We used to post our regular-season awards one at a time. This year, we’re trying something different. Mainly because there’s too much other stuff going on.
All awards will be unveiled in one fell swoop. In one comprehensive post.
These aren’t my awards. The Associated Press doesn’t want any of the 50 voters to reveal their winners before the NFL Honors ceremony next month. We don’t need to wait that long to reveal the our own look at the folks who deserve recognition based on their performances during the 272-game season that ended four days ago.
So here they are, based on the input of the various PFT writers.
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Panthers receiver Tetairoa McMillan.
The first-rounder finished with 1,017 receiving yards in 17 games for the NFC South champs. If Saints quarterback Tyler Shough had started more than nine games, he may have run away with it.
Also receiving consideration was Buccaneers first-round receiver Emeka Egbuka (938 receiving yards).
In the end, the 1,000-yard season and presence on a playoff team gave McMillan the nod.
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Browns linebacker Carson Schwesinger.
The first pick in round two emerged as the consensus top rookie on the defensive side of the ball, with 16 starts, 156 tackles, two interceptions, and 2.5 sacks.
Others considered were Seahawks defensive back Nick Emmanwori and Falcons linebacker James Pearce Jr.
Comeback Player of the Year: 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey.
Limited to four games in 2024 due to an Achilles injury that delayed his debut and a knee injury that ended his season, McCaffrey returned to full form in 2025. He had 2,126 yards from scrimmage (his third 2,000-yard performance) and came within 76 receiving yards of his second 1,000/1,000 rushing/receiving season.
McCaffrey’s ability to play every game helped keep the 49ers going amid an array of injuries to key players on both sides of the ball, fueling a 12-5 season that ended with a playoff berth.
Also receiving consideration were Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, who had a career-high 14.5 sacks after suffering a broken leg in 2024, and Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, who finished with 4,552 passing yards a year after missing nine games with a serious hamstring injury.
Offensive Player of the Year: Falcons running back Bijan Robinson.
During the 2025 season, now-former Falcons coach Raheem Morris repeatedly called Robinson the best player in the NFL. Robinson led the league with 2,298 yards from scrimmage, and he proved to be a threat to score on any given snap. He had the longest run of the season — a 93-yarder — and 6.3 yards per touch.
Others receiving consideration were McCaffrey, Seahawks receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (league-high 1,793 receiving yards), and Rams receiver Puka Nacua (league-high 129 catches).
Defensive Player of the Year: Browns defensive end Myles Garrett.
This one was the easiest of all. Garrett broke the single-season sack record, with 23.0. He had a four-sack game against the Ravens, and a five-sack performance against the Patriots.
Given that the Browns rarely had a late lead, allowing Garrett to pin the proverbial ears back and chase a quarterback who was passing the ball over and over again, Garrett’s ability to generate so many sacks was even more impressive.
Others receiving consideration were Texans defensive end Will Anderson Jr. (12.0 sacks and the captain of the NFL’s best defense), and Broncos linebacker Nik Bonitto (14.0 sacks).
Assistant Coach of the Year: Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph.
The former Broncos head coach (from 2017-18) was essentially the head coach of the Denver defense, which continues to be among the NFL’s best. With Joseph, the Broncos secured the No. 1 seed in the AFC. That could earn Joseph another shot at a head-coaching job.
Others receiving consideration were Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, Texans defensive coordinator Matt Burke, and Jaguars defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile.
Coach of the Year: Jaguars coach Liam Coen.
This one was the closest call, between the first-year coach who took the Jaguars to the AFC South title (after only one year as Tampa’s offensive coordinator, following one year in 2022 as the Rams’ offensive coordinator) and Mike Vrabel, who immediately returned the Patriots to prominence. New England had an easy schedule (they didn’t pick it), and Vrabel’s track record made the overall turnaround less surprising.
Few expected Coen to take a team that had been 4-13 in 2024 to a division crown. Along the way, Coen sparked an eight-game winning streak after a 1-3 lull to hold off the Texans (who could be the best team in the entire conference) for the division crown.
