Stafford PFWA NFL MVP; Smith-Njigba Offensive Player of the Year; Garrett Defensive Player of the Year
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, who led the NFL in passing yards and touchdowns, is the 2025 NFL Most Valuable Player chosen in voting conducted by the Professional Football Writers of America (PFWA).
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who led the NFL in receiving yards, is the league’s Offensive Player of the Year.
Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett, who set the NFL record for most sacks in a single season, is the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year.
Stafford, the 52nd MVP honored by the PFWA, wins the award for the first time. He is the 13th consecutive quarterback selected MVP by the PFWA and the 36th QB to win the award overall. This the Rams’ fourth PFWA MVP award (QB Kurt Warner 1999, RB Marshall Faulk 2000-01) – which ties the franchise with the Baltimore Ravens, the Indianapolis/Baltimore Colts and San Francisco 49ers for the second-most MVP awards for a franchise behind Green Bay Packers’ seven.
Stafford, in his 17th NFL season, started all 17 games, completed 388 of 597 passes (65 percent) for 4,707 yards (first in the NFL), 7.9 yards per attempt, a franchise-record 46 touchdowns (most in the league), only eight interceptions, a 5.1 TD/INT ratio and a 109.2 passer rating (second in the NFL). He also led the NFL in passing first downs (236). He posted nine games with three or more passing TDs with no interceptions – second in NFL single-season history behind only Aaron Rodgers’ 10 in 2020. In Week 10, Stafford set a Rams franchise record for the most touchdown passes in a three-game span (12). Over the same stretch, he became the first quarterback in NFL history to throw for four or more touchdowns and no interceptions in three consecutive regular-season games. In Week 13, Stafford broke Tom Brady’s record for the most consecutive TDs thrown without an interception (28) in NFL history since 1978. In that same period, Stafford threw 317 pass attempts without an interception, the longest streak of his career. Stafford surpassed 60,000 yards in career passing yards in Week 1, and he tied Matt Ryan as the second-fastest to reach the mark. He was the NFC Offensive Player of the Month in both November and December/January and the NFC Offensive Player of the Week for Week 18.
Smith-Njigba, in his third NFL season, is the second Seahawks player to earn the PFWA’s Offensive Player of the Year award, joining RB Shaun Alexander (2005) and only the third wide receiver to win the award since it was instituted in 1992 (Cooper Kupp in 2021 and Justin Jefferson in 2022).
Smith-Nijgba started all 17 games, and he caught 119 passes for a league-leading 1,793 yards (eighth-most in NFL single-season history), a 15.1 yards per reception average and 10 touchdowns (sixth in the NFL) for the Seahawks. His 13 games of 90 or more receiving yards are the most in a season in NFL history by a player 23 years of age or younger, and fourth overall. He also became the fourth player age 23 or younger with at least 1,500 reception yards and 10 touchdowns in a season. He posted nine games with 100 or more reception yards, the most in the league, and a franchise record. Smith-Njigba caught at least two passes in every game, and he scored a receiving TD in eight games. He also had seven carries for 62 yards. Smith-Njigba was the NFC Offensive Player of the Month for October. He was selected to the PFWA’s 2025 All-NFL and All-NFC teams.
Garrett, in his ninth season, is the PFWA’s Defensive Player of the Year for the second time (2023, 2025), and he has both Browns’ honors in this category since the award was instituted in 1992. He is the 14th defensive end to earn the PFWA Defensive Player of the Year honor.
Garrett started all 17 games, and he set the NFL’s single-season sack record with 23, breaking the mark set by Michael Strahan in 2001 (22.5). His 23 sacks resulted in 165 sack yards lost, and he led the NFL in tackles for loss with 33 – the second-most in a season in the NFL since 2000. His 14 sacks over a five-game period were the most ever posted by an NFL player. Garrett was credited for a least one-half sack in 12 games – including nine consecutive games at one point, and he contributed a tackle for loss in 13 of 17 games. Garrett had 60 total tackles (43 solo), posted 39 quarterback hits and he also forced four fumbles. He was the AFC Defensive Player of the Month for November and the AFC Defensive Player of the Week for Week 12. Garrett was selected to the PFWA’s 2025 All-NFL and All-AFC teams. His six consecutive PFWA All-NFL honors at defensive end ties him with Pro Football Hall of Famer Reggie White (1987-92) for the most consecutive first-team honors at that position in PFWA award history.
