Every NFL team’s 2025 MVP — from Packers EDGE Micah Parsons to Bills QB Josh Allen

From MVP favorites leading Super Bowl contenders to lone bright spots on rebuilding rosters, value has taken many forms in the NFL this season. Below, Yardbarker NFL writers identify the MVP for every NFL team, weighing on-field impact, consistency and importance to overall success. 

NFC East

DALLAS COWBOYS (6-7-1) | MVP: QB Dak Prescott | Prescott has done nearly everything possible to keep the team relevant. He has the second-most passing yards in the NFL (3,931) and third-most TD passes (26). Because of him, the Cowboys still have slim playoff hopes. 

NEW YORK GIANTS (2-12) | MVP: OLB Brian Burns | Despite the youth movement getting the most attention in New York, the six-year veteran has been the most consistent player on an otherwise inconsistent team. Burns is second in the league in sacks (13) and fourth in tackles for a loss (18), both career highs. It’s a shame the Giants have wasted a potential All-Pro season from Burns, New York's defensive captain. 

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (9-5) | MVP: CB Cooper DeJean | The second-year cornerback has lived up to the hype from his rookie season. DeJean has the ninth-most passes defended in the league (12) and his role as a slot defender has given the outside corners more room to shut down an opponent's best receivers. 

WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (4-10) | MVP: QB Marcus Mariota  The backup QB hasn’t been the best player in Washington, but he’s been the most valuable considering the circumstances. Mariota has stepped up on a deficient roster in a lost season while second-year QB Jayden Daniels dealt with several injuries. Mariota’s signature performance was in a 27-26 overtime loss to the Denver Broncos, when the 10-year veteran threw for 294 yards and two touchdowns. — Conor Kilmurray

NFC West

ARIZONA CARDINALS (3-11) | MVP: TE Trey McBride | The 2025 season has been a major disappointment for the Cardinals, but McBride is a silver lining. After snagging 12 passes for 134 yards and two TDs in the Week 15 40-20 loss to the Houston Texans, McBride became the first TE in league history with 100 receptions in back-to-back seasons. If he has 12 more catches in the next three games, he will break the NFL record for the most catches by a TE in a season (Zach Ertz, 116 in 2018 for the Eagles).

LOS ANGELES RAMS (11-4) | MVP: QB Matthew Stafford | As the current NFL MVP favorite (-220, per FanDuel as of Dec. 19), Stafford has put together arguably the best season of his career. He leads the NFL in passing yards (4,179) and TD passes (40). Plus, he has only five interceptions. He may have been doubted coming into the season because of back concerns, but Stafford has responded with MVP-level performances on what may be the NFL's best team — despite that loss to Seattle on Thursday night.

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (10-4) | MVP: RB Christian McCaffrey | With McCaffrey's play serving as the catalyst, the 49ers have won four straight to stay in the NFC playoff picture. He has 1,742 total yards, 14 combined TDs and at least 50 receiving yards in 10 of the 14 games. His toughness running the ball has always been on display, but the balance he has provided San Francisco rushing and receiving has been key for this injury-plagued team.

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS  (12-3) | MVP: WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba | Seattle’s second-best defense (18.6 PPG) could easily earn this award, but it is impossible to ignore Smith-Njigba for MVP. He leads the league with 1,637 receiving yards, more than 1,000 ahead of the next-closest receiver on the team, Cooper Kupp (558). He may not break Calvin Johnson’s season receiving yards record (1,964), but his importance to this offense cannot be understated. — Colby Colwell

NFC North

CHICAGO BEARS (10-4) | MVP: Offensive line | As good as QB Caleb Williams, RB D’Andre Swift and the secondary have been, the offensive line is the biggest on-field reason for Chicago’s turnaround. After giving up a league-high 68 sacks and rushing for just four yards per attempt last season, the Bears rank seventh in sacks allowed (23) and fifth in yards per rush (4.8) thanks to their revamped offensive line. The new trio of left guard Joe Thuney, center Drew Dalman and right guard Jonah Jackson has been a godsend for Chicago. 

DETROIT LIONS (8-6) | MVP: RB Jahmyr Gibbs | There are fewer than a handful of running backs in the NFL who can affect the results of games like Gibbs can. The explosive running back ranks second in the league in touchdowns (16) and third in yards per rush (5.5), and he has three games this season with at least 120 scrimmage yards and three touchdowns. The Lions wouldn’t still have a shot at the playoffs without Gibbs. 

