With less than a month to go before Super Bowl 60 kicks off in San Francisco on February 8, the NFL has officially set the stage for its awards season. With 13 critical games left in the postseason, the Associated Press has unveiled its 2025 First and Second-Team All-Pro rosters, and the results have sent shockwaves through the MVP betting markets. At the center of the conversation is Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, who secured the QB1 spot on the First Team, edging out New England’s sensation Drake Maye.
At just 23 years old, Maye’s inclusion as the Second-Team quarterback makes him the youngest ever to receive that specific honor. He also joins an elite shortlist as the fourth-youngest All-Pro in league history, trailing only Lamar Jackson (who was 22 in 2019) and sitting just days behind the age marks set by Patrick Mahomes in 2018 and Dan Marino in 1984.
This year’s voting also featured three unanimous selections: the likely Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett, alongside the league’s most dangerous receiving duo in Puka Nacua and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Cardinals tight end Trey McBride narrowly missed the unanimous tag, falling just one vote short with 49 of 50 first-place tallies.
Stafford’s All-Pro Nod Reshapes the Race Against Drake Maye
The announcement of the All-Pro teams is often the most accurate crystal ball for the NFL Honors, which will take place on February 5 in San Francisco. While Stafford and Maye have been locked in a dead heat for the MVP trophy, history is heavily on Stafford’s side. For 11 consecutive seasons, the First-Team All-Pro quarterback went on to win the MVP award, a streak that only ended last year when Lamar Jackson took the All-Pro nod but watched Josh Allen walk away with the MVP.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Stafford is now the second player in history to earn a First-Team selection for the first time in his 17th season or later. His resume this year is undeniable, leading the NFL with 4,707 passing yards and a staggering 46 touchdowns. While Maye held the edge in passer rating (113.5 to Stafford’s 109.2), the volume and veteran leadership Stafford displayed have made him the odds-on favorite.
Stafford now looks to avoid joining the unlucky list of First-Teamers like Lamar Jackson (2024) or Joe Montana (1987) who failed to secure the MVP. Conversely, Maye is hoping to channel his inner John Elway (1987) or Josh Allen (2024) to become the rare MVP winner from the All-Pro Second Team.
Broncos and Special Teams Freshmen Shine in the 2025 Roster
Beyond the quarterback drama, this year’s All-Pro list signals a massive shift in the league’s power structure, featuring 18 first-time selections. Five of those newcomers appear on special teams, headlined by Tennessee Titans rookie punt returner Chimere Dike. Dike’s inclusion makes him only the fourth rookie since 2020 to crack the All-Pro roster, a testament to his game-breaking speed in the return game.
The positional versatility of the modern NFL was also on full display with Falcons star Bijan Robinson, who pulled off the rare feat of being selected to both teams-earning First-Team honors as a running back and a Second-Team spot in the All-Purpose category. That All-Purpose First-Team slot went to none other than Christian McCaffrey.
From a team perspective, the Denver Broncos proved why they earned the AFC’s No. 1 seed, leading the league with four First-Team players and two on the Second Team. Meanwhile, the NFC’s top-seeded Seattle Seahawks saw Jaxon Smith-Njigba take his place on the First Team, supported by a strong foundation of four teammates on the Second Team.