2025 MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: QB Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams
2025 OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks
2025 DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: DE Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns
PFWA NFL MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: 1966 – Bart Starr, Green Bay Packers; 1967-74 – no selections; 1975 – QB Fran Tarkenton, Minnesota Vikings; 1976 – QB Bert Jones, Baltimore Colts; 1977 – RB Walter Payton, Chicago Bears; 1978 – RB Earl Campbell, Houston Oilers; 1979 – RB Earl Campbell, Houston Oilers; 1980 – QB Brian Sipe, Cleveland Browns; 1981 – QB Ken Anderson, Cincinnati Bengals; 1982 – QB Dan Fouts, San Diego Chargers; 1983 – QB Joe Theismann, Washington Redskins; 1984 – QB Dan Marino, Miami Dolphins; 1985 – RB Marcus Allen, Los Angeles Raiders; 1986 – LB Lawrence Taylor, New York Giants; 1987 – WR Jerry Rice, San Francisco 49ers; 1988 – QB Boomer Esiason, Cincinnati Bengals; 1989 – QB Joe Montana, San Francisco 49ers; 1990 – QB Randall Cunningham, Philadelphia Eagles; 1991 – RB Thurman Thomas, Buffalo Bills; 1992 – QB Steve Young, San Francisco 49ers; 1993 – RB Emmitt Smith, Dallas Cowboys; 1994 – QB Steve Young, San Francisco 49ers; 1995 – QB Brett Favre, Green Bay Packers; 1996 – QB Brett Favre, Green Bay Packers; 1997 – RB Barry Sanders, Detroit Lions; 1998 – RB Terrell Davis, Denver Broncos; 1999 – QB Kurt Warner, St. Louis Rams; 2000 – RB Marshall Faulk, St. Louis Rams; 2001 – RB Marshall Faulk, St. Louis Rams; 2002 – QB Rich Gannon, Oakland Raiders; 2003 – RB Jamal Lewis, Baltimore Ravens; 2004 – QB Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts; 2005 – RB Shaun Alexander, Seattle Seahawks; 2006 – RB LaDainian Tomlinson, San Diego Chargers; 2007 – QB Tom Brady, New England Patriots; 2008 – QB Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts; 2009 – QB Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts; 2010 – QB Tom Brady, New England Patriots; 2011 – QB Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers; 2012 – RB Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings; 2013 – QB Peyton Manning, Denver Broncos; 2014 – QB Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers; 2015 – QB Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers; 2016 – QB Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons; 2017 – QB Tom Brady, New England Patriots; 2018 – QB Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs; 2019 – QB Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens; 2020 – QB Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers; 2021 – QB Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers; 2022 – QB Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs; 2023 – QB Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens; 2024 – QB Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens; 2025 – QB Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams.
PFWA OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: 1992 — QB Steve Young, San Francisco 49ers; 1993 — RB Emmitt Smith, Dallas Cowboys; 1994 — QB Steve Young, San Francisco 49ers; 1995 — QB Brett Favre, Green Bay Packers; 1996 — QB Brett Favre, Green Bay Packers; 1997 — RB Barry Sanders, Detroit Lions; 1998 — RB Barry Sanders, Detroit Lions; 1999 — QB Kurt Warner, St. Louis Rams; 2000 — RB Marshall Faulk, St. Louis Rams; 2001 — RB Marshall Faulk, St. Louis Rams; 2002 — QB Rich Gannon, Oakland Raiders; 2003 — RB Jamal Lewis, Baltimore Ravens; 2004 — QB Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts; 2005 — RB Shaun Alexander, Seattle Seahawks; 2006 — RB LaDainian Tomlinson, San Diego Chargers; 2007 — QB Tom Brady, New England Patriots; 2008 — QB Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts; 2009 — QB Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts; 2010 — QB Tom Brady, New England Patriots; 2011 — QB Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers; 2012 — RB Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings; 2013 — QB Peyton Manning, Denver Broncos; 2014 — RB DeMarco Murray, Dallas Cowboys; 2015 — QB Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers; 2016 — QB Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons; 2017 — RB Todd Gurley, Los Angeles Rams; 2018 — QB Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs; 2019 — QB Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens; 2020 — RB Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans; 2021 – WR Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams; 2022 – WR Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings; 2023 – RB Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers; 2024 – RB Saquon Barkley, Philadelphia Eagles; 2025 – WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks.
PFWA DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: 1992 — DT Cortez Kennedy, Seattle Seahawks; 1993 — DE Bruce Smith, Buffalo Bills; 1994 — CB Deion Sanders, San Francisco 49ers; 1995 — LB Bryce Paup, Buffalo Bills; 1996 — DE Bruce Smith, Buffalo Bills; 1997 — DT Dana Stubblefield, San Francisco 49ers; 1998 — DE Reggie White, Green Bay Packers; 1999 — DT Warren Sapp, Tampa Bay Buccaneers; 2000 — LB Ray Lewis, Baltimore Ravens; 2001 — DE Michael Strahan, New York Giants; 2002 — LB Derrick Brooks, Tampa Bay Buccaneers; 2003 — LB Ray Lewis, Baltimore Ravens; 2004 — S Ed Reed, Baltimore Ravens; 2005 — LB Brian Urlacher, Chicago Bears; 2006 — DE Jason Taylor, Miami Dolphins; 2007 — S Bob Sanders, Indianapolis Colts; 2008 — LB James Harrison, Pittsburgh Steelers; 2009 — CB Charles Woodson, Green Bay Packers; 2010 — LB Clay Matthews, Green Bay Packers; 2011 — LB Terrell Suggs, Baltimore Ravens; 2012 — DE J.J. Watt, Houston Texans; 2013 — DE Robert Quinn, St. Louis Rams; 2014 — DE J.J. Watt, Houston Texans; 2015 — DE J.J. Watt, Houston Texans; 2016 — DE Khalil Mack, Oakland Raiders; 2017 — DE Calais Campbell, Jacksonville Jaguars; 2018 — DT Aaron Donald, Los Angeles Rams; 2019 — CB Stephon Gilmore, New England Patriots; 2020 — DT Aaron Donald, Los Angeles Rams; 2021 – LB T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh Steelers; 2022 – DE Nick Bosa, San Francisco 49ers; 2023 – DE Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns; 2024 – CB Patrick Surtain II, Denver Broncos; 2025 – DE Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns.
