(Image via NY Times) 

Staff Editor: Aidan Danforth

Email: adanforth@umassd.edu

The football world only blinked once, and now we’re already at the quarter point of the 2025 NFL regular season. We’re only four weeks into this season, and we’ve already seen some unbelievable things from 32 teams who are all eager to come out on top. 

From amazing comebacks to game of the year candidates, the NFL is more alive than ever. Some teams and players have begun this season as favorites for awards. Others have found themselves in the basement as they attempt to crawl out of their slow start. 

Most Valuable Player: Josh Allen 

The MVP award already has a clear favorite. Josh Allen decided to pick up where he left off after his 2025 MVP win by delivering another incredible season that has showcased him as the most talented player in the NFL. 

It all started with the 41-40 comeback win over the Baltimore Ravens with what could be the game of the year. The Buffalo Bills’s past three games have been against easier opponents, but this team would be nowhere without Allen’s sheer presence and leadership during these games. 

It’s still early, but if Allen continues putting up these numbers as well as winning games against quality opponents, he will secure his second straight MVP. 

Offensive Player of the Year: Puka Nauca 

Rams fans appear to be experiencing some deja vu. Back in 2021, Cooper Kupp secured the triple crown with the most receiving yards, touchdowns, and catches that season, and he nearly broke the single season receiving record. 

Puka Nauca appears to be on an even stronger trajectory as his numbers through the first four games of this season are better than Kupp’s were. Also, Matthew Stafford, at age 37, is playing better than ever as he leads the league in passing yards and touchdowns. 

Nacua is projected to finish as the first receiver ever to reach 2000 receiving yards—a feat that would make him more than worthy of this award. 

Defensive Player of the Year: Micah Parsons 

Who remembers exactly where they were when they heard the news of this big blockbuster? The Packers got their next Reggie White by acquiring Micah Parsons. Parsons is arguably the best pass rusher in the league and has certainly made his impact known in this improved Packers defense. 

Though he only has 2.5 sacks, his presence has improved the production of fellow pass rushers Rashan Gary and Lukas Van Ness. Green Bay’s rush defense has also drastically improved by only allowing 77.5 rushing yards a game. 

Parsons is bound to get more sacks the more he plays as this is his first season as a Packer. Jeff Hafley is only going to find more ways to utilize Parsons and solidify him as the league’s best defensive player. 

Offensive Rookie of the Year: Emeka Egbuka 

Out of all the awards so far, the offensive rookie of the year is easily the hardest to pick. So many rookies are showing potential of being the next big stars in the NFL. Egbuka is one of these players who has made his presence known in the Buccaneers offense. 

With Chris Godwin out and Mike Evans missing time due to injury, Egbuka has stepped up as Baker Mayfield’s favorite target. He had two touchdowns in his debut, one of them being a game winner. His reliability, consistency, and efficiency have led his numbers to being close to some of the league’s best. 

We’re only four weeks in as the future return of Evans and Godwin will force Egbuka to work hard for targets to remain as the team’s top pass catcher. 

Defensive Rookie of the Year: Jihaad Campbell 

The Howie Roseman masterclass has struck again! Due to injuries and free agency, the Eagles have had to grow new stars to solidify their defense. Campbell has done just that as the 31st overall pick looks like another draft steal by Philadelphia. 

Through just four games, Campbell already looks like he’s been in the league for years. Campbell is racking up clutch tackles while holding quarterbacks to a 53.8 completion percentage. The only thing holding him back is his injuries, which he’s done a good job at handling. 

Teams still don’t know how they do it, but the Eagles have produced yet another all-pro level defensive player through the draft. It will be up to Campbell to continue that production and help the Eagles repeat as champions. 

Comeback Player of the Year: Aidan Hutchinson  

Despite coming off a year where they went 15-2, the Detroit Lions desperately missed star pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson who broke his tibia and fibula during their week 6 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys. 

Now, he’s returned and, more importantly, back to wreaking havoc on the field. He already has 4 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and has helped his Lions defense surge as one of the league’s best. He’s also up there with Parsons as a favorite for DPOY as he has a chance to win two awards. 

Comeback player of the year is about the player who went through setbacks but ends up returning to the player they once were. Hutchinson is doing just that and is arguably becoming even better than he already is. 

Coach of the Year: Shane Steichen   

From having a strange quarterback controversy to having no sense of direction to producing a 3-1 team who discovered their direction and is now on pace to win AFC south, head coach Shane Stiechen has totally revived Colts culture. 

Their offense, led by Daniel Jones and Jonthan Taylor, stormed through their first three games with 103 points. Their only loss was a toe to toe match against the Rams where they were just a few plays away from winning. 

With the Texans collapse and the  Titans in rebuild mode, the Jaguars remain the only competition for the AFC south title. This will likely decide the coach of the year, which currently belongs to Steichen. 

Protector of the Year: Dion Dawkins  

And now, we have the newest award that’ll be given at the NFL Honors. An award long overdue for the league’s best offensive lineman. A difficult award to pick as there are so many incredible players who do such a great job at protecting their quarterbacks. 

Dion Dawkins stands out as he is the offensive lineman responsible for protecting the league’s best player, Josh Allen. His pressure rate is at 4.5% and he has no quick sacks and pressures—all things that have tremendously helped Allen’s performance.

Many other offensive lineman have just as good and even better stats than Dawkins, but what Dawkins does is protect the best player on one of the NFL’s best teams who is fighting hard to win their first Lombardi.