Carolina Panthers WR Tetairoa McMillan doesn't care about individual awards.
Carolina Panthers WR Tetairoa McMillan is the betting favorite to win the Offensive Rookie of the Year Award.
However, McMillan is more focused on the upcoming playoff game against the Los Angeles Rams.
"Shoot, I mean, obviously it's a blessing," McMillan said. "But out of all things that we were able to make the playoffs, we got a chance at doing something great in Charlotte that hasn't been done in a long time. So, I feel like, you know, that, that holds a higher power than me being the leading favorite for the offensive rookie year."
McMillan didn't look like a rookie for the Panthers this season. He played like a veteran Pro Bowler. The Arizona product had 70 catches for 1,014 yards and seven touchdowns.
The Panthers face the Rams in the Wild Card round of the 2026 playoffs. McMillan and Co. beat LA in the regular season. The talented playmaker had a TD catch in that contest.
"I mean, I feel like I'm different just because it's my first year, so I don't know what it's like to miss the playoffs," McMillan said. "I'm just grateful for every opportunity, man. We get to play another game and a chance at playing another game after that. So, just blessed."
The Panthers are in the playoffs for the first time since the 2017 season. McMillan said he didn't watch the Atlanta Falcons-New Orleans Saints game.
Carolina is in the playoffs thanks to the Falcons beating the Saints in Week 18.
"No, I didn't watch it," McMillan said. "It was cool. I'm just glad, you know, we get another game, obviously, just being a lot of people in this locker room, first time playing in the playoffs. So that's obviously a blessing, just kind of giving back to us.
"I knew it was a lot. It was going to be a lot of suspense, and I didn't really want to put my body through that one."
The Panthers are huge underdogs against the Rams, but they were underdogs in the regular season game and won that contest, so anything is possible.