The NFL and The Associated Press just dropped big news. They named the finalists for the top awards from the 2025 season. These honors celebrate the best players, coaches, and rookies who made the year unforgettable. Fans can't wait to see who wins.

The winners will get their trophies at NFL Honors presented by Invisalign. This is the league's fancy primetime show. It happens on Thursday, February 5, at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco. The show starts at 9 p.m. ET (that's 8 p.m. CT) on NBC and NFL Network. You can stream it on Peacock and NFL+. Before the main event, there's a Red Carpet Show at 8 p.m. ET on NFL Network. Note that local blackout rules might apply, and it won't air live everywhere.

Actor Jon Hamm will host the night. It's produced by NFL Network and Rock Garden Media. Expect extra thrills too: the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award (presented by Nationwide), the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026 announcement (presented by Novartis), and a brand-new Protector of the Year award for the top offensive lineman of 2025.

As the NFL's Official Timepiece Partner, Breitling will give custom watches to winners. There are special ones for the eight AP award winners, the Protector of the Year, the Walter Payton winner, and an extra-fancy piece just for the MVP. These watches mark career highs and keep the legacy going strong.

Now, let's take a look at the full list of finalists. It's packed with stars from teams across the league.

AP Most Valuable Player (MVP) presented by Invisalign

This is the biggest award. It goes to the player who meant the most to their team.

• Josh Allen, QB, Buffalo Bills
• Trevor Lawrence, QB, Jacksonville Jaguars
• Drake Maye, QB, New England Patriots
• Christian McCaffrey, RB, San Francisco 49ers
• Matthew Stafford, QB, Los Angeles Rams

These guys led their teams with big plays, smart decisions, and clutch moments all season.

AP Coach of the Year

Great coaches turn good teams into winners. Here's who made the cut.

• Liam Coen, Jacksonville Jaguars
• Ben Johnson, Chicago Bears
• Mike Macdonald, Seattle Seahawks
• Kyle Shanahan, San Francisco 49ers
• Mike Vrabel, New England Patriots

AP Assistant Coach of the Year

The top helpers behind the scenes who changed games.

• Vic Fangio, Philadelphia Eagles
• Brian Flores, Minnesota Vikings
• Vance Joseph, Denver Broncos
• Klint Kubiak, Seattle Seahawks
• Josh McDaniels, New England Patriots

AP Comeback Player of the Year

For players who bounced back stronger after tough times.

• Stefon Diggs, WR, New England Patriots
• Aidan Hutchinson, DE, Detroit Lions
• Trevor Lawrence, QB, Jacksonville Jaguars
• Christian McCaffrey, RB, San Francisco 49ers
• Dak Prescott, QB, Dallas Cowboys

AP Defensive Player of the Year presented by TCL

The sack kings and turnover machines who shut down offenses.

• Will Anderson Jr., DE, Houston Texans
• Nik Bonitto, LB, Denver Broncos
• Myles Garrett, DE, Cleveland Browns
• Aidan Hutchinson, DE, Detroit Lions
• Micah Parsons, DL, Green Bay Packers

AP Offensive Player of the Year presented by Microsoft Copilot

The scorers and yard-gainers who lit up scoreboards.

• Drake Maye, QB, New England Patriots
• Christian McCaffrey, RB, San Francisco 49ers
• Puka Nacua, WR, Los Angeles Rams
• Bijan Robinson, RB, Atlanta Falcons
• Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Seattle Seahawks

AP Defensive Rookie of the Year presented by EA SPORTS Madden NFL

Newcomers who terrified opponents on defense right away.

• Abdul Carter, LB, New York Giants
• Nick Emmanwori, S, Seattle Seahawks
• James Pearce Jr., DE, Atlanta Falcons
• Carson Schwesinger, LB, Cleveland Browns
• Xavier Watts, S, Atlanta Falcons

AP Offensive Rookie of the Year presented by EA SPORTS Madden NFL

Fresh faces who exploded on offense as pros.

• Jaxson Dart, QB, New York Giants
• Emeka Egbuka, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• TreVeyon Henderson, RB, New England Patriots
• Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Carolina Panthers
• Tyler Shough, QB, New Orleans Saints

Notice some names pop up a lot, like Drake Maye and Christian McCaffrey. Teams like the New England Patriots, San Francisco 49ers, and Jacksonville Jaguars have multiple shots at glory. That shows how deep their talent runs.

Josh Allen's Buffalo heroics, Trevor Lawrence's Jaguar surge, Drake Maye's Patriot magic, Christian McCaffrey's 49er grind, and Stafford's Ram revival headline the MVP finalists, while Coach battles, comeback kings like Diggs and Prescott, defensive monsters (Parsons, Hutchinson), and rookie stars ignite Super Bowl odds chaos, trade whispers, playoff paths, and fantasy shakeups in this epic season.

Bankroll U delivers expert insights, weekly breakdowns, and in-depth commentary, and our playmakers consider awards, prop bets, and sharp edges on MVPs, rookies, and honors winners. Cut through the noise on legacies and build your bankroll with Bankroll U.

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