Others receiving consideration were Bears coach Ben Johnson, Broncos coach Sean Payton, and Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald.
Executive of the Year: Seahawks G.M. John Schneider.
The decision to trade quarterback Geno Smith and pivot to quarterback Sam Darnold was the boldest move the long-time Seattle G.M. made. But Schneider has otherwise put together a roster that is among the best in the league, helping to lay the foundation for a team that won the top seed in the NFC, despite stiff competition in the NFC West.
Others receiving consideration were Jaguars G.M. James Gladstone, Bears G.M. Ryan Poles, and Patriots executive V.P. of player personnel Eliot Wolf.
MVP: Patriots quarterback Drake Maye.
Maye or Stafford? Stafford or Maye?
Anyone can pick a stat and make the case for either Maye or Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford. Stafford had the NFL’s most passing yards, with 4,707, and passing touchdowns, with 46. Maye had the highest average per attempt, with 8.93 (more than a full yard more than Stafford), and the highest passer rating in the league, at 113.5.
Here’s one that helped tip the scale toward Maye: He had an eight-game run with 200 or more passing yards and a passer rating of 100 or higher. Only three players in NFL history had ever done that before — Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, and Peyton Manning. Each won the MVP award when they accomplished that feat. Maye became the youngest to ever do it, at 23.
Stafford likely would have been our MVP, if the Rams hadn’t blown a 16-point lead with 13:34 to play against the Seahawks in Week 16. Five fourth-quarter drives by the Rams after that moment yielded zero points.
That same weekend, Maye engineered a pair of fourth-quarter touchdown drives against the Ravens, turning a 24-13 deficit into a 28-24 win. The first covered 73 yards. The second started at the New England 11.
In those two prime-time games, the Rams lost both the No. 1 seed and the NFC West crown — and the Patriots moved a massive step closer to ending Buffalo’s five-year hammerlock on the AFC East.
Would it have been an easier call if the Patriots had secured the No. 1 seed? Yes. Still, Maye’s statistical achievements coupled with a division title and the No. 2 seed in the AFC (versus the Rams at No. 5) were enough to earn Maye the MVP title in only his second NFL season.
Panthers Clips
The Panthers haven’t taken guard Robert Hunt off of injured reserve yet, but it sounds like there’s a good chance of that happening ahead of Saturday’s game against the Rams.
Head coach Dave Canales said, via the team’s website, that he is “very optimistic” about Hunt playing this weekend. Hunt has been on injured reserve with a biceps injury he suffered in Week 2 and has been practicing with the team the last few weeks.
Hunt is officially listed as questionable. The Panthers also have guard Chandler Zavala listed as questionable as he tries to return from a calf injury that landed him on injured reserve.
Defensive tackle Bobby Brown (concussion), cornerback Robert Rochell (concussion), linebacker Claudin Cherelus (calf, ankle), and defensive tackle Tershawn Wharton (calf) do not have injury designations.
While it’s been the expectation all week, the Rams’ final injury report of the week makes it official: Davante Adams and Quentin Lake will return for Saturday’s game against the Panthers.
Both Adams (hamstring) and Lake (elbow) have been full participants in practice all week.
Adams has been sidelined since the Week 15 victory over the Lions, while Lake suffered his elbow injury in the Week 11 win over the Seahawks.
Both should provide a significant boost for their respective units.
Defensive end Braden Fiske (ankle), tight end Tyler Higbee (ankle) are also off the report and set to play.
Head coach Sean McVay announced earlier on Thursday that right guard Kevin Dotson (ankle) is out. Jordan Whittington (knee) is questionable even though he did not practice all week. Tight end Terrance Ferguson (hamstring) and cornerback Josh Wallace (ankle) were both limited on Thursday and are also questionable.
The Rams will not have one of their key offensive linemen back for Saturday’s matchup against the Panthers.
Via multiple reporters, head coach Sean McVay said in his Thursday press conference that right guard Kevin Dotson is out as he continues to recover from an ankle injury.
Dotson has been out for the last two games, with Justin Dedich starting in his place.
