Panthers’ McMillan Wins Offensive Rookie of the Year Award
At the NFL Honors ceremony, Tetairoa McMillan of the Carolina Panthers received the Offensive Rookie of the Year award. This recognition highlights his outstanding debut season in 2025.
Tetairoa McMillan’s Historic Achievement
McMillan emerged as a standout among five notable finalists. His competition included:
- Jaxson Dart – New York Giants
- Tyler Shough – New Orleans Saints
- Emeka Egbuka – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- TreVeyon Henderson – New England Patriots
This year’s voting results underscore McMillan’s dominance:
| Player | First-place Votes | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Tetairoa McMillan | 41 | 445 |
| Tyler Shough | 5 | 168 |
| TreVeyon Henderson | 1 | 111 |
| Jaxson Dart | 1 | 88 |
| Emeka Egbuka | 0 | 66 |
A Milestone for Non-Quarterbacks
McMillan’s win marks a significant moment in NFL history. He is the first non-quarterback to claim the Offensive Rookie of the Year award since Garrett Wilson achieved the feat in 2022. Furthermore, he is the first player from the Panthers to win this honor since Cam Newton in 2011.
Impressive Rookie Season
Drafted eighth overall, McMillan excelled in his rookie season. He led all rookie wide receivers, amassing:
- 1,014 receiving yards
- 7 touchdown receptions
- 70 total receptions
Although Jaxson Dart and Tyler Shough made strong efforts in the closing weeks of the season, they faced challenges. Dart threw for 24 touchdowns in 12 games, while Shough led his team to five wins in nine starts.
Tetairoa McMillan’s achievement as the Offensive Rookie of the Year highlights his talent and sets a high standard for future NFL rookies.
