NFL 2025: AP Comeback Player of the Year Favorite

The NFL and The Associated Press have announced the finalists for their annual accolades for the 2025 NFL season.

Award winners will be announced at NFL Honors presented by Invisalign, an Align Technology brand, on Thursday, Feb. 5 at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco. NFL Honors, the league’s primetime awards special, will air at 9 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. CT on NBC and NFL Network, with streaming available on Peacock and NFL+.

The full list of annual awards include AP Most Valuable Player, Coach of the Year, Assistant Coach of the Year, Comeback Player of the Year, Defensive and Offensive Rookies of the Year, and Defensive and Offensive Players of the Year.

Below is my best pick for the Comeback Player of the Year award.

Comeback Player of the Year Pick

Christian McCaffrey (San Francisco 49ers) McCaffrey is heavily favored at -550 to -925. After missing significant time with major injury (Achilles), he returned to elite form with 2,000+ all-purpose yards and 20+ TDs, powering the 49ers’ ground game. This award almost always goes to high-profile stars who bounce back dramatically from serious setbacks—his production, star power, and narrative fit perfectly, distancing him from Trevor Lawrence or others.

Nominees

Stefon Diggs, WR, New England Patriots

Aidan Hutchinson, DE, Detroit Lions

Trevor Lawrence, QB, Jacksonville Jaguars

Christian McCaffrey, RB, San Francisco 49ers

Dak Prescott, QB, Dallas Cowboys

NFL Honors, hosted by Jon Hamm, will also feature the announcement of the prestigious Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year presented by Nationwide, the newest Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026 Announcement presented by Novartis and the new Protector of the Year Award to honor the league’s best offensive lineman in 2025.

As the Official Timepiece Partner of the NFL, Breitling will unveil custom NFL Honors watches for the eight AP Award recipients, as well as the Protector of the Year and the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year presented by Nationwide, with a special timepiece created exclusively for the MVP presented by Invisalign. Crafted for moments that define careers and designed to carry legacy forward, each watch stands as a lasting mark of achievement.

NFL Honors is an NFL Network production in association with Rock Garden Media. For more information about NFL Honors presented by Invisalign, fans may visit www.nfl.com/honors and follow the #NFLHonors conversation on X. 

NBC, Peacock, Telemundo and Universo will present Super Bowl LX on Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026.