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Tony Romo wants to play until he's the oldest quarterback in NFL history

Romo wants to play for another 10 years, which would put him in record-breaking territory.

By Adam Stites
Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Tony Romo turned 36 in April, but when a reporter asked what he expects to be doing in 10 years, the longtime Dallas Cowboys starting quarterback says he doesn't want things to be any different.

"I'd like to still be playing football," Romo told Peter Jackel of the Racine Journal Times earlier in July. "Maybe 10 years is stretching it a little. We'll see."

If Romo actually earned playing time until he was 46, it would be unprecedented. George Blanda is the only player in NFL history with a pass attempt after his 45th birthday, but he transitioned from splitting time as a quarterback and kicker to just a kicking role in the final years of his career. Once a starter for the Chicago Bears and Houston Oilers, Blanda threw only a handful of passes in his last few seasons with the Oakland Raiders.

Romo has struggled with injuries in recent seasons, suffering multiple collarbone fractures that cost him all but four games in 2015. However, his health and play during the 2016 offseason has made him optimistic that the end isn't on the horizon.

"The reality of it is that time usually tells you when you're done," Romo told Jackel. "I know I'm playing some of my best football this offseason. It's been very enjoyable. I'm pretty excited about what lies ahead."

Even playing for three more years would put Romo in an exclusive club, as Peyton Manning became only the eighth player to start eight or more games at age 39 or older. A few managed to keep putting up good numbers for a little while longer, but it typically didn't last for long.

Player Team Year Age G GS Cmp Att Cmp% Yds TD INT YPA Rate
Brett Favre Vikings 2009 40 16 16 363 531 68.36 4,202 33 7 7.9 107.2
Warren Moon Vikings 1995 39 16 16 377 606 62.21 4,228 33 14 7.0 91.5
Warren Moon Vikings 1997 41 15 14 313 528 59.28 3,678 25 16 7.0 83.7
Jim Plunkett Raiders 1986 39 10 8 133 252 52.78 1,986 14 9 7.9 82.5
Brett Favre Jets 2008 39 16 16 343 522 65.71 3,472 22 22 6.7 81.0
Warren Moon Seahawks 1998 42 10 10 145 258 56.20 1,632 11 8 6.3 76.6
Vinny Testaverde Cowboys 2004 41 16 15 297 495 60.00 3,532 17 20 7.1 76.4
Doug Flutie Chargers 2001 39 16 16 294 521 56.43 3,464 15 18 6.6 72.0
Brett Favre Vikings 2010 41 13 13 217 358 60.61 2,509 11 19 7.0 69.9
Warren Moon Vikings 1996 40 8 8 134 247 54.25 1,610 7 9 6.5 68.7
Peyton Manning Broncos 2015 39 10 9 198 331 59.82 2,249 9 17 6.8 67.9
Len Dawson Chiefs 1974 39 14 8 138 235 58.72 1,573 7 13 6.7 65.8
George Blanda Oilers 1966 39 14 8 122 271 45.02 1,764 17 21 6.5 55.3
AVERAGE


13.7 12.3 239.7 402 59.62 2,804 17.7 14.7 7.0 80.3

Maybe a Super Bowl run in the next few years could convince Romo that the storybook ending is a better way to end his career than playing until he can't play anymore. But the Cowboys passer is clearly optimistic that he won't run dry on the ability to play at a high level any time soon.

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