The Associated Press' 2025 NFL Most Valuable Player (MVP) award race features a distinguished lineup of athletes—Josh Allen, Trevor Lawrence, Drake Maye, Matthew Stafford, and the uniquely positioned Christian McCaffrey. McCaffrey stands out, being the first player in history to earn finalist status for three separate AP NFL awards within the same season.
Besides contending for MVP, McCaffrey and Drake Maye have also secured finalist positions for the Offensive Player of the Year award, while McCaffrey joins Lawrence among the candidates for Comeback Player of the Year. These nominations culminate in the announcement of winners set for February 5 during the NFL Honors event.
The selection process involved a nationwide panel of 50 media professionals who regularly cover the NFL. Voting was finalized prior to the commencement of the playoffs, with results carefully tabulated by the accounting firm Lutz and Carr. The voting system assigned point values to selections: first-place votes awarded 10 points, descending to fifth-place votes worth 1 point.
Highlights from the Most Valuable Player finalists' achievements include:
- Josh Allen, the current MVP, recorded 3,668 passing yards, 25 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. He maintained a passer rating of 102.2 while also contributing 14 rushing touchdowns. Allen led the Buffalo Bills to their seventh consecutive playoff appearance, though their postseason ended with a divisional round loss to Denver. The franchise subsequently parted ways with Coach Sean McDermott.
- Trevor Lawrence spearheaded the Jacksonville Jaguars to a 13-win season and clinched the AFC South title. Over the year, he amassed 4,007 passing yards, 29 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. The Jaguars were eventually defeated in the wild-card round by the Bills.
- Christian McCaffrey delivered an all-around performance by rushing for 1,202 yards and 10 touchdowns, supplemented by 102 receptions generating 924 yards and seven touchdowns. His versatility was instrumental in aiding the injury-challenged San Francisco 49ers in reaching 12 wins during the season.
- Drake Maye posted 4,394 passing yards, 31 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions. His efforts propelled the New England Patriots to an AFC East title and into the AFC championship game. Maye led the league in key efficiency metrics including passer rating (113.5) and completion percentage (72%).
- Matthew Stafford led the NFL with 4,707 passing yards and 46 touchdowns, alongside 8 interceptions. He finished second in passer rating at 109.2, behind only Maye. This performance earned Stafford his first career First-Team All-Pro recognition after 17 seasons.
In the previous year, Lamar Jackson achieved First-Team All-Pro honors but was surpassed by Allen for the MVP award.
The Coach of the Year finalists demonstrate remarkable leadership through transformational seasons:
- Liam Coen orchestrated the Jaguars’ turnaround to a 13-4 record with a division title in his inaugural season.
- Ben Johnson led the Chicago Bears to an 11-5 record, their first NFC North championship in seven years.
- Mike Macdonald guided the Seattle Seahawks to a 14-3 record securing the NFC’s top seed, setting the stage for a conference championship battle against the Rams.
- Kyle Shanahan coached the 49ers to 12 wins, overcoming significant injuries including season-ending losses of key defensive players Nick Bosa and Fred Warner.
- Mike Vrabel, the 2021 AP NFL Coach of the Year, led the Patriots to a 10-win improvement, taking the team from last place to division champions in his first season.
For Assistant Coach of the Year, finalists include:
- Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio
- Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores
- Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph
- Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak
- Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels
Comeback Player of the Year nominees feature Trevor Lawrence, Christian McCaffrey, Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs, Lions edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson, and Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott.
Defensive Player of the Year finalists include:
- Will Anderson Jr. (Houston Texans): 12 sacks contributing to the NFL's top-ranked defense.
- Nik Bonitto (Denver Broncos): 14 sacks supporting the league's second-ranked defense.
- Myles Garrett (Cleveland Browns): A unanimous All-Pro with a record 23 single-season sacks and 33 tackles for loss; 2023 AP Defensive Player of the Year.
- Aidan Hutchinson (Detroit Lions): Accumulated 14.5 sacks.
- Micah Parsons (Green Bay Packers): Posted 12.5 sacks over 13.5 games before an ACL injury curtailed his season.
The Offensive Player of the Year candidates, in addition to Maye and McCaffrey, are:
- Puka Nacua (Los Angeles Rams) and Jaxon Smith-Njigba (Seattle Seahawks), both unanimous All-Pro selections.
- Nacua led the league with 129 receptions for 1,715 yards and 10 touchdowns.
- Smith-Njigba registered 119 catches, led the league with 1,793 receiving yards, and scored 10 touchdowns.
- Bijan Robinson, an All-Pro running back, topped the NFL with 2,298 yards from scrimmage, including 1,478 rushing yards and seven touchdowns, alongside 79 receptions for 820 yards and four scores.
For Defensive Rookie of the Year, five finalists are:
- Abdul Carter (New York Giants)
- Nick Emmanwori (Seattle Seahawks)
- James Pearce Jr. (Atlanta Falcons)
- Carson Schwesinger (Cleveland Browns)
- Xavier Watts (Atlanta Falcons)
The Offensive Rookie of the Year nominees include:
- Jaxson Dart (New York Giants)
- Emeka Egbuka (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
- TreVeyon Henderson (New England Patriots)
- Tetairoa McMillan (Carolina Panthers)
- Tyler Shough (New Orleans Saints)
This comprehensive roster of finalists highlights remarkable individual achievements and leadership contributions across the league, setting the stage for a highly anticipated NFL Honors ceremony where the postseason awards will be formally presented.