Finalists For AP NFL Awards Announced
The regular season is in the rearview mirror, the playoff picture has been painted, and now we get to argue about hardware. The Associated Press dropped the names for the 2025 NFL awards finalists, and if you like chaos, redemption arcs, and running backs doing things that shouldn’t be physically possible, you’re in for a treat.
The headliner? It’s not a quarterback, for once. It’s San Francisco’s Swiss Army Knife, Christian McCaffrey. The man isn’t just knocking on the door of the NFL MVP conversation; he’s kicking it down, grabbing a snack from the fridge, and making himself at home. McCaffrey has become the first player in history to be a finalist for three different awards in the same season: MVP, Offensive Player of the Year, and Comeback Player of the Year.
But let’s not hand him the trophy just yet. The quarterback room is crowded, and the narratives are juicy.
The Quarterback Gauntlet For NFL MVP
While McCaffrey is the shiny unicorn in the room, the other four finalists are the signal-callers who defined the 2025 season.
First, we have Josh Allen. The Bills might be watching the rest of the playoffs from the couch after that Denver loss, but you can’t ignore the numbers. The man is a touchdown factory. Sure, he throws interceptions with the same reckless abandon as he throws touchdowns, but that’s the Allen experience. You take the heart attacks with the highlights.
Then there’s the redemption of Trevor Lawrence. Remember when everyone was writing off the Jaguars? Lawrence quietly put together a 4,000-yard season and snatched the AFC South crown. He’s also up for Comeback Player of the Year, which tells you everything you need to know about the roller coaster he’s been on.
The young gun, Drake Maye, is arguably the best story in football. Leading the Patriots to an AFC East title and the AFC Championship game? If you predicted that in August, go buy a lottery ticket immediately. He led the league in passer rating and completion percentage, playing with the poise of a guy ten years his senior.
And finally, the old gunslinger, Matthew Stafford. In his 17th season, Stafford decided to turn back the clock and lead the league with 4,707 passing yards and a staggering 46 touchdowns. He’s throwing the ball all over the yard like he’s still 25, reminding everyone in Los Angeles that he’s got plenty left in the tank.
Defense Wins Championships (And Awards)
While the offense gets the glory, the Defensive Player of the Year race is a straight-up brawl between the league’s premier pass rushers.
Myles Garrett is coming off shattering the single-season sack record with 23. The man is a cheat code. But he’s got stiff competition. Micah Parsons, now terrorizing QBs in Green Bay, posted 12.5 sacks in an injury-shortened season.
Then there’s Will Anderson Jr. anchoring the Texans’ No. 1-ranked defense, and Nik Bonitto in Denver making life miserable for opposing tackles. And we can’t forget Aidan Hutchinson in Detroit, who is also up for Comeback Player of the Year alongside Lawrence and McCaffrey. The toughness required to play defensive end at that level after an injury is something you can’t quantify on a stat sheet.
The Future Is Now: Rookie Of the Year Battles
If you want to feel old, look at the rookie finalists. The Offensive Rookie of the Year race features Jaxson Dart and Emeka Egbuka, guys who were lighting up college Saturdays just a year ago. But keep an eye on Tetairoa McMillan in Carolina; wide receivers with that kind of frame and catch radius don’t come around often.
On the defensive side, it’s a diverse group. We’ve got edge rushers like Abdul Carter and James Pearce Jr., but it’s cool to see a safety like Xavier Watts getting love in Atlanta. It’s rare for the secondary to get this kind of spotlight so early.
Coaching Greatness
Finally, we have to talk about the architects. Mike Vrabel has done the impossible in New England, taking the Patriots from the NFL basement to the NFL penthouse in year one. That alone usually locks up the award. But don’t sleep on Ben Johnson finally getting the Bears to the top of the NFC North, or Liam Coen turning the Jags around instantly.
And of course, Kyle Shanahan is there. Because even when injuries decimate his roster, he finds a way to win 12 games. At this point, I’m pretty sure Shanahan could coach a team of accountants to a Wild Card spot.
The Verdict?
We’ll find out who takes home the hardware on February 5 at the NFL Honors ceremony. Until then, get your arguments ready. Whether you think McCaffrey or Stafford’s renaissance deserves the crown, this NFL MVP race is one for the history books.