Additionally, McVay noted receiver Jordan Whittington (knee), tight end Terrance Ferguson (hamstring), and cornerback Josh Wallace (ankle) will be questionable for the game. Via Stu Jackson of the team’s website, McVay said that Thursday’s practice will be “a good indicator” of their availability for the contest.
The Rams are expected to have receiver Davante Adams back for the contest after he missed the last few weeks of the season with a hamstring injury. Safety Quentin Lake is also expected to play after being activated off of injured reserve earlier this week.
When it comes to finding his next coaching job, John Harbaugh will attack the day with an enthusiasm unknown to mankind.
Starting next week.
The plan to press pause conflicts with the Harbaugh ethic. It’s a strategy, aimed at one apparent thing: Finding out whether the six games to be played this weekend will lead to more openings.
Multiple reports indicate at least nine teams have expressed interest in Harbaugh. With only six non-Ravens openings, that leaves three teams that currently have coaches. And 14 teams still have games to play.
For more than a few of the playoff teams, there’s no way Harbaugh would be a consideration. The Broncos and Seahawks, obviously, will be standing pat. Ditto for the likes of the Patriots, Chargers (that would be a very awkward phone call), Jaguars, Rams, 49ers, Bears, and Texans.
As to the rest, is it crazy to think the Steelers are thinking about the possibility of Mike Tomlin choosing to exit after 19 years? Sure, the Steelers typically hire coaches in their 30s and keep them for a long time. (Harbaugh, at 63, is four years older than Chuck Noll when he retired in 1991.) But if Tomlin walks, maybe they’d embrace a guy who seems to be more than ready to go for another decade or longer.
Some are suggesting that the Eagles would consider bringing Harbaugh back to Philly, where he spent 10 years before becoming Baltimore’s head coach. That would be beyond stunning, given what Nick Sirianni has accomplished in his first five seasons. There’s still a lingering sense that the Eagles are supremely talented, and that they fail far too often to get the most out of what they have. (It would still be an all-time “oh shit” move.)
In Carolina, is David Tepper (a former Steelers minority owner who knows very well what Harbaugh can do) thinking about an upgrade? Even though the Panthers won the NFC South, they were 8-9. And Dave Canales is 13-21 in two seasons, a winning percentage of 38.2.
Harbaugh, in 18 years, has won 61.4 percent of his games.
The two to watch most closely — and the two teams that folks around the league are indeed watching the most closely — are the Packers and Bills.
In Green Bay, new team president Ed Policy has already made it clear that a decision will be made after the season as to whether Matt LaFleur will get a new contract. Policy also has made it clear that he doesn’t like lame-duck arrangements, and LaFleur is signed only through 2026.
Less than two weeks ago, Policy saw what a Harbaugh-led team can do at Lambeau Field, when the Ravens steamrolled the Packers in a 41-24 win.
In Buffalo, it can be argued that the window has already closed on the Bills, and that the supreme skills and abilities of quarterback Josh Allen have created the impression that it remains open. An early, ugly exit against a Jaguars team that is, frankly, better than the Bills could be the thing that prompts owner Terry Pegula to make a change.
Regardless, the fact that Harbaugh’s agent initially said seven teams called combined with the decision to wait until next week to interview for any of the vacancies creates the inescapable impression that one or more of the teams playing this weekend could be contemplating a potential coaching change. And folks in the know are eyeballing Green Bay and Buffalo.
If nothing else, the Harbaugh factor adds plenty of spice to an already spicy six pack of first-round playoff games. Especially if Packers-Bears or Bills-Jaguars comes down to a 44-yard field goal that is missed.
The Panthers had one player miss Wednesday’s practice. Defensive tackle Derrick Brown, though, isn’t injured. He had a rest day.
Defensive tackle Tershawn Wharton was a full participant a second consecutive day. Wharton has missed the past four games with a hamstring injury but appears on track to return for the postseason.
Wharton started all nine games he played this season and had 36 tackles and two sacks in those appearances.
The other five players on the report also were full participants as the Panthers appear to be at full health heading into Saturday’s game against the Rams.
