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Westminster Today
By the People, for the People
61-Year-Old Cancer Survivor Aims to Become Oldest College Football Player
Tom Green is training to play defensive end for McDaniel College in Maryland next season at age 61.
Apr. 9, 2026 at 3:55pm
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An aging athlete's quest to defy the odds and make college football history at 61 years old reflects the sport's evolving landscape and the power of perseverance.Westminster TodayTom Green, a 60-year-old cancer survivor and father of five, has enrolled at McDaniel College in Maryland and is training to become the oldest college football player ever. Green, who previously played semi-pro football, hopes to take the field as a defensive end for the Division III school's 2026 season when he turns 61 years old, breaking the current record held by a 61-year-old kicker.
Why it matters
Green's quest to play college football at his advanced age is an inspiring story of perseverance and a testament to the power of pursuing one's passions, even later in life. His journey also highlights the increasing trend of older athletes competing at the collegiate level, which raises questions about the physical toll of the sport and the evolving nature of college sports.
The details
Green, who survived a battle with kidney cancer in the 2010s, enrolled at McDaniel College last year to pursue a political science degree. In addition to his studies, he has been training to play defensive end for the school's football team, a particularly ambitious goal given the physical demands of the position. If successful, Green would break the record currently held by Alan Moore, who kicked an extra point for Faulkner University's NAIA team in 2011 at the age of 61.
- Green will turn 61 years old in June 2026.
- He plans to take the field for McDaniel College's 2026 football season.
The players
Tom Green
A 60-year-old cancer survivor and father of five who is training to become the oldest college football player ever as a defensive end for McDaniel College in Maryland.
Alan Moore
The current record holder for the oldest player to appear in a college football game, having kicked an extra point for Faulkner University's NAIA team in 2011 at the age of 61.
McDaniel College
A Division III college in Westminster, Maryland where Tom Green is enrolled and training to play football.
What they’re saying
“I played semi-pro football in the past and decided to make it my goal to beat Moore's record next season, as I'll be turning 61 in June.”
— Tom Green
What’s next
Green will continue his training and preparation to join McDaniel College's football team for the 2026 season, when he will attempt to break the record for oldest college football player.
The takeaway
Tom Green's inspiring journey to play college football at age 61 as a cancer survivor and father of five demonstrates the power of determination and the evolving nature of collegiate sports, where older athletes are increasingly pursuing their athletic passions later in life.
