10 NFL players whose final season may come in 2026

Likely the last season for Lane Johnson: The Eagles tackle owns the second-most Wins Above Replacement at the position since 2017 but played under 500 snaps in 2026.

An uncertain future for Cameron Heyward: The Steelers great has reached a 90.0-plus grade in each of the past two seasons, but how much longer he'll play remains tenuous.

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The NFL preseason is now in full swing, building up more and more excitement for what looks to be a riveting 2026 regular season. While the preseason is often about showcasing young, rising players, it can also mark the last August appearances for veteran players about to call it quits.

Some of the players listed below have already signified that the 2026 campaign will be their last, potentially starting the clock for Hall of Fame enshrinement in 2031. Meanwhile, other names are continuing to battle either Father Time or mounting injuries despite their riproaring career production.

No matter what, even seeing these 10 players take the field this season is something that shouldn’t be taken for granted, because it might never happen again after January.

Note: Players who aren’t actively on teams but might play their final season ahead — like Bobby Wagner and Tyreek Hill — were excluded.

QB Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers

As he enters his 22^nd pro season — which Rodgers has repeatedly mentioned will be his last — he’s assembled a resume that few can match at the position. The four-time league MVP, four-time first-team All-Pro, Super Bowl champion and 10-time Pro Bowler is indisputably one of the best quarterbacks in league history. His advanced work is just as decorated, earning an 80.0-plus overall PFF grade in a gaudy 11 seasons and laying claim to the highest-graded quarterback campaign ever.

Rodgers’ first season in Pittsburgh showed serious signs of regression, with his 68.0 overall and 68.8 PFF passing marks both his lowest in a full year in his illustrious career. His 4.8% big-time throw rate was one of his worst rates yet, and his 2.60-second average time to throw was Rodgers’ second-fastest due to his inability to withstand pressure. The 42-year-old will look to turn back the clock one last time on a Steelers team that reunites Rodgers with longtime guide Mike McCarthy as well as several assistants.

T Lane Johnson, Philadelphia Eagles

Point blank, Johnson has established himself as one of the premier tackles of the era. The five-time All-Pro and two-time Super Bowl champion has never earned worse than a 71.9 overall PFF grade across his decorated 13-year career, in which 10 seasons have sat above a 75.0. Further, Johnson is the second-most-valuable tackle by PFF Wins Above Replacement since 2017, trailing just Trent Williams.

The 2025 season was a bit of an unfortunate one for Johnson, who played only 449 snaps due to a foot injury. The 36-year-old is clearly still capable of playing at a high level — reflected in his 80.4 PFF pass-blocking grade last season — but he surmised that 2026 figures to be his swan song. Johnson’s ability to stay on the field looms as an X-factor on an Eagles offense with several big questions.

EDGE Cameron Jordan, New Orleans Saints

Jordan has enjoyed an incredibly fruitful career after being a first-round pick by the Saints in 2011. Playing all 15 seasons in New Orleans, Jordan has racked up eight Pro Bowl bids and three All-Pro nods, not to mention nine seasons with at least a 75.0 overall PFF grade.

Fascinatingly, one of those years came in 2025. Although Jordan’s efficiency as a pass-rusher has been below-average since 2022, he’s remained a strong run defender, ranking fifth among edge defenders with an 82.1 PFF run-defense grade last season. The franchise legend has seemingly indicated that he’ll call it a career after 2026, but at least he’ll get a proper farewell — and potentially one more playoff appearance — by sticking around in black and gold.

TE Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs

Kelce is inarguably one of the best tight ends to ever play pro football. The 11-time Pro Bowler, four-time first-team All-Pro and three-time Super Bowl champion earned an 83.3-plus overall PFF grade in eight straight seasons and is easily the most valuable tight end by PFF WAR since 2018.

As Kelce has gotten into his late 30s, he’s remained a solid player but hasn’t quite looked the same. Last year, Kelce’s 1.47 yards per route run were a career low, and his 8.4% drop rate was his second-worst yet. However, the 36-year-old still sat in the 67^th percentile in yards after the catch per reception and the 70^th percentile in separation rate against single coverage.

Kelce hasn’t given any firm designation yet about the 2026 season, only signing a one-year contract to return to Kansas City. But following an offseason wedding and with his career already tenuous on a season-to-season basis, it’s fair to wonder if this will be it for the future Hall of Famer.

