2011 . Pro-Football-Reference.com.
105. Web site: Bill Thompson - Game Logs . November 15, 2010 . NFL.com.
106. Web site: Bill Thompson Statistics . January 13, 2011 . Pro-Football-Reference.com.
107. Web site: Darryl Williams - Game Logs . December 9, 2010 . NFL.com.
108. Web site: Darryl Williams Statistics . January 13, 2011 . Pro-Football-Reference.com.
109. Web site: Carl Roaches - Game Logs . December 3, 2010 . NFL.com.
110. Web site: Carl Roaches Statistics . January 13, 2011 . Pro-Football-Reference.com.