The Lions left NFL Honors without a trophy, but not without stars. Detroit’s top performers still delivered award-worthy seasons that deserved recognition, even if the league didn’t call their names.
The NFL Honors ceremony took place Thursday night, recognizing standout performers from the 2025 season. Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford earned Most Valuable Player honors, Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett claimed Defensive Player of the Year for the second time in three seasons after setting a new single-season sack record with 23, and Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba was named Offensive Player of the Year.
Despite the Detroit Lions having multiple players nominated and strong individual performances, no Lions player brought home one of the league's major awards. The team finished the regular season 9-8 and third in the NFC North.
Here's a breakdown of hypothetical Lions-only awards, recognizing the top performers within the organization for the 2025 campaign.
Most Valuable Player: Penei Sewell, OT
An offensive lineman rarely wins MVP consideration at the league level, but Sewell was the undeniable anchor of Detroit's offense. The right tackle missed only the final game of the season due to rest and was widely regarded as not just the NFL's premier offensive lineman but one of its best overall players. Sewell posted a 95.2 overall grade from Pro Football Focus, the highest among all offensive players league-wide. He earned his third consecutive first-team All-Pro selection and fourth straight Pro Bowl nod, solidifying his status as a cornerstone for the Lions.
Offensive Player of the Year: Jahmyr Gibbs, RB
Gibbs exploded into superstardom in his third NFL season, shattering several franchise records. He surpassed Barry Sanders' career touchdown mark for the Lions before turning 24, finishing with 48 total touchdowns across his young career. In 2025, Gibbs amassed 1,839 scrimmage yards and 18 touchdowns. His signature performance came against the New York Giants, where he rushed for 219 yards, added 45 receiving yards and scored three total touchdowns, setting career highs in rushing and all-purpose yards. Gibbs delivered the game-winning 69-yard touchdown run in overtime and recorded his longest career rush of 78 yards. His dual-threat ability made him a nightmare for defenses.
Defensive Player of the Year: Jack Campbell, LB
The 2023 first-round pick silenced critics with a breakout third season. Campbell earned first-team All-Pro honors and established himself among the league's elite linebackers. He recorded 176 total tackles, five sacks and three forced fumbles. He joined Chris Spielman and Joe Schmidt as the only Lions linebackers to earn first-team All-Pro recognition. Campbell became the first Lions linebacker since 2000 to make the Pro Bowl. He was one of only two Lions linebackers (along with Spielman in 1989) to post at least 110 tackles and 5.0 sacks in a season. This marked back-to-back years with at least 125 total tackles, and he joined Antonio London as the only Lions linebackers with five sacks and three forced fumbles in a single campaign.
Rookie of the Year: Tate Ratledge, OL(Combined offensive/defensive category)
With only seven rookies nominated league-wide across offensive and defensive categories, this combines the honors for a Lions perspective. The second-round pick proved a warrior on the offensive line, appearing in every game except the finale. Ratledge allowed zero sacks after Week 5, logging 1,088 offensive snaps in 2025. One standout showing came against the Baltimore Ravens, where he earned a 91.4 PFF grade with 30 pass-blocking attempts and no pressures allowed. From Week 6 onward (minimum 150 snaps), he ranked 12th in overall grade at 72.4 and ninth in run-blocking grade at 78.5.
Comeback Player of the Year: Aidan Hutchinson, DE
Hutchinson endured a devastating broken leg in 2024 against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 6. He responded with a dominant bounce-back season, recording 14.5 sacks, four forced fumbles and one interception. He earned Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro honors, finishing second in league-wide Comeback Player of the Year voting behind Christian McCaffrey. Hutchinson's resurgence was rewarded with a four-year, $180 million contract extension, securing the homegrown talent in Detroit through at least 2030.
Most Improved Player: Jameson Williams, WR (Non-official award)
While not an official NFL honor, Williams' transformation warranted recognition. Several Lions showed marked improvement, but Williams' surge over the final eight weeks highlighted his elite playmaking potential. He set a career high with 1,117 receiving yards and tied his previous best with seven receiving touchdowns. In his last 10 games, he had three outings exceeding 119 yards and five touchdowns total. After the Lions moved on from John Morton as play-caller, Williams erupted with four touchdowns in five games.
Honorable Mentions
Quarterback Jared Goff and wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown delivered exceptional seasons but were narrowly edged out in these internal categories. Both earned Pro Bowl selections and were key contributors to the offense.
The Lions' 2025 season featured strong individual performances across the roster, even without major league hardware. Players like Sewell, Gibbs and Campbell proved their elite status, setting the stage for continued contention.