GREEN BAY PACKERS (9-4-1) | MVP: EDGE Micah Parsons | There’s a reason why so many NFL experts and pundits crossed Green Bay off their Super Bowl contender list after Parsons suffered a season-ending ACL injury in Week 15. In his first season with the Packers, the star pass-rusher ranks third among all EDGEs in sacks (12.5), total pressures (79) and hurries (51). Green Bay’s ceiling is significantly lower without Parsons’ game-wrecking speed and power off the edge. 

MINNESOTA VIKINGS (6-8) | MVP: LB Eric Wilson | There haven’t been many positives to highlight in Minnesota, but Wilson deserves credit for having his best season as a pro in Year 9. The veteran linebacker has thrived in DC Brian Flores’ blitz-heavy defense, as he is tied for the team lead in sacks (5.5).  — Jack Dougherty

NFC South

ATLANTA FALCONS  (5-9) | MVP: RB Bijan Robinson | He has fallen off the pace of becoming the fourth player in league history with 1,000 rushing yards and 1,000 receiving yards in a season, but Robinson is the most electrifying player on one of the league’s more disappointing teams. Robinson ranks fourth in the league in rushing (1,174 yards) and second among running backs in receiving yards (684).

CAROLINA PANTHERS (7-7) | MVP: RB Rico Dowdle | It’s no coincidence that the Panthers’ season turned around once Dowdle took the lead role in the backfield over Chuba Hubbard. During Carolina’s 1-3 start, Dowdle, a 2025 free-agent addition, played just 35.1 percent of the team’s offensive snaps, and the Panthers ranked No. 26 in rushing (100.3 yards per game) while averaging 3.9 yards per carry. Dowdle has played 64.1 percent of the team’s offensive snaps in the 11 weeks since, and Carolina is No. 10 in rushing (135.7 yards per game), averaging 4.5 yards per attempt. (h/t Stathead)

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS  (4-10) | MVP: LB Demario Davis | Davis, 36, continues to be arguably the league’s most underappreciated player, still contributing at a high level in his 14th season. He has been the heartbeat of a better-than-expected defense that ranks 11th in total defense (311.2 yards per game).

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS  (7-7) | MVP: QB Baker Mayfield | In Tampa’s 6-3 start, the 2017 No. 1 overall pick had 16 touchdown passes and only two interceptions, keeping a team that’s dealt with numerous receiver injuries at the top of the NFC South. He’s been much worse in the five games since, evaporating Tampa’s division lead, but that simply underscores how valuable Mayfield is to the team. If he isn’t playing well, the Bucs don’t stand a chance. — Eric Smithling

AFC East

BUFFALO BILLS (10-4) | MVP: QB Josh Allen | The reigning league MVP has put himself in the running for a repeat with 3,276 yards passing and 25 TD passes as well as 535 yards and 12 TDs rushing. He became the first player in NFL history with three or more passing and rushing TDs in multiple games and broke Cam Newton’s record (75) for the most rushing TDs by a QB in league history.

MIAMI DOLPHINS (6-8) | MVP: RB De’Von Achane | Linebacker Jordyn Brooks, who leads the league with 155 tackles, could easily win this award, but the nod goes to Achane. While QB Tua Tagovailoa has struggled (and even got benched in favor of rookie Quinn Ewers), Achane has had a career year with the third-most rush yards (1,186) in the league and 11 total TDs. Miami would be even worse off without him.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (11-3) | MVP: QB Drake Maye | No one has excelled more in Mike Vrabel’s first season as New England’s head coach than the second-year QB, who has the sixth-most passing yards (3,567) and is tied for the sixth-most passing TDs (23). With the second-best odds to win the MVP award (+420, per FanDuel as of Dec. 19) and the fourth-ranked QBR (71.3), Maye has helped turn the Patriots back into contenders and put them in position for their first AFC East title since 2019.

