McCaffrey shatters expectations, vying for MVP, OPOY, and Comeback Player of the Year after a record-setting, injury-defying season.
The Associated Press announced the finalists for eight of the NFL’s most prestigious annual awards, all of which will be handed out at the NFL Honors ceremony on February 5 at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco, just days before Super Bowl 60 kicks off at Levi’s Stadium.
Of the eight awards, the San Francisco 49ers are represented by two familiar names. Head coach Kyle Shanahan earned a well-deserved spot among the finalists for NFL Coach of the Year after guiding the 49ers to a 12–5 record despite navigating an overwhelming number of injuries to key contributors.
The second finalist is superstar running back Christian McCaffrey.
McCaffrey has been named a finalist for all three awards for which he was eligible: NFL MVP, Offensive Player of the Year, and Comeback Player of the Year. With that distinction, the 29-year-old becomes just the second player in NFL history to be a finalist for three AP awards in the same season, joining Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, who accomplished the same feat last year and ultimately won only Comeback Player of the Year.
After a dominant season in which McCaffrey totaled 2,126 yards from scrimmage (1,202 rushing and 924 receiving) while scoring 17 total touchdowns, the recognition is well earned.
NFL MVP
Finalists:
- Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills (QB)
- Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars (QB)
- Drake Maye, New England Patriots (QB)
- Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers (RB)
- Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams (QB)
McCaffrey’s inclusion in the MVP conversation speaks volumes about his value to the 49ers offense. That said, the reality of the award works against him. The MVP has become almost exclusively a quarterback honor, with the last running back to win it being Adrian Peterson in 2012.
NFL Offensive Player of the Year
Finalists:
- Drake Maye, New England Patriots (QB)
- Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers (RB)
- Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams (WR)
- Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons (RB)
- Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks (WR)
McCaffrey is no stranger to this award, having taken home Offensive Player of the Year honors two seasons ago after leading the NFL in total yards from scrimmage and touchdowns.
This season, however, the competition is stiff, particularly from Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Smith-Njigba led the league with 119 receptions and piled up 1,793 receiving yards while scoring 10 touchdowns, making him the overwhelming favorite.
NFL Comeback Player of the Year
Finalists:
- Stefon Diggs, New England Patriots (WR)
- Aidan Hutchinson, Detroit Lions (DE)
- Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars (QB)
- Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers (RB)
- Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys (QB)
This is where McCaffrey stands apart.
After appearing in just four games last season, McCaffrey returned in 2025 not only healthy, but once again among the most productive players in football. He didn’t simply come back, he reestablished himself as the focal point of the 49ers’ offense.
McCaffrey finished second in Comeback Player of the Year voting back in 2022, the season he split time between Carolina and San Francisco. This time, the circumstances feel different.
Given the missed time, the workload he handled, and the level at which he performed upon returning, it’s difficult to argue against McCaffrey as the most complete comeback story in the league.
Final Outlook
Being named a finalist for three major awards is a rare honor and a testament to Christian McCaffrey’s impact on the 49ers and the NFL as a whole. While MVP and Offensive Player of the Year may ultimately lean toward quarterbacks and historic receiving seasons, Comeback Player of the Year feels like the award that best captures what McCaffrey accomplished in 2025.