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5 oldest quarterbacks to ever start a game for the Detroit Lions

By Brad Berreman

Detroit Lions quarterback Jeff Garcia sets to pass during a Thanksgiving Day game, November 24, 2005, at Ford Field, Detroit. The Atlanta Falcons defeated the Lions 27 - 7. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jeff Garcia sets to pass during a Thanksgiving Day game, November 24, 2005, at Ford Field, Detroit. The Atlanta Falcons defeated the Lions 27 - 7. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images) /
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Credit: Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images
Credit: Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images /

4. Jon Kitna

Kitna spent three seasons (2006-2008) with the Lions, and he actually makes the list of the 10 oldest quarterbacks to start a game for them three times total. He started all 16 games in his first two seasons in Detroit, with a 10-22 record, then he started the first four games of the 2008 campaign before being injured and landing on injured reserve to end his season.

That is of course the Lions’ team that went 0-16 under head coach Rod Marinelli. Kitna was one of three quarterbacks to start a game that season (Dan Orlovsky-seven starts and Daunte Culpepper-five starts), and one of five to throw a pass (Drew Stanton, Drew Henson).

Kitna played two seasons with the Dallas Cowboys after the Lions. He then moved into coaching, with one season (2019) as quarterbacks coach for the Cowboys, and he’s currently the head coach at Burleson High School in Burleson, Texas.

2008 Stats with the Lions: 4 games, 4 starts; 758 passing yards, 5 touchdowns, 5 interceptions, 56.7 percent completion rate, 72.2 passer rating

Age at time of last start for the Lions, Oct. 5, 2008 vs. Chicago Bears: 36 years, 14 days

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