NFL Awards Finalists Revealed Stafford Maye Lead MVP Race

The NFL world is buzzing with anticipation as the league announced its finalists for the 2025 season's eight major awards on January 22, 2026. With the NFL Honors ceremony set for February 5 at San Francisco's Palace of Fine Arts, football fans everywhere are eagerly dissecting the lists, speculating on winners, and celebrating the remarkable achievements of the league's brightest stars. The event, hosted by Jon Hamm and airing at 9 p.m. ET on NBC, promises to set the stage for Super Bowl 60 weekend with a showcase of excellence, resilience, and breakthrough performances.

Headlining this year’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) race are quarterbacks Matthew Stafford of the Los Angeles Rams and Drake Maye of the New England Patriots. At 37, Stafford is the seasoned veteran, leading the league with a staggering 4,707 passing yards and 46 touchdowns, numbers that have put him at the forefront of the conversation. Meanwhile, 23-year-old Maye, in just his first full season as the Patriots' starter, set a franchise record with a 72 percent completion rate and helped guide New England to a 14-3 record and their first AFC East title since 2019. Maye's poise, decision-making, and dual-threat ability have turned heads all year, making this a true generational showdown.

But the MVP conversation isn’t a two-man show. Trevor Lawrence of the Jacksonville Jaguars, Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills, and Christian McCaffrey of the San Francisco 49ers round out the list of finalists. Lawrence, in particular, has been a revelation—bouncing back from a 2024 season marred by injury to lead the Jaguars to a 13-4 record and an AFC South division title. His 4,007 passing yards and 29 touchdowns put him sixth and fifth in the league, respectively, while his leadership sparked a dramatic turnaround for a franchise that finished 4-13 just a year ago.

Christian McCaffrey’s name appears in three categories—MVP, Comeback Player of the Year, and Offensive Player of the Year—a testament to his remarkable versatility and resilience. After an Achilles injury sidelined him for most of the previous season, McCaffrey returned in 2025 to rush for 1,202 yards, add 924 receiving yards, and score 17 total touchdowns. According to the Associated Press, "McCaffrey bounced back with a 2025 season that saw him rush for 1,202 yards while also adding 924 receiving yards." His impact on the 49ers’ offense has been nothing short of electrifying.

The Coach of the Year race is another hotly contested field, featuring five finalists who each engineered dramatic turnarounds or sustained excellence. Mike Vrabel, in his first season at the helm of the Patriots, guided the team to a 14-3 record and orchestrated a 10-game win streak. Ben Johnson took the Chicago Bears from a 5-12 finish to an NFC North title, while Mike Macdonald’s leadership delivered the Seattle Seahawks the NFC’s top seed after missing the playoffs in 2024. Liam Coen, also in his first year with the Jaguars, oversaw a nine-win improvement and the franchise’s fifth division title. Kyle Shanahan, a familiar name in these conversations, kept the 49ers among the league's elite. As CBS Sports noted, "Vrabel feels like the slight favorite, but it wouldn't be surprising if one of the other two guys won."

On the assistant coaching front, Josh McDaniels returned to New England and helped turn Drake Maye into an MVP candidate, while Klint Kubiak’s offensive creativity kept the Seahawks’ attack humming. Vic Fangio, Brian Flores, and Vance Joseph round out a group that collectively represents the league’s best minds on both sides of the ball.

The Comeback Player of the Year category is loaded with compelling stories. Stefon Diggs re-established himself as one of the NFL’s most reliable receivers after offseason ACL surgery, tallying 85 catches for 1,013 yards and serving as a critical outlet for Maye. Dak Prescott (Dallas Cowboys), Aidan Hutchinson (Detroit Lions), and Trevor Lawrence all made significant returns from injury, while McCaffrey’s aforementioned resurgence makes him a favorite in this field as well.

Offensive Player of the Year finalists include Maye, McCaffrey, Puka Nacua (Los Angeles Rams), Bijan Robinson (Atlanta Falcons), and Jaxon Smith-Njigba (Seattle Seahawks). Smith-Njigba set a Seahawks franchise record with 1,793 receiving yards, leading the NFL in that category—a performance that, according to CBS Sports, "would be a minor surprise if JSN didn't take home the award." Nacua and Robinson each provided highlight-reel moments and consistent production, ensuring the race is far from decided.

Defensively, Myles Garrett of the Cleveland Browns made history by setting an NFL record with 23 sacks in a single season. He’s joined by Will Anderson Jr. (Houston Texans), Nik Bonitto (Denver Broncos), Aidan Hutchinson, and Micah Parsons (Green Bay Packers) in the Defensive Player of the Year category. Garrett’s dominance up front has been a game-changer, and many see him as the clear favorite for the honor.

The rookies have made their presence felt as well. On offense, TreVeyon Henderson of the Patriots delivered a dynamic debut with 911 rushing yards, nine touchdowns, and a 5.1 yards-per-carry average. Tyler Shough (New Orleans Saints), Jaxon Dart (New York Giants), Emeka Egbuka (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), and Tetairoa McMillan (Carolina Panthers) each made strong cases for Offensive Rookie of the Year, with McMillan leading all rookie receivers in yards and touchdowns.

Defensive Rookie of the Year finalists include Abdul Carter (New York Giants), Nick Emmanwori (Seattle Seahawks), James Pearce Jr. (Atlanta Falcons), Carson Schwesinger (Cleveland Browns), and Xavier Watts (Atlanta Falcons). Schwesinger, in particular, led all rookies in tackles and tackles for loss, making him a standout in a crowded field.

The 2026 NFL Honors will also see the induction of the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s class of 2026, adding another layer of excitement to an already packed evening. With voting for all awards completed at the end of the regular season—postseason heroics won’t tip the scales—the suspense is building as players, coaches, and fans alike await the final verdicts.

As the NFL Honors ceremony approaches, the spotlight shines brightly on those who defined the 2025 season. Whether it's a battle of MVP quarterbacks, coaches who engineered stunning turnarounds, or rookies who burst onto the scene, the league’s annual awards promise drama, celebration, and perhaps a few surprises. The countdown is on, and soon, the football world will know which stars will take home the hardware for their unforgettable campaigns.