40 And Fine: Rams LT Whitworth Not Hanging 'Em Up Anytime Soon

Outside of Tom Brady, most 40-year-olds have no business – or interest – in being anywhere near an NFL field. Brady and Rams tackle Andrew Whitworth aren't like most 40-year-olds. Now in his 16th season, Whitworth, who turns 40 on Sunday, not only continues to start along the offensive line, but he does so at a high-level. And he plans to keep on keepin' on.

"It's amazing he's still doing it," Whitworth’s former teammate, Lions quarterback Jared Goff told ESPN’s Lindsey Thiry.

Make no mistake, Whitworth isn’t out there barely scrapping by against players who are literally young enough to be his sons. Like fine wine, he’s getting better with age, leading the way for an 8-4 Los Angeles team that’s generating the league’s fifth-most yards per game.

“He is as good as they get," added Goff.

On Sunday, Whitworth will make history by becoming the first 40-year-old to start an NFL game at left tackle. "It's pretty amazing, it's great," he said to Thiry. "I'll be definitely emotional about it and very thankful."

The only other active player in the league who's 40 or older is Brady.

History aside, Whitworth’s not ready to close the book on a pro career that began in 2006 when he was drafted in the second round by Cincinnati.

"To me, the only way that I would retire is there'd have to be a situation where either financially the Rams can't afford me or there's just some way where it doesn't work out for the both of us for me to be back," said Whitworth. "So that would really be the only scenario where I would ever really see me retiring."

Los Angeles visits Arizona, the NFL’s best team (10-2), on Monday night. FanDuel Sportsbook lists Whitworth and the Rams as 2-point underdogs.

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