Oldest NFL coaches in history: Where do Pete Carroll, Bill Belichick, other active HCs rank on all-time list?

Three out of the top 10 oldest coaches in NFL history are currently coaching their teams: Seahawks’ Pete Carroll, Patriots’ Bill Belichick and Buccaneers’ Bruce Arians. Carroll turned 70 this year, making him the oldest coach in the league right now. Belichick runs close behind after he turned 69 in April, and Arians just turned 69 in October.

The oldest coach in NFL history actually just retired at the end of the 2020 season. 73-year-old, at the time, Romeo Crennel broke the previous 53 year long record when he was named interim coach of the Houston Texans in October 2020. Crennel had worked in the NFL since 1981, but this was his first time in the head coaching position.

The previous record that Crennel broke last year was held by George Halas, who was 72 years old when he retired after 1967. During his 47 year career, Halas captured eight NFL championship titles, with six of those won while he was head coach (this is the most in history by one coach). He finished his career with 324 total wins, which is the second most in NFL history. Additionally, he was one of the first inductees in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and he is one of the original founders and owners of the Chicago Bears. 

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With no known plans to retire soon, Carroll, Belichick and Arians could easily make their way up the oldest coaches rankings. 

During the 2020 season, Carroll and Belichick faced each other and created a new record. They became the oldest combined coaching matchup in NFL history. They didn’t play each other during the 2021 season, or a new record would have been made.

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There are some coaches who are assumed to be older than they actually are. For example, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid is often believed to be one of the oldest current coaches in the NFL due to his famous white mustache. However, Reid is currently the sixth oldest coach in the NFL, and he doesn’t even rank near the top of the oldest coaches in NFL history.

Reid and Arians met during Super Bowl LV earlier this year, and their age was talked about a lot during Super Bowl coverage. Arians became the oldest coach in NFL history to win a Super Bowl. The year before, Reid won his first Super Bowl at age 61.

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Oldest active NFL coaches

Here’s a list of the 10 oldest coaches who currently coach in the NFL.

Oldest coaches in NFL history

Here’s a list of the 10 oldest coaches in NFL history.

*Denotes that the coach has not retired.