Stafford Wins PFWA NFL MVP; Smith-Njigba, Garrett Earn Top Honors
Matthew Stafford, quarterback for the Los Angeles Rams, has been named the 2025 NFL Most Valuable Player by the Professional Football Writers of America (PFWA). This marks Stafford’s first MVP award, making him the 52nd player to receive this honor.
Key Achievements of Matthew Stafford
Stafford’s remarkable season included:
- Leading the NFL in passing yards with 4,707.
- Completing 388 passes out of 597 attempts for a completion rate of 65%.
- Throwing a record 46 touchdown passes, the highest in the league.
- Only eight interceptions, giving him a 5.1 touchdown-to-interception ratio.
- Achieving a passer rating of 109.2, second best in the NFL.
In his 17th season, Stafford started all 17 games, setting the franchise record for touchdown passes in a three-game span, with 12. His performance included nine games with three or more passing touchdowns without an interception, which ranks second in NFL single-season history.
Franchise Milestones
This is the Rams’ fourth PFWA MVP award, placing the franchise among the top teams historically, alongside the Baltimore Ravens, the Colts, and the 49ers, behind the Green Bay Packers with seven MVPs.
Offensive Player of the Year: Jaxon Smith-Njigba
Jaxon Smith-Njigba of the Seattle Seahawks has been named the Offensive Player of the Year for 2025. It is noteworthy that he is only the second Seahawk to achieve this distinction, following Shaun Alexander in 2005.
- In his third NFL season, Smith-Njigba recorded 119 receptions for 1,793 yards.
- His average of 15.1 yards per reception included 10 touchdowns.
- This performance makes him the fourth player aged 23 or younger to exceed 1,500 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns in a season.
Statistical Highlights
Smith-Njigba’s season was highlighted by:
- Setting a franchise record with nine games of 100 or more receiving yards.
- Scoring touchdowns in eight games.
- Receiving the NFC Offensive Player of the Month award for October.
Defensive Player of the Year: Myles Garrett
Myles Garrett of the Cleveland Browns has been honored as the Defensive Player of the Year for the second time, previously winning the award in 2023. In a standout season, Garrett set a new NFL record with 23 sacks, surpassing Michael Strahan’s previous record of 22.5 from 2001.
Defensive Accolades
Garrett’s stats for the season include:
- 165 sack yards lost, leading the league.
- 33 tackles for loss, ranking second-most in a season since 2000.
- A record 14 sacks over a five-game stretch.
Garrett also made significant contributions to the team with 60 total tackles, 39 quarterback hits, and four forced fumbles.
Conclusion
As of 2025, the NFL landscape has recognized the exceptional talents of Matthew Stafford, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Myles Garrett for their outstanding performances. These awards highlight their significant impact on their teams and the league as a whole.
