JJ Jansen Set to Break NFL Record for Most Games Played by a Long Snapper

Carolina Panthers long snapper JJ Jansen is poised to set a new NFL milestone this Sunday. His appearance in the upcoming matchup against the Eagles will mark his 282nd career game, allowing him to surpass Trey Junkin for the most games played at the long snapper position in league history.

The 40-year-old Jansen, a former Notre Dame standout, originally entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Green Bay Packers in 2008. After spending his rookie season on injured reserve, he was acquired by the Panthers in 2009 via a trade for a conditional 2011 draft pick. He has remained a fixture on the Panthers’ roster ever since.

Long snapping is a highly specialized skill often passed down through mentorship. For Jansen, the craft was a family endeavor, learned under the guidance of his father, a former high school long snapper.

“I still remember we practiced in the same way every single time,” Jansen told Darin Gantt of Panthers.com. “We had like a square piece of grass that was probably 20 yards by 20 yards. I’d stand at one end in front of a tree that was right in the middle. My dad would stand at 15 yards away, and I would snap it. We’d have those legendary long nights where you’re good, and then you stink, and then you’re good, and you stink, and you’re mad at yourself because you stink, so you yell at your dad, and he’s yelling back at you and, there’s this whole, you know, boys and their fathers moments.”

Jansen currently ranks second among all active players for games played, trailing only Baltimore Ravens defensive end Calais Campbell (283 games). Should both players appear in all 17 games this season, Campbell would reach 295 games—tying Darrell Green for 16th all-time—while Jansen would reach 294, placing him 18th on the all-time list.

Remarkably, all 281 of Jansen’s previous games have been played exclusively with the Panthers. He is currently chasing the NFL record for most games played with a single franchise, held by former Lions kicker Jason Hanson at 327. If Jansen continues his streak of availability, he is on pace to surpass Hanson by the conclusion of the 2028 season.

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