The NFL MVP race always stirs up excitement, debates, and plenty of surprises among football fans. As we roll into 2025, the chatter about who might snag this prestigious award grows louder every day. With the 2024 season freshly wrapped up and the 2025 season on the horizon, analysts, fans, and bettors eagerly speculate about the next big star to shine. Josh Allen grabbed the 2024 MVP title, edging out Lamar Jackson in a nail-biter, but the question now shifts: who takes the spotlight in 2025? This article dives deep into the latest updates, top contenders, and everything you need to know about the NFL MVP race for 2025.
Fresh off the 2024 season, the NFL Honors ceremony on February 6, 2025, crowned Josh Allen as the league’s Most Valuable Player. His stellar performance with the Buffalo Bills set a high bar, but the league never sleeps, and new talent always emerges. With free agency moves, draft picks, and offseason changes shaking things up, the 2025 MVP conversation already buzzes with energy. Let’s explore the key players, the odds, the trends, and what might tip the scales in this thrilling competition.
The NFL MVP Award: What It Means and Why It Matters
The NFL Most Valuable Player award stands as the ultimate individual honor in professional football. Every year, the Associated Press hands out this trophy to the player who delivers the biggest impact during the regular season. Voters—50 sportswriters chosen by the AP—rank their top five picks, and the winner emerges from a points system based on those rankings. The announcement comes during the NFL Honors, a glitzy event held the Thursday before the Super Bowl, making it a marquee moment in the football calendar.
Why does this award carry so much weight? It celebrates a player who doesn’t just excel but transforms their team’s fortunes. Think of legends like Peyton Manning, who won it five times, or Tom Brady, whose clutch performances earned him three. For 2025, the stakes remain sky-high as quarterbacks historically dominate the conversation, though running backs and defensive stars occasionally crash the party. With the 2024 season in the books, the focus now turns to who can replicate—or surpass—Josh Allen’s heroics.
Josh Allen’s 2024 Triumph: Setting the Stage for 2025
Josh Allen’s 2024 MVP win offers a perfect starting point for understanding what it takes to claim this award. The Buffalo Bills quarterback threw for 3,731 yards, tossed 28 touchdowns, and ran for 531 yards with 12 more scores. His six interceptions marked a career low, showing a newfound polish to his gunslinger style. Leading the Bills to a 13-4 record and a fifth straight AFC East title, Allen proved he could carry an offense even without a top-tier wide receiver after Stefon Diggs’ departure.
What made Allen’s win special? He edged out Lamar Jackson, who posted gaudier stats—4,172 passing yards and 41 touchdowns—but couldn’t match Allen’s team success narrative. The voters rewarded Allen’s efficiency and leadership, making him the third player ever to win MVP without first-team All-Pro honors. As we look to 2025, Allen’s victory raises the bar. Can he repeat, or will a new face rise to challenge his throne?
Top Contenders for the 2025 NFL MVP: Who’s in the Mix?
The 2025 MVP race already crackles with big names and rising stars. Sportsbooks like DraftKings have released early odds, giving us a peek at who oddsmakers favor. Meanwhile, fans and analysts toss out their own predictions based on past performances and team outlooks. Here’s a rundown of the frontrunners heating up the conversation as of March 20, 2025.
Lamar Jackson: The Favorite with Firepower
Lamar Jackson tops the early odds at +500, signaling his status as the betting favorite. The Baltimore Ravens quarterback boasts two MVP wins already—2019 and 2023—and nearly nabbed a third in 2024. His 2024 numbers dazzled: 4,172 passing yards, 41 touchdowns, and 915 rushing yards. Jackson’s dual-threat magic keeps defenses guessing, and his growth as a passer only strengthens his case. With the Ravens eyeing a Super Bowl run in 2025, Jackson could ride a wave of momentum to another MVP crown if he stays healthy and sharp.
Josh Allen: The Reigning Champ Aims to Repeat
Josh Allen sits close behind at +550, and for good reason—he’s the defending MVP. His 2024 season showcased a blend of power and precision that few can match. The Bills remain a powerhouse in the AFC, and Allen’s knack for making jaw-dropping plays keeps him in the hunt. If Buffalo bolsters its receiving corps in the offseason—say, with a savvy free-agent signing or a breakout rookie—Allen could pile up even bigger stats in 2025. Repeating as MVP is rare, but Allen’s got the tools to pull it off.