Defensive tackle Bobby Brown III (concussion), cornerback Robert Rochell (concussion), linebacker Claudin Cherelus (calf/ankle), guard Robert Hunt (biceps) and guard Chandler Zavala (calf) fully participated again.
The Rams’ injury report showed only one change from Tuesday. Cornerback Darious Williams did not practice for personal reasons.
Wide receiver Davante Adams (hamstring) remained a full participant, which bodes well for his availability for Saturday’s game against the Panthers. His practice on Tuesday was the first time he has fully participated since aggravating his hamstring in Week 15. He got limited work last week but missed a third consecutive game.
Adams has 60 receptions for 789 yards and 14 touchdowns this season.
`The Rams listed offensive lineman Kevin Dotson (ankle), wide receiver Jordan Whittington (knee), tight end Terrance Ferguson (hamstring) and cornerback Josh Wallace (ankle) as non-participants again.
Defensive end Braden Fiske (ankle) and tight end Tyler Higbee (ankle) remained limited.
The Panthers’ decision to make wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan their first-round pick this year has paid off handsomely.
McMillan led all rookies in receiving yards during the regular season and his 1,014 yards set a franchise record for rookies. That production led head coach Dave Canales to call McMillan the “focal point” of the team’s offense and has made him the betting favorite to be offensive rookie of the year, but McMillan said on Tuesday that the team’s accomplishments are a bigger deal to him than his personal achievements.
“Shoot, I mean, obviously it’s a blessing,” McMillan said, via Darin Gantt of the team’s website. “But out of all things that we were able to make the playoffs, we got a chance at doing something great in Charlotte that hasn’t been done in a long time. So, I feel like, you know, that, that holds a higher power than me being the leading favorite for the offensive rookie [of the year].”
One of the biggest plays of McMillan’s season was the 43-yard touchdown he caught to beat the Rams in Week 13. Voting for awards is over, so something similar in this Saturday’s rematch between the teams won’t help him secure the rookie prize but it would add another flourish to an already memorable season in Carolina.
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford had thrown only two interceptions all season heading into Week 13 against the Panthers. But in that game Stafford threw two interceptions and also lost a fumble, and he says he’s the reason the Rams lost, 31-28.
As he prepares to face the Panthers in the playoffs on Saturday, Stafford says it’s on him to avoid turning the ball over.
“I’d like not to throw it to their team, I think that was the story of the game,” Stafford said. “We moved the ball well in some areas, scored a couple in the red zone, did some nice things, ran it well and just had the turnovers.”
Stafford said no one should put too much importance on that regular-season game, noting that both teams will have some different players on the field in key areas.
“We’re a little bit of a different team now than we were back then, they’re healthier now than when we played them, so there’s some things that are different from what happened when we played them,” Stafford said.
The most notable Panther who is healthier now is cornerback Jaycee Horn, who missed the game against the Rams with a concussion but played every other game during the regular season and is one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL. Stafford said the Panthers’ defense will be better with Horn on the field.
“It’s adding an All-Pro type player. I think both of their corners are as good as you see in the league,” Stafford said. “As far as back ends go, it’s about as good as we’ve seen all year, and it’ll be a good challenge for us.”
The challenge for Stafford will be keeping the ball out of the Panthers’ hands, and avoiding a second big upset in Carolina.
Panthers executive vice president Brandt Tilis is interviewing for the Falcons’ president of football operations job, Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports.
The Falcons have also requested to interview Lions COO Mike Disner.
The team is expected to offer the newly created position to former Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan.
The Panthers hired Tilis in January 2024 to work with General Manager Dan Morgan on cap and salary negotiations.
He previously spent 14 seasons working in Kansas City, including the final three as vice president of football operations. Tilis also worked as director of football administration (2017-20) and director of salary cap and football operations analytics (2014-16) after originally joining the Chiefs in 2010 as a salary cap/contract analyst.
He was the lead negotiator on Patrick Mahomes’ contract.
The Falcons also are searching for a new General Manager and head coach after firing Terry Fontenot and Raheem Morris earlier this week.
