Angelica Ciulla •December 19, 2025 3:00 9M EDT

Angelica Ciulla • December 19, 2025 3:00 PM EDT Who will be crowned on NFL Honor Award Night?

2025 NFL Honors Predictions

   As the 2025 NFL regular season comes to a close, we recognize the brightest talents during the NFL Honors. From every snap, hit, and defining moment in the 2025-2026 season, these individuals laid it all out on the line and stood out among the rest. Here are my predictions for the NFL Honor Award Winners.

Most Valuable Player Winner: Matthew Stafford

Matthew Stafford has produced a season that calls for MVP recognition. The veteran quarterback has been an excellent pocket passer, displaying his precision and accuracy. Stafford’s ability to read defensive strategies, combined with his quick decision-making skills, has led the Rams to be one of the best offenses in the NFL. Matthew Stafford is currently leading the league in NFL touchdown passes, earning a 112.2 passer rating. He has completed 66.4% of his throws and is on pace for 4,000+ passing yards this season. Stafford has been extremely reliable in big moments, making him an MVP-caliber quarterback.

Honorable Mentions:

Drake Maye

Jonathan Taylor

Josh Allen

Jordan Love

Offensive Player of the Year Winner: Jonathan Taylor

Jonathan Taylor has reasserted himself as a dominant running back in the NFL this season. He leads the league in rushing yards, averaging 5.3 yards per carry, and has found the end zone 16 times so far this season. What makes Jonathan Taylor worthy of Offensive Player of the Year is his ability to take over games against even the toughest defenses.  Taylor has produced some of the most explosive run plays and dominates in late-game situations, making him the powerhouse of this offense. Jonathan Taylor has had a record-breaking season and is a key element to the Colts’ offense. 

Honorable Mentions:

Jaxon Smith-Njigba

James Cook

Defensive Player of the Year Winner: Myles Garrett

Myles Garrett has once again put together a historic season. Already a 2x DPOY award winner, Garrett is on track to get his third. He leads the NFL in sacks by a wide margin and sits one sack away from tying the NFL single-season sack record (two from breaking it). Garrett has an intense ability to generate pressure and collapse pockets. He plays a huge role in the Browns’ defense and has proven time and time again that there is no defensive player quite like him.

Honorable Mentions:

Nik Bonitto

TJ Watt

Offensive Rookie of the Year Winner: Emeka Egbuka

Emeka Egbuka has emerged as one of the league’s newest playmakers. Egbuka leads the league in rookie receiving yards this season, averaging 15 yards per catch while consistently producing at a high level.  He has an incredible ability to manipulate defenses by creating separation. He has already had a significant impact on the Buccaneers’ offense and is a threat to look out for in upcoming seasons.

Honorable Mentions:

Tyler Warren

Ashton Jeanty

Jaxson Dart

Tetairoa McMillan

Defensive Rookie of the Year Winner: Abdul Carter

Abdul Carter’s rookie season had a rough start; since then, he has emerged as a game-changing defender for the Giants. Carter leads all rookies in pass-rush pressure and earned himself an 80.4 rush grade. His ability to impact the game in rushing and passing coverage has drawn comparisons to Micah Parsons. He has been dynamic and has shown both versatility and explosiveness on the Giants’ defense. Carter has generated 38 tackles so far this season, making him a huge threat on the field.

Honorable Mentions:

Carson Schwesinger

Nick Emmanwori

Comeback Player of the Year Winner: Daniel Jones

I’m not sure about you, but I never would have thought that Daniel Jones could lead the Colts all the way to a playoff appearance. Daniel Jones was labeled as an injury-prone quarterback when he played for the New York Giants. He has since flipped his career around with a 68% completion percentage, 19 touchdowns, and only 8 interceptions this season. Jones flourishes in play action and thrives against zone coverage, displaying skills he didn’t attain early in his career. This season has been a career revival for Daniel Jones.

Honorable Mentions:

Dak Prescott

Stefon Diggs

Christian McCaffrey

Protector of the Year Winner: Jordan Mailata, LT

Jordan Mailata has quickly ascended into the upper echelon of tackles in the NFL. He currently holds a 90.0 pass block grade and consistently neutralizes edge defenders while creating running lanes for Saquon Barkley. Mailata’s mix of size, power, and athleticism has been crucial in protecting Jalen Hurts. He has made rapid improvements over the years with the Eagles, but his eighth season in the league has been the most notable yet. 

Honorable Mentions:

Trent Williams LT

Penei Sewell RT

Lane Johnson RT

Coach of the Year Winner: Mike Vrabel

Mike Vrabel has completely transformed the Patriots. After being fired from the Tennessee Titans in January 2024, Vrabel has transformed the fourth-worst team in the NFL into the current AFC East leaders. He has found a way to maximize players by rejuvenating seasoned veterans, like Stefon Diggs, and connecting with young talent, such as Drake Maye. Mike Vrabel has even been credited with turning Maye into an MVP candidate. Most importantly, Vrabel has built a strong culture in New England this season, and the results have been speaking for themselves.

Honorable Mentions:

Shane Steichen

Sean Payton

Mike Macdonald

Edited by

Angelica Ciulla

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