The Associated Press has been presenting the NFL MVP Award since 1957. The latest recipient is Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, who was honored as the league’s top individual player at the 2025 NFL Honors. Throughout the year, Allen was a leading contender, with Lamar Jackson trailing closely as the season wrapped up. The MVP vote was the tightest since 2016, with Allen receiving 27 votes to Jackson’s 23, earning a total of 383 points. Interestingly, while Baltimore Ravens’ Lamar Jackson was named first-team All-Pro, Allen was not—a rarity for an MVP since John Elway in 1987.
Looking ahead, DraftKings Sportsbook has released the MVP odds for the 2025-26 NFL season, listing Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen as co-favorites at +550. Other quarterbacks like Joe Burrow, Patrick Mahomes, and Jaden Daniels follow closely with varying odds. Non-quarterback candidates include Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry, and Jahmyr Gibbs, although their odds are much longer.
Allen had a remarkable season with 41 total touchdowns, including 28 passing, 12 rushing, and one receiving touchdown—making NFL history with these stats. Jackson, a two-time MVP, finished second last year and dominated several statistical categories in 2024, such as passer rating and yards per pass. Bengals’ Joe Burrow also showed strong performance by leading the league with 4,918 passing yards last season.
Among non-quarterbacks, Saquon Barkley made history by breaking Terrell Davis’s record for rushing yards in a season, accumulating 2,504 yards including playoffs. Other notable players in the running are Christian McCaffrey and Bijan Robinson. Historically, the last non-quarterback to win the MVP was Adrian Peterson in 2012.
For NFL fans, this news highlights the league’s ongoing quarterback dominance while also shining a light on exceptional performances by non-quarterbacks. It signals a competitive and thrilling upcoming season, where entrenched stars and emerging talents alike will battle for football’s highest individual honor.