QB Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams

Stafford has gone from respectable quarterback on a bad team to one of the league’s best. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 draft has reached an 80.0 overall PFF grade in eight seasons, with his zenith coming in 2025 — when he led the league (92.0) and claimed his first career MVP at age 37.

The Rams star can clearly still spin it, although it’s worth wondering how much longer he’ll lace up the cleats. Los Angeles invested the 13^th overall pick in quarterback Ty Simpson to kickstart its succession plan, and Stafford seemingly dealt with a serious back issue before his award-winning campaign. The 38-year-old is under contract through 2027 after agreeing to an extension this offseason, but there’s a real chance 2026 will be his last year — especially if the Super Bowl-favorite Rams win the title in Los Angeles.

EDGE Khalil Mack, Los Angeles Chargers

Mack has quietly compiled an excellent career across three teams, being named a four-time first-team All-Pro while winning Defensive Player of the Year. Nine of Mack’s 12 career campaigns have finished with at least an 85.0 overall PFF grade, which is extremely remarkable.

Although Mack played only 478 total snaps with the Chargers last year, he was still impactful with a 79.2 overall PFF grade, 77.2 PFF run-defense mark and 42 total pressures. The 35-year-old has seemingly flirted with retirement in each of the past few offseasons but has elected to come back to Los Angeles thus far. With the Chargers picking Akheem Mesidor in the first round in April, it could signify that this season might be Mack’s curtain call.

Dl Cameron Heyward, Pittsburgh Steelers

Heyward’s career has mixed dominance with longevity. The 16-year veteran is a four-time first-team All-Pro who ranks third among positional counterparts in PFF WAR since 2018. Heyward has especially defied the aging curve by producing a 90.1-plus overall PFF grade in each of the last two seasons, including sitting above an 84.0 in both pass-rushing and run-defense in 2025.

Like Stafford, Heyward also agreed to a one-year contract extension this summer, although there was genuine uncertainty whether or not he would return following Mike Tomlin’s departure as head coach. The Steelers great is still performing like one of the better defensive linemen in football, but the 37-year-old isn’t guaranteed to suit up beyond 2026.

Dl Calais Campbell, Baltimore Ravens

Campbell’s career has spanned nearly two decades and witnessed tremendous production for five separate teams, being named a Pro Bowler six times and an All-Pro in three campaigns. His best six-year peak is Canton-worthy, achieving an 82.5-plus grade from 2014-2019.

The NFL’s oldest active defensive player, Campbell will turn 40 before the 2026 season begins. Although he’s more of a rotational interior option at this point, Campbell remains a useful player with a 9% run stop rate and 65.1 PFF pass-rush grade in 2025. Campbell has staved off retirement thus far, but a promising individual and/or team year in Baltimore could propel him to stroll into the sunset.

T Morgan Moses, New England Patriots

Moses doesn’t boast the accolades of his counterparts on this list, actually never even making a Pro Bowl or an All-Pro team. Yet he’s been a quality and reliable tackle for nearly a decade, posting six seasons with at least a 75.0 overall PFF grade.

The 35-year-old was a major reason why the Patriots’ offensive line took a leap last season, earning a 78.8 PFF run-blocking grade while allowing only two sacks across 781 pass-blocking snaps and a career-high 1,294 total plays. However, the fact that New England selected tackle Caleb Lomu in the first round suggests that the hourglass may be ticking on Moses’ career — although he is under contract through 2027.

QB Kirk Cousins, Las Vegas Raiders

There were a number of players in contention for this final spot, but Cousins felt like the most recognizable and probable to walk away. The former fourth-round pick has vastly outperformed his draft slot, being named to four Pro Bowls and reaching an 80.0-plus overall grade six times in a memorable career.

Cousins showed he can still perform at a solid level last season with a 75.0 PFF passing grade, but his 3.2% big-time throw rate and 72.3% adjusted completion percentage both placed 31^st out of 43 qualifying passers. On top of that, Cousins played just 289 dropbacks while operating as Atlanta’s backup.

The former Vikings standout will occupy much of the same role in Las Vegas, presumably starting the season as the Raiders’ top option before handing the reins to rookie Fernando Mendoza. The almost-38-year-old could remain a steady backup or bridge option for the next several years, but the effective 2027 free agent very well may hang up the cleats this winter.