Christian McCaffrey Makes Unprecedented Triple Finalist History for 2025 AP NFL Awards
In a landmark announcement for the 2025 NFL season, Christian McCaffrey has etched his name into the record books by becoming the first player ever to be named a finalist for three separate Associated Press NFL awards in a single year. The San Francisco 49ers' dynamic All-Purpose All-Pro joins an elite group of quarterbacks—Josh Allen, Trevor Lawrence, Drake Maye, and Matthew Stafford—as finalists for the prestigious AP Most Valuable Player award.
McCaffrey's Historic Triple Nomination and the Elite MVP Contenders
The Associated Press revealed the finalists for its eight major NFL awards on Thursday, 22 January 2026, with voting conducted by a nationwide panel of 50 media members who cover the league regularly. Votes were tabulated by the accounting firm Lutz and Carr before the playoffs commenced, using a points system where first-place votes are worth 10 points, and second through fifth place are worth 5, 3, 2, and 1 point respectively.
McCaffrey's historic achievement sees him also nominated for Offensive Player of the Year alongside Drake Maye, and for Comeback Player of the Year alongside Trevor Lawrence. This triple recognition underscores his phenomenal season, where he ran for 1,202 yards and 10 touchdowns while catching 102 passes for 924 yards and seven touchdowns, playing a pivotal role in guiding an injury-depleted 49ers squad to 12 wins.
Detailed Breakdown of the 2025 AP NFL MVP Finalists
The MVP race features a stellar lineup of quarterbacks and one exceptional running back. Josh Allen, the reigning MVP, threw for 3,668 yards with 25 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, achieving a 102.2 passer rating and leading the Buffalo Bills to a seventh consecutive playoff appearance, though they were eliminated in the divisional round by Denver.
Trevor Lawrence propelled the Jacksonville Jaguars to 13 wins and the AFC South title, amassing 4,007 passing yards with 29 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, before a wild-card round exit to the Bills. Drake Maye led the New England Patriots to an AFC East championship and an appearance in the AFC title game, topping the NFL with a 113.5 passer rating and 72% completion percentage, alongside 4,394 passing yards, 31 touchdowns, and only eight interceptions.
Matthew Stafford, in a career-best season, led the league with 4,707 passing yards and 46 touchdowns, throwing just eight picks and earning first-team All-Pro honours for the first time in his 17-year career, finishing with a 109.2 passer rating.
Comprehensive Look at the Other AP NFL Award Categories
Coach of the Year finalists include Liam Coen of the Jaguars, who orchestrated a nine-win turnaround to a 13-4 record; Ben Johnson of the Chicago Bears, who secured their first NFC North title in seven seasons with an 11-5 record; Mike Macdonald of the Seattle Seahawks, who led the team to a 14-3 record and the NFC's top seed; Kyle Shanahan of the 49ers, who managed 12 wins despite significant injuries; and Mike Vrabel of the Patriots, who achieved a 10-win improvement in his first season.
Assistant Coach of the Year nominees are Vic Fangio (Eagles), Brian Flores (Vikings), Vance Joseph (Broncos), Klint Kubiak (Seahawks), and Josh McDaniels (Patriots).
Comeback Player of the Year finalists, besides McCaffrey and Lawrence, are Stefon Diggs (Patriots), Aidan Hutchinson (Lions), and Dak Prescott (Cowboys).
Defensive Player of the Year contenders feature All-Pro edge rushers Will Anderson Jr. (Texans) with 12 sacks, Nik Bonitto (Broncos) with 14 sacks, Myles Garrett (Browns) who set a single-season record with 23 sacks, Aidan Hutchinson (Lions) with 14.5 sacks, and Micah Parsons (Packers) with 12.5 sacks before an ACL injury.
Offensive Player of the Year finalists include Puka Nacua and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, both unanimous All-Pro selections, alongside Bijan Robinson, Drake Maye, and Christian McCaffrey. Nacua led the NFL with 129 catches for 1,715 yards, while Smith-Njigba topped the league with 1,793 receiving yards. Robinson led in scrimmage yards with 2,298.
Defensive Rookie of the Year nominees are Abdul Carter (Giants), Nick Emmanwori (Seahawks), James Pearce Jr. (Falcons), Carson Schwesinger (Browns), and Xavier Watts (Falcons).
Offensive Rookie of the Year finalists comprise Jaxson Dart (Giants), Emeka Egbuka (Buccaneers), TreVeyon Henderson (Patriots), Tetairoa McMillan (Panthers), and Tyler Shough (Saints).
The winners across all categories will be officially unveiled at the "NFL Honors" ceremony scheduled for February 5, 2026, marking a celebratory culmination to the 2025 NFL season.
