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At 40 years of age Brett Favre had a season better than anyone had thought possible. The elderly gunslinger holds every NFL passing record in the books and he just had his best year from a statistical standpoint, throwing for 33 touchdowns and just 7 interceptions. Next weekend Favre would have become the oldest QB to ever start in the Pro Bowl had he not backed out due to injury.

It is rare to see any athlete perform at Favre’s level after hitting the big 4-0. Sports are too taxing, both physically and mentally, for many to hang around into their 40s. Obviously some sports are better suited for older participants than others. In stock car racing Mark Martin is still on top of his game at 51, and many Winston Cup winners have been over 40. Golfers frequently play at their top level into their early 40s before falling off. But even in those sports, the top accomplishments are usually reserved for the under-40 crowd. That’s why it was so rare to see Brett Favre have the season he did this year, in football of all sports, at the age of 40.

Of course, the ending could have been even better for him. Favre almost had the storybook final chapter to his career, nearly reaching the Super Bowl, but his Vikings fell to the Saints in overtime on Sunday. But it’s not all bad for the 40 and over crowd, as Super Bowl XLIV will still feature the oldest player in Super Bowl history, the Colts' 42-year-old kicker, Matt Stover. Stover aside, here are the Top 10 Accomplishments by Athletes at 40 and Over.