Who has played the most games for every NFL franchise?

The Falcons drafted Kenn in 1978, and he proceeded to give them a franchise left tackle for well over a decade. Spending his entire 17-year career with Atlanta, Kenn played 251 games with the team before he retired in 1994. While not a famed name, Kenn was named a first-team All-Pro three times.

Kenn probably needed an introduction, at least outside of Atlanta, but Fitzgerald does not. In the running for being the second-best receiver ever (nobody can touch Jerry Rice to this day), Fitzgerald spent his entire career with the Cardinals, playing 263 games. In that time, he also went 256 games in a row with at least one reception. He’s second in career catches and receiving yards, and the Hall of Fame beckons.

Suggs stuck around just long enough to top his former teammate Ray Lewis. The pass rusher played 229 games with the Ravens to Lewis’ 228, winning Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2003, and Defensive Player of the Year in 2011. With 139 career sacks, there’s a decent chance these two teammates will be reunited in the Hall of Fame someday.

Reed and Bruce Smith both joined the Bills in 1985, and both left after 1999. In fact, they both left for Washington, with Reed playing one more season and retiring while Smith went on a little longer. Both are Hall of Famers, but the receiver Reed was able to see the field a smidge more during their respective runs. He played 221 games with Buffalo to Smith’s 217.

Behind a long snapper (J.J. Jansen) and a kicker (John Kasay) you find the true face of the Panthers’ franchise. Smith, the tempestuous receiver, played 182 games with Carolina. He tallied seven 1,000-yard seasons with the Panthers, and then added one more with the Ravens. In 2005, he actually led the NFL in catches, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns as well.

The only tie on this list belongs to one of the NFL’s longest-standing franchises. McMichael, known as “Mongo” and a former pro wrestler as well, was a defensive tackle during the Bears’ dominant defensive days in the 1980s. Kreutz was the longtime center for the Bears, and made the Hall of Fame’s All-2000s team for his position. Both guys played 191 games with Chicago.

Riley is not a huge name, but the consistent cornerback did make three All-Pro teams, first once and second twice. He spent his entire career with Cincinnati, playing in 207 games for the franchise. Riley retired with 65 interceptions, and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2023. Sadly, it was posthumous, as Riley died in 2020.

The father of the Clay Matthews you may remember from the Packers, this Matthews was a longtime staple of the Browns lineup. He played for Cleveland from 1978 through 1993 (and then played a few seasons with the Falcons for good measure). An offball linebacker, Matthews led the NFL in tackles four times, and made four Pro Bowls as well. More a good player with a lot of longevity, he played 232 games for the Browns.

Witten was already the Cowboys’ leader in games played, and a future Hall of Famer, when he retired after the 2017 season. Remember that? He became the commentator on “Monday Night Football?” After one season away, the tight end returned to play one more season with the Cowboys, and then another with the Raiders. Ultimately, Witten played a whopping 255 games for Dallas, and he’s fourth in career receptions. Not among tight ends, but all players.

Perhaps a quest for a Super Bowl ring kept Elway going. He was already a Hall of Famer, and in the running for the greatest quarterback ever, but the title eluded him. Then, Elway and the Broncos finally won in 1997, so he figured why not go for a repeat? Hey, that worked out too, and Elway retired with two titles and an even better resume, which included 234 games with Denver..

If you are on the younger side, or just a college football recruiting maven, you may know Dominic Raiola best as the father of Dylan, who was one of the top quarterback recruits in recent years. Before that, though, he was a staple on the Lions’ offensive line. He never made a Pro Bowl, but Raiola was the starting center for Detroit for 13 years. Throw in one season where he was on the roster but as a backup, and Raiola played 219 games for the Lions, which is the franchise record.

He started in Atlanta, and he spent a few years playing with the Jets and Vikings with varying levels of success, but Favre’s tenure with the Packers was long enough he is the franchise leader in games played (aside from kicker Mason Crosby). Of course, it helps that Favre was the NFL’s iron man for many years, not missing a start for over a decade. A three-time MVP (and the most-intercepted quarterback in NFL history), Favre’s Hall of Fame career included 255 games with the Packers.

C.J. Stroud is, tentatively, en route to becoming a Texans icon, but the NFL’s youngest franchise basically has only two faces carved into its Mt. Rushmore at this point: J.J. Watt and Andre Johnson. Johnson twice led the NFL in receiving yards, and twice in receptions, with 2008 seeing him do both. Seven times the receiver managed to make the Pro Bowl, and while he’s maybe more of a Hall of Very Good player, his 169 games top the list for the Texans.

Peyton Manning moved on from the Colts, and the Colts from Manning, at a time when he was well primed to become far-and-away the franchise’s leader in games played. Instead, career-long Colt Wayne eked out the top spot. A dynamic receiver often in Marvin Harrison’s shadow, Wayne still made six Pro Bowls in his career and led the league in receiving yards once. His 211 games with the Colts franchise are three more than Peyton, and five more than Johnny Unitas.

Meester’s career is much like Raiola’s. Never a noted name, he was a steady staple on Jacksonville’s offensive line for over a decade. Meester became the starting left guard after being drafted by the Jags in 2000. He spent three seasons there, then was asked to move to center. Obliging the request, Meester went on to start at center for 11 seasons. In the end, he racked up 209 games, all starts, with Jacksonville.

Look, being a guard is not glamorous. Kansas City has some iconic names like Patrick Mahomes, Tony Gonzalez, Travis Kelce, Derrick Thomas, the list goes on. Don’t overlook Shields, though. He’s a Hall of Famer and a 12-time Pro Bowler. From 1993 through 2006 he played 224 games for the Chiefs. Shields is one of the best guards of all time, and the best offensive lineman in K.C. history.

