Christian McCaffrey is a three-way finalist (MVP, Offensive Player, Comeback), boosting his odds for player awards — punters may back him for Offensive Player and consider an MVP wager. Matthew Stafford and Drake Maye are strong alternatives for passing/Offensive markets, while Trevor Lawrence is a viable comeback bet if voters reward his 13-win turnaround.
McCaffrey Leads a Star-Studded Field of NFL Award Finalists
Overview
Christian McCaffrey became the first player in league history to be a finalist for three major awards in the same season — Most Valuable Player, Offensive Player of the Year and Comeback Player of the Year. Other top contenders for MVP are Josh Allen, Trevor Lawrence, Drake Maye and Matthew Stafford. Winners will be announced at NFL Honors on Feb. 5.
MVP Finalists
Josh Allen
Allen, the reigning MVP, finished with 3,668 passing yards, 25 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, a 102.2 passer rating, plus 14 rushing TDs. He led Buffalo to its seventh straight playoff appearance.
Trevor Lawrence
Lawrence passed for 4,007 yards with 29 TDs and 12 interceptions while guiding Jacksonville to a 13-win season and the AFC South title.
Christian McCaffrey
McCaffrey rushed for 1,202 yards and 10 TDs, and caught 102 passes for 924 yards and seven TDs, playing a pivotal role in a 12-win season despite injuries around him.
Drake Maye
Maye threw for 4,394 yards, 31 TDs and eight interceptions, leading his team to an AFC East title and an AFC championship appearance. He led the NFL in passer rating (113.5) and completion percentage (72%).
Matthew Stafford
Stafford led the league with 4,707 passing yards and 46 TDs against eight picks, earning first-team All-Pro honors for the first time in his 17th season.
Offensive Player of the Year Finalists
Puka Nacua, Bijan Robinson, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Drake Maye and Christian McCaffrey round out the finalists. Nacua led the NFL with 129 catches for 1,715 yards and 10 TDs. Smith-Njigba had 119 catches for a league-leading 1,793 yards and 10 TDs. Robinson totaled 2,298 yards from scrimmage (1,478 rushing, 820 receiving).
Defensive Player of the Year Finalists
Will Anderson Jr. posted 12 sacks and anchored the league’s top-ranked defense. Nik Bonitto had 14 sacks for the Broncos’ second-ranked defense. Myles Garrett set a single-season record with 23 sacks and logged 33 tackles for loss. Aidan Hutchinson compiled 14.5 sacks, and Micah Parsons had 12.5 sacks before a season-ending ACL tear.
Coach and Assistant Coach of the Year Finalists
Coach of the Year
Liam Coen led the Jaguars to a 13-4 mark and a division title in his first season. Ben Johnson guided the Bears to an 11-5 record and an NFC North crown. Mike Macdonald delivered a 14-3 season and the NFC’s No. 1 seed for the Seahawks. Kyle Shanahan overcame significant injuries to reach 12 wins with the 49ers. Mike Vrabel engineered a 10-win turnaround for the Patriots.
Assistant Coach of the Year
Finalists include Vic Fangio (defensive coordinator), Brian Flores (defensive coordinator), Vance Joseph (defensive coordinator), Klint Kubiak (offensive coordinator) and Josh McDaniels (offensive coordinator).
Comeback Player of the Year Finalists
Trevor Lawrence, Christian McCaffrey, Stefon Diggs, Aidan Hutchinson and Dak Prescott are finalists, reflecting strong returns to form and impact on their teams’ success.
Rookie Award Finalists
Defensive Rookie of the Year
Finalists: Abdul Carter, Nick Emmanwori, James Pearce Jr., Carson Schwesinger and Xavier Watts.
Offensive Rookie of the Year
Finalists: Jaxson Dart, Emeka Egbuka, TreVeyon Henderson, Tetairoa McMillan and Tyler Shough.
Voting Process
A nationwide panel of 50 media voters completed balloting before the playoffs. Votes were tabulated by an independent accounting firm. Voters submitted a top-five for each award, with first-place votes worth 10 points, and second through fifth worth 5, 3, 2 and 1 points respectively.
Betting Implications and What Punters Should Know
McCaffrey’s unprecedented three-finalist status strengthens his profile in award markets, particularly Offensive Player and late-MVP wagers.
Stafford and Maye are natural targets for passing- or offensive-focused bets given their statistical leads.
Lawrence makes sense in comeback markets if voters reward team turnaround narratives.
Consider market liquidity and line movement after any public voting disclosures; awards can be swayed by narrative, team success and postseason visibility.
In the NFL, winning seasons and playoff appearances don't always equate to job security
Christian McCaffrey is the first player to be a finalist for three AP NFL awards in the same year, joining Josh Allen, Trevor Lawrence, Drake Maye and Matthew Stafford in the running for The Associated Press 2025 NFL Most Valuable Player award.
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