Patrick Mahomes: The King Who Never Fades
Patrick Mahomes lands at +700, a testament to his enduring brilliance. The Kansas City Chiefs quarterback owns three Super Bowl rings and two MVP awards (2018, 2022), and he never drops out of the conversation. Even in a “down” 2024, Mahomes led the Chiefs to another deep playoff run. His creativity, arm strength, and clutch gene make him a perennial threat. If the Chiefs tweak their offense with a splashy move—like re-signing a key weapon or drafting a speedster—Mahomes could reclaim the MVP throne in 2025.
Joe Burrow: The Comeback King with Swagger
Joe Burrow clocks in at +620, riding high after a stellar 2024. The Cincinnati Bengals quarterback threw for a league-leading 4,918 yards and 43 touchdowns, earning Comeback Player of the Year honors after a wrist injury sidelined him in 2023. Burrow’s pinpoint accuracy and cool-headed leadership shine bright, and with weapons like Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins locked in, he’s got the firepower to dominate. A strong Bengals season in 2025 could catapult Burrow to his first MVP.
Jayden Daniels: The Rookie Sensation Turned Star
Jayden Daniels rounds out the top five at +800, a nod to his electrifying rookie year with the Washington Commanders. The 2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year turned a 4-13 team into a 12-5 contender, dazzling with his arm and legs. Daniels’ Heisman-winning flair translated to the pros, and his playoff heroics only boosted his stock. If the Commanders build around him in 2025—think a stud receiver or a beefed-up line—Daniels could leap into the MVP spotlight as a second-year sensation.
Dark Horses and Wild Cards: Don’t Sleep on These Names
While quarterbacks usually hog the MVP spotlight, a few outsiders could shake things up in 2025. History shows running backs like Adrian Peterson (2012) and defensive studs like Lawrence Taylor (1986) can steal the show. Here’s who might surprise us.
Saquon Barkley: The Running Back Renaissance
Saquon Barkley nearly broke the MVP mold in 2024, rushing for 2,005 yards and winning Offensive Player of the Year. The Philadelphia Eagles star finished third in MVP voting, proving a non-quarterback can still turn heads. If Barkley tops 2,000 yards again in 2025 and leads the Eagles to a top seed, he could become the first running back since Peterson to snag the award. His blend of speed, power, and versatility makes him a constant threat.
Aidan Hutchinson: A Defensive Disruptor
Aidan Hutchinson, the Detroit Lions’ ferocious edge rusher, could crash the party if he dominates in 2025. Some X posts already peg him as a Defensive Player of the Year lock, but an MVP run isn’t out of reach. Imagine Hutchinson racking up 20 sacks, forcing turnovers, and carrying Detroit to a division title. Defensive players rarely win, but a monster season could flip the script.
Travis Hunter: The Rookie Phenom
Travis Hunter, a two-way star from Colorado, enters the 2025 NFL Draft as a hyped prospect. Some fans on X predict him as Offensive or Defensive Rookie of the Year, but what if he explodes as a do-it-all weapon? Picture Hunter catching touchdowns and picking off passes for a playoff-bound team. A historic rookie campaign could thrust him into the MVP chatter, though it’s a long shot.
FAQs:
Who currently holds the best odds to win the 2025 NFL MVP, and why do experts favor them?
Lamar Jackson holds the best odds at +500 as of March 20, 2025. Experts favor him because he’s a two-time MVP with unreal stats—over 4,000 passing yards and 900 rushing yards in 2024. His Ravens stay competitive, and his dual-threat style dazzles voters every year.
Can Josh Allen win back-to-back MVP awards in 2025, and what would it take for him to do so?
The Unstoppable Josh Allen absolutely can win again—he’s at +550 odds for a reason. He’d need another 40-touchdown season, fewer than eight turnovers, and the Bills to snag 13-plus wins. A big-name receiver signing would help him pile up the stats voters crave.
Why do quarterbacks win the MVP so often, and could a non-quarterback take it in 2025?
Julius Quarterbacks win because they control NFL MVP the game—Peyton Manning’s five MVPs prove it. In 2025, Saquon Barkley could break through if he tops 2,000 yards again and the Eagles dominate. Aidan Hutchinson might too, with 20 sacks and a Lions playoff push.
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