Granted, Brown never played a down in Las Vegas, but that’s the nature of franchise movement. He shared a state, and at times a team, with Jerry Rice, which may have overshadowed him. However, prior to one season in Tampa, Brown had 1,070 catches for 14,734 yards and 99 touchdowns with the Raiders. That was over 240 games, and he’s now in the Hall of Fame.

Gates actually did play two seasons in Los Angeles after the move from San Diego! Many NFL teams learned a bad lesson from Gates’ success. Famously, the tight end didn’t play college football. He was a basketball player, and sensing he did not have a future in the NBA, tried out for NFL teams. The Chargers signed him as an undrafted free agent. He proceeded to make eight Pro Bowls and was first-team All-Pro four times. Could every former basketball player do that? Nope! Gates played 236 games for the Chargers, and the Hall of Fame beckons.

Slater is a name you know if you are familiar with NFL players famed for their longevity. The offensive tackle played with the Rams franchise from 1976 through 1995. Yeah, that’s a long time. The Hall of Famer made seven Pro Bowls, and he also played a whopping 259 games for the Rams, starting 211 of them — including a single game in St. Louis after the team moved.

Marino changed the landscape with his MVP season in 1985 when he threw for 5,084 yards and 48 touchdowns, both records at the time. This was when 5,000-yard seasons were unheard of and 50-touchdown seasons were not a thing. Of course, we’re here not to discuss incredible seasons, but longevity. Marino never left Miami, not even to chase a ring, and played 242 games with the franchise.

Yes, he’s the guy who scored the “wrong-way” touchdown. That shouldn’t be the overarching legacy of Marshall. He was a great player, and the NFL’s defensive iron man. After a season with Cleveland, the defensive lineman moved to Minnesota. There he played 19 seasons and started 270 consecutive games. The latter is an NFL record for a defender.

You may have heard that Brady left the Patriots at one point. Of course, he also played forever, reluctant to retire and leave the NFL behind. A record holder many times over, the most-famous sixth-round pick ever played 285 games for the Pats, winning a title or two along the way.

To think, Brees’ first five seasons came with the Chargers. Then, he moved to New Orleans and built his Hall of Fame career. The most-efficient passer in NFL history, Brees played 228 games with the Saints. This is a case where a franchise has a looming contender, though. If Cameron Jordan sticks around, he’s only 19 games behind Brees. Two more seasons would cover it, and then some.

Peyton left the Colts, but Eli never left the Giants. While the younger Manning brother wasn’t quite as good, he has two Super Bowl rings and was the Super Bowl MVP both times. Eli also played 236 games for the Giants, the franchise record.

Rasmussen was the starting guard for the underdog Jets team that famously won Super Bowl III. He was the last of the players from that squad to retire, doing so after the 1981 season. He never left the Jets, and from 1969 through 1981 he was the starting guard whenever he was healthy enough to do so, which was often. As such, his 207 games for the Jets are the most.

Graham is the first active player on this list, though when you are talking about football players in their mid-thirties, there’s always the feeling you will be retracting that at any moment. On top of that, Graham is, as of this writing, still an Eagle, but that too feels like it could change. Regardless, Graham has been a good, if not great, pass rusher for Philly for many years. He leads the Eagles with 195 games played, with Jason Kelce and Fletcher Cox both just behind him. All current Eagles, all not retired…for now.

Roethlisberger, drafted the same year as Eli Manning and Philip Rivers, was Offensive Rookie of the Year. Early on, he took a backseat offensively, and with that philosophy the Steelers won a Super Bowl. Eventually, he would become a guy who would lead the NFL in passing yards, and passing attempts as well. Also, he’d win another Super Bowl. “Big Ben” played 18 seasons with the Steelers, making 249 appearances.

Oh, you know, just the greatest receiver ever. Rice would lead the NFL in receptions, receiving yards, touchdowns, you name it. He did it time and time again. Even with four seasons spent with the Raiders (and briefly the Seahawks), Rice is the Niners’ leader in games played. He played 238 games en route to one of the best careers in NFL history.

The Seahawks signed Nash as an undrafted free agent, and it turned out quite well for all parties involved. He began his career as a nose tackle in 1982, and in 1984 would make his one Pro Bowl, and also be named first-time All-Pro. Eventually, in 1990, he would move to a more traditional defensive tackle role, but stuck with the Seahawks. All in all, he played 218 games with Seattle.

Tiki, Ronde’s twin brother, was a running back for the Giants, so he was the more famous of the two. However, Ronde had the better career. He made five Pro Bowls, won a Super Bowl, and also was elected into the Hall of Fame. Oh, and his 241 games played with the Buccaneers is a franchise record. Sorry, Tiki. Ronde has you beat.

Clay Matthews Sr. had a bit of an NFL career, though it was interrupted by the Korean War, but his genes proved quite impressive. He is the father of Clay Matthews, the Browns’ record holder for games played, and also Bruce. Now, with all due respect to the other Matthews family members, Bruce blows them away in terms of quality. The offensive lineman is in the Hall of Fame. He made 14 Pro Bowls. He was first-team All-Pro seven times. Matthews never missed a game due to injury, and playing for both the Oilers and Titans he totaled 296 games, 293 of them starts. Other than Jerry Rice, only kickers and quarterbacks have played in more games.

Due to high-quality play and incredible longevity, Green is considered one of the best cornerbacks in NFL history. He never had a season with a ton of interceptions, but he had at least one pick for 19 consecutive seasons. Green played so long that he was still with Washington into his forties. The Hall of Famer retired after 295 games played.