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In the week when Joey Bosa was released from the LA Chargers after 9 years with the team, we decided to take a look back at some of the most loyal NFL players of all time. Loyalty is not always a one-way street in pro football – as Bosa discovered – but we have picked out ten players who spent the longest time wearing just one NFL jersey.
Jason Hanson holds the NFL record for the longest tenure with a single team, spending 21 seasons as the kicker for the Detroit Lions. He was selected in the second round of the 1992 NFL Draft, and Hanson stayed with the team through what was a pretty unexceptional period for Detroit. He retired as the third all-time leading scorer in NFL history and remains the only player to have played 300+ games with one franchise. The team may have been poor but Hanson was a consistent bright spark amidst the gloom, earning two Pro Bowl selections and setting multiple team records.
One of the fastest players in NFL history, Darrell Green spent two decades as the face of Washington’s D. He was a first-round pick in 1983, and lived up to his early promise, winning two Super Bowls and earning seven Pro Bowl selections. Known for his elite speed and ability to shut down opposing receivers, Green holds the record as the oldest cornerback to play in an NFL game at age 42. His loyalty to Washington helped define an era of dominant defense for the franchise.
The offensive line is no place for the faint hearted, but ironman on the Jackie Slater played 20 seasons there for the Rams, blocking for several Hall of Fame running backs, including Eric Dickerson. Slater was a seven-time Pro Bowler, whose longevity and consistency made him one of the most respected offensive linemen in league history. In 2001, Slater was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame and he remains a Rams legend to this day.
Another member of the O-line, this time it’s Bruce Matthews, who played for 19 seasons with the Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans. The franchise may have moved but Matthews didn’t, so we are happy to allow him to take fourth place on our list. Matthews was an elite guard, center, and tackle, making an incredible 14 Pro Bowl appearances. His versatility and skill made him one of the best linemen in NFL history. Even as the franchise transitioned from the Oilers to the Titans, Matthews remained the heart of the team, eventually earning Hall of Fame honors in 2007.
Jeff Van Note was 6-time Pro-Bowl center, and a mainstay for the Atlanta Falcons for 18 seasons. He was originally drafted as a linebacker, but transitioned to the offensive line – seeming where many of the most loyal players are to be found! – where he became one of the most reliable centers in the league. His toughness and leadership helped anchor the Falcons’ offensive front for nearly two decades. Atlanta had ups and (more often) downs, but Van Note stuck with the Falcons, becoming a fan favorite in the process.
Another famous QB named Aaron Rodgers also spent 18 years with one team, but he doesn’t make our list because his career didn’t finish with the Packers. Ben Roethlisberger, however, spent his entire 18-season career leading the Pittsburgh Steelers and never played for another team. Drafted in 2004, “Big Ben” quickly became the face of the franchise, leading the Steelers to two Super Bowl victories and setting multiple passing records. His ability to extend plays, clutch performances and overall toughness earned him six Pro Bowl nods. Even as injuries piled up late in his career, Roethlisberger remained a Steeler until his retirement, ensuring his legacy as one of the greatest players in Steelers history.
Pat Leahy is another loyal member of the kickers’ club, playing 18 seasons for the New York Jets. Leahy signed as an undrafted free agent, making his career all the more remarkable, especially since he wound up as the franchise’s all-time leading scorer and one of the most dependable kickers of his era. His consistency and ability to perform under pressure made him an invaluable asset to the Jets during a period when they didn’t enjoy a lot of success, despite making the playoffs 5 times.
The third kicker on our loyalty list is Jim Bakken, who spent 17 seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals. Bakken would go to the Pro Bowl four times during his career, set records for most field goals made in a single game (7) and was among the league’s top scorers throughout his career. Bakken stayed with the Cards for nearly two decades, becoming one of the franchise’s most reliable players during a period when the team didn’t see a whole deal of success.
A less familiar name to modern NFL fans, John Brodie was the franchise quarterback with the San Francisco 49ers for 17 seasons. This was a period where running was king, but Brodie still led the league in passing multiple times over those years. Brodie was a two-time Pro Bowler and NFL MVP in 1970. Though he played in an era before Super Bowl dominance, his loyalty to the 49ers helped set the foundation for the successes that would lay ahead.
Few players in NFL history have been as respected and productive as Larry Fitzgerald. ”Sticky Fingers’ would go on to spend 17 seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, laying a claim to be one of the greatest wide receivers ever. Fitzgerald finished his career ranking second all-time in receiving yards and he remained with the franchise through multiple coaching changes and quarterbacks. Like many of the names on our list, Fitzgerald showed his loyalty by sticking with a franchise that didn’t have the greatest success, but his name lives on as a truly great wide receiver.
Ross has been writing about sports for over a decade, spcecializing in the NFL, soccer and boxing. His written work has appeared on a number of online publications over that time.