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Super Bowl 50: 13 players over 30

By Connor Fulton

Dec 13, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos tight end Vernon Davis (80) before the game against the Oakland Raiders at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 13, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos tight end Vernon Davis (80) before the game against the Oakland Raiders at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /
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Super Bowl 50 Evan Mathis
Dec 6, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; Denver Broncos guard Evan Mathis (69) in pass protection during the first half of the game against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. Denver won 17-3. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Evan Mathis, 34

The oldest offensive lineman in Super Bowl 50, Mathis will be playing against the same team that drafted him into the NFL. With the 79th pick in the 2005 NFL Draft, the Panthers selected Mathis out of Alabama, where he started 15 of 25 games over a three-year span before a 2008 season that saw Mathis playing for two teams, the Miami Dolphins and Cincinnati Bengals.

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After two outstanding seasons with the Bengals in 2009 and 2010, Mathis signed with the Philadelphia Eagles, where his career really started to catch fire. Beginning in 2011, Pro Football Focus tabbed Mathis the best guard in the NFL three straight years in a row. 2013 was the Mathis’ career year, as he earned Pro Football Focus’ inaugural Bruce Matthews Award and was named First Team All-Pro.

However, Mathis’ time in Philly came to a head when Chip Kelly cut him this past summer for skipping voluntary OTAs for contract leverage reasons. The Eagles’ loss quickly became the Broncos’ gain; Mathis appeared in all 16 games for Denver this season. After Ryan Clady suffered a season-ending ACL tear in OTAs, the Broncos were severely undermanned at the position, and Mathis filled the void.

Of the 34-year-olds playing in Super Bowl 50, Mathis seems like the least likely to retire considering how well he’s still playing.

Next: 1. Peyton Manning

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