The Associated Press has announced the finalists for the 2025 NFL awards, spotlighting standout performances from the regular season. Notably, Christian McCaffrey has made history as only the second player to be nominated for three prestigious awards in a single year. He is up for the Most Valuable Player, Offensive Player of the Year, and Comeback Player of the Year. McCaffrey joins fellow nominees Josh Allen, Trevor Lawrence, Drake Maye, and Matthew Stafford in the race for the MVP award. The winners will be revealed at the annual “NFL Honors” ceremony on February 5, 2025.
A nationwide panel of 50 sports media professionals who regularly cover the league cast their votes before the playoffs commenced. The accounting firm of Lutz and Carr handled the vote tabulation. Voters ranked their top five choices for each of the eight AP NFL awards, with first-place votes valued at 10 points and subsequent positions receiving 5, 3, 2, and 1 point, respectively.
The finalists for the Most Valuable Player award showcase impressive statistics. Allen, the reigning MVP, threw for 3,668 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions, along with a passer rating of 102.2, guiding the Buffalo Bills to their seventh consecutive playoff appearance. He also rushed for 14 touchdowns. The Bills faced an early playoff exit at the hands of the Denver Broncos in the divisional round, leading to the dismissal of head coach Sean McDermott.
Lawrence played a pivotal role in leading the Jacksonville Jaguars to a 13-4 record and the AFC South title, recording 4,007 passing yards, 29 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. Unfortunately, the Jaguars were eliminated by the Bills in the wild-card round.
Meanwhile, McCaffrey, an All-Purpose All-Pro, accumulated 1,202 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns, complemented by 102 receptions for 924 yards and seven touchdowns. His contributions were vital to the injury-riddled San Francisco 49ers, who finished with a 12-5 record. McCaffrey’s remarkable feat of being a finalist for three awards was last achieved by Joe Burrow.
Maye’s standout performance included 4,394 passing yards, 31 touchdowns, and eight interceptions, leading the New England Patriots to an AFC East title and a spot in the AFC championship game. He topped the NFL in passer rating (113.5) and completion percentage (72%).
Stafford led the league with 4,707 passing yards and 46 touchdowns, despite finishing the season with eight interceptions. His impressive performance earned him a first-team All-Pro selection for the first time in his 17-year career.
Recognition for Coaches and Players
The Coach of the Year finalists include Liam Coen, who transformed the Jaguars into a 13-4 team, achieving a nine-win improvement. Ben Johnson propelled the Chicago Bears to an 11-5 record and their first NFC North championship in seven years. Mike Macdonald guided the Seattle Seahawks to a 14-3 record, securing the NFC’s No. 1 playoff seed, while Kyle Shanahan led the 49ers through significant injuries to key players.
The finalists for the Assistant Coach of the Year include Vic Fangio (Eagles), Brian Flores (Vikings), Vance Joseph (Broncos), Klint Kubiak (Seahawks), and Josh McDaniels (Patriots).
The Comeback Player of the Year nominees feature Lawrence, McCaffrey, Stefon Diggs of the Patriots, Aidan Hutchinson of the Lions, and Dak Prescott of the Cowboys.
For the Defensive Player of the Year, Will Anderson Jr. led the NFL with 12 sacks for the Texans, while Nik Bonitto recorded 14 sacks for the Broncos. Myles Garrett, a unanimous All-Pro selection, set a single-season record with 23 sacks, earning the title of 2023 AP Defensive Player of the Year. Aidan Hutchinson and Micah Parsons are also strong contenders, with Parsons recording 12.5 sacks before sustaining an injury.
The finalists for the Offensive Player of the Year include Puka Nacua, Bijan Robinson, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, alongside Maye and McCaffrey. Nacua led the NFL with 129 receptions for 1,715 yards and 10 touchdowns, while Smith-Njigba caught 119 passes for 1,793 yards and 10 touchdowns. Robinson, an All-Pro running back, achieved 2,298 yards from scrimmage, recording 1,478 rushing yards and seven touchdowns.
The finalists for the Defensive Rookie of the Year category include Abdul Carter (Giants), Nick Emmanwori (Seahawks), James Pearce Jr. (Falcons), Carson Schwesinger (Browns), and Xavier Watts (Falcons). For the Offensive Rookie of the Year, the nominees are Jaxson Dart (Giants), Emeka Egbuka (Buccaneers), TreVeyon Henderson (Patriots), Tetairoa McMillan (Panthers), and Tyler Shough (Saints).
As the NFL season draws to a close, the anticipation builds for the upcoming awards ceremony, where the league’s top performers will be celebrated for their remarkable achievements.
