HOUSTON – Sunday night’s Super Bowl LI has the familiar faces of Bill Belichick and Tom Brady in starring roles yet again. It is the seventh Super Bowl appearance by the Patriots coach and quarterback, 15 years after their first one.

Which leads to the question: How much longer can these two guys go?

Jets, Bills and Dolphins fans are hoping their AFC East reign is nearly over, but neither guy has shown any signs of slowing. NFL Network reported Sunday that Brady wants to play for another 3-5 years and the Patriots plan on extending his contract next year.

The questions about retirement circled around both men this week. Brady is 39 and has accomplished everything a quarterback possibly could. Belichick is 64, the second-oldest coach in the NFL behind Pete Carroll.

Patriots owner Robert Kraft was asked this week how long he anticipates Belichick coaching the Patriots.

“As long as he would like to. I’m very happy with him,” Kraft said. “We’ve been together for 17 years. I like it when I hear him say that he’s getting paid to do what he loves. We’ll try to keep him like that.”

Belichick turns 65 in September, the age many Americans retire at. But the veteran coach did not entertain any retirement talk this week.

“I haven’t really thought about it to be honest with you,” Belichick said. “Right now all my focus is on this game. I don’t think about next year or last year, I am thinking about Sunday night and between now and then and what I can do to help our team so that is really where it is at.”

Belichick is not all that close to being the oldest coach ever in the NFL. George Halas and Marv Levy both coached until they were 72. Could Belichick go that long?

Maybe Belichick and Brady will walk off together. Brady turns 40 in August, but he has said repeatedly he wants to keep playing. George Blanda was the oldest quarterback ever in the NFL, still on the job at 48. Steve DeBerg, Vinny Testaverde and Warren Moon all played at 44.

Kraft was asked if he thinks either Belichick or Brady will retire soon.

“I hope not,” said Kraft, 75. “At least for however long the good lord lets me breathe, I hope they’re playing or coaching.”

Brady said last year he wants “to play for a long time, maybe 10 years.” That would get him past Blanda. The difference with Brady is many of the players who lasted into their 40s like Blanda, Testaverde, DeBerg, Moon and Earl Morrall bounced around to other teams and were far past their primes. Brady seems to be getting better. He finished second in the MVP voting this year.

Brady was asked this week who he thinks will retire first.

“That’s a good question,” Brady said. “I don’t know what he plans on doing. He’s the best, and I’ve been very lucky to play for him. He’s so focused on coaching and doing anything he can to help us win. There’s no B.S. with coach Belichick, and I think that’s what players appreciate. When you come into the program, you realize it’s all about football and it’s not a bunch of rah-rah crap that’s not going to matter and has no bearing on preparing you for the game.”

Kraft is hoping this amazing run is not close to being over.

“It’s been such a treat,” Kraft said. “Those of us who are fortunate enough to see people in the media, the Hollywood crowd, that on great sports teams there are personalities and egos. To have the drive, they’re very special people. Egos can get in the way. I’m very pleased the way they and really our whole organization and team checks those egos at the front door, no matter how big they are or how important they are. They do what they have to do to put the team in the best position to win. I remember when I came into the league originally and I learned that when you have division from within, that’s the biggest enemy that gets in the way of winning. I can really say that these guys put team first all the way. No one gives excuses when things don’t go right. They’re all together as a unit.”

How long can it last?