Panthers DE Julius Peppers still playing special teams at 37 Posted Sep 15, 2017 You knew defensive end Julius Peppers was special when the Carolina Panthers made him the second pick of the 2002 draft and again in March when they signed him in free agency. But something you might not have known that makes the 37-year-old future Hall of Famer special is that he’s still playing special teams in his 16th NFL season. You don’t see that very often. (ESPN.com)