NEW YORK JETS (3-11) | MVP: LB Jamien Sherwood | Amid the constant struggles the Jets seem to have, Sherwood has been a bright spot on the league’s 30th-ranked defense (28.4 PPG). He has one sack, six tackles for loss and eight passes defended and a team-leading 129 total tackles. In another trying season for the Jets, Sherwood has provided some encouragement. — Colby Colwell

AFC West

DENVER BRONCOS (12-2) | MVP: LB Nik Bonitto | Second-year QB Bo Nix — tied for sixth in the league in touchdown passes (23) — is another deserving candidate, but Bonitto is powering the defense. Through 14 games, he’s tied for third in the league in sacks (12.5). He has also made clutch plays, such as batting down a pass on a two-point conversion attempt that secured a 27-26 win over the Commanders in Week 13.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (6-8) | MVP: QB Patrick Mahomes | Mahomes suffered a season-ending ACL tear in his left knee during a 16-13 loss to the Chargers in Week 15. It ruined another exceptional season for the two-time league MVP, who carried the Chiefs in 2025. After 15 weeks, the QB ranks fifth in the league in passing yards (3,587) and fifth in QBR (69.2).  

LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (2-12) | MVP: DE Maxx Crosby | Another crummy season for the Raiders — who haven’t made the playoffs since the 2021 season — has again overshadowed Crosby’s brilliance. The four-time Pro Bowler has a whopping 26 tackles for loss in 14 games, the second most in the league behind Browns DE Myles Garrett (32).

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (10-4) | MVP: QB Justin Herbert | Despite playing his past two games with a fracture in his left hand, Herbert keeps rocking. The QB is tied for fifth in the league in TD passes (23) and ranks 11th in passing yards (3,191). It’s worth mentioning he’s generating solid numbers behind a shaky offensive line that has allowed the second-most sacks in the league (51). — Clark Dalton

AFC North

BALTIMORE RAVENS (7-7) | MVP: RB Derrick Henry | Henry is not having the same type of season he did in 2024 (1,921 yards rushing), but he is still on track for nearly 1,400 yards rushing and has been Baltimore’s most reliable, consistent playmaker on offense. QB Lamar Jackson is also a contender for team MVP, but missing three games and his inconsistent play since returning give Henry the edge. 

CINCINNATI BENGALS (4-10) | MVP: WR Ja’Marr Chase | Whether it has been Joe Burrow or Joe Flacco playing QB, Chase has simply put up monster numbers. He is on track for a 123-catch season and has had some truly dominant games. That includes five games with at least 10 catches and three games with at least 12 catches. 

CLEVELAND BROWNS (3-11) | MVP: EDGE Myles Garrett | Garrett is the biggest bright spot for the Browns in another lost season. He is closing in on the NFL’s season sack record (22.5, he has 21.5) and is still capable of ruining an opponent's offensive gameplan despite getting all of the attention. 

PITTSBURGH STEELERS (8-6) | MVP: QB Aaron Rodgers | Rodgers has not been great (projected 3,150 passing yards), and he is quite a bit away from where he was in his prime, but he has been about as good as the Steelers could have hoped. He is also playing some of his best football down the stretch, with recent wins over the Ravens and Dolphins being his best, most impactful performances of the season. — Adam Gretz

AFC South

HOUSTON TEXANS (9-5) | MVP: DE Will Anderson Jr. | Anderson’s third NFL season has been his best, with 43 total tackles, 10.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries through 14 games. The No. 3 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft is the anchor of a defense that leads the NFL with 16.3 points and 269.2 total yards allowed per game. The Texans have emerged as a dark horse in a surprisingly weak AFC, and Anderson’s dominant play is one of the biggest reasons why.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (8-6) | MVP: RB Jonathan Taylor | Taylor has been far and away the NFL’s best running back this season with a league-leading 1,443 yards and 16 rushing TDs. He is averaging an impressive 5.3 yards per carry, and Indianapolis must lean on him heavily down the stretch with 44-year-old Philip Rivers starting at QB for the injured Daniel Jones. Taylor also has 318 receiving yards and is on pace to surpass his career high of 360.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (10-4) | MVP: QB Trevor Lawrence | Lawrence has hit his stride under first-year head coach Liam Coen and is playing his best football of the season at a perfect time. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft has averaged 267.7 passing yards per game over Jacksonville’s past three games with nine TD passes during that span. Lawrence has not thrown an interception in nearly a month, and the Jags have won five straight because of their QB’s outstanding play.

TENNESSEE TITANS (2-12) | MVP: DT Jeffery Simmons | Not much has gone right for the Titans, but an argument can be made that Simmons is the best interior defensive lineman in the NFL. Simmons has nine sacks and two forced fumbles in 12 games this season. He has continued to perform at an elite level while serving as the leader of a team that has been playing for nothing but pride recently. — Steve DelVecchio