Matthew Stafford was voted the first-team quarterback on the 2025 Associated Press All-Pro Team, beating Drake Maye in the final ballot count; Bijan Robinson landed the lone running back spot while Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Puka Nacua and Myles Garrett were unanimous selections. The voting, tabulated by Lutz and Carr, produced several repeat picks and 18 first-time All-Pros, including five special-team standouts and rookie punt-returner Chimere Dike. Stafford collected 31 first-place votes to Maye’s 18 (Josh Allen received one), finishing the regular season with 4,707 passing yards and 46 touchdowns, ranking first in both categories. The list highlights individual milestones—Garrett set a single-season sack record with 23—and reflects positional shifts across clubs that earned top playoff seeds.
- Matthew Stafford won first-team All-Pro quarterback with 31 first-place votes; Drake Maye received 18 and Josh Allen 1.
- Myles Garrett was a unanimous pick after a record 23 sacks, earning his fifth All-Pro selection.
- Bijan Robinson was chosen as the first-team running back; Christian McCaffrey took the All-Purpose slot.
- Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Puka Nacua and Ja’Marr Chase fill the three wide receiver spots; Trey McBride received 49 of 50 first-place votes at tight end.
- The Denver Broncos placed four players on the first team (including Josh Allen and Garrett Bolles) and two on the second team, the most among AFC teams.
- Eighteen players are first-time All-Pros, with five first-time special teamers and rookie Chimere Dike among them.
- Voting used AP’s two-tier system: first-team votes worth 3 points and second-team votes worth 1 point, tallied by accounting firm Lutz and Carr.
Background
The AP All-Pro Team is an annual honor voted on by a panel of media members that recognizes the league’s top performers at each position during the regular season. In 2025 the AP used its four-year-old two-tier voting format in which voters name a first and second team; first-team votes count triple. The selections often mirror MVP discussions, Pro Bowl rosters and end-of-season analytics that weigh counting stats, efficiency and impact on wins.
Several narratives converged this season: a veteran quarterback resurgence for Stafford, a rookie-turned-elite campaign from Bijan Robinson, and dominant pass-rushing from Myles Garrett that shattered previous single-season benchmarks. Teams that secured high playoff seeds—most notably the Denver Broncos as the AFC No. 1—saw multiple players rewarded, reflecting both individual excellence and team success. The Elias Sports Bureau supplied historical context for long waits before first-time All-Pro honors; Stafford’s first-team nod in his 17th season is an outlier in modern era voting patterns.
Main Event
The final ballot produced a tight quarterback race. Stafford, 37, led the NFL with 4,707 passing yards and 46 touchdowns while posting a 109.2 passer rating; Drake Maye finished with a 113.5 passer rating, 4,394 yards and 31 touchdowns. Voters split between the two before giving Stafford the edge on first-team ballots, handing him his first first-team All-Pro recognition in year 17 of his career. Josh Allen received one first-place vote but was not the top vote-getter at quarterback.
On offense, Bijan Robinson earned the lone running-back slot, and Christian McCaffrey was placed at All-Purpose. The wide receiver group combined youth and breakout campaigns: Puka Nacua and Jaxon Smith-Njigba were unanimous first-team choices, joined by Ja’Marr Chase. Trey McBride captured the tight end spot with 49 of 50 first-place votes, underscoring a season of consistent production for Arizona’s offense.
Defensively, Garrett’s record-setting 23-sack season cemented his unanimous selection and fifth All-Pro honor. He was joined on the edge by Will Anderson Jr. and Micah Parsons, giving voters three elite edge rushers across the first team. Interior defensive line slots went to Jeffery Simmons and Zach Allen, while linebackers Jack Campbell and Jordyn Brooks filled the starting positions behind a secondary anchored by safeties Kyle Hamilton and Kevin Byard.
Special teams featured a mix of veterans and newcomers. Will Reichard was the placekicker, Jordan Stout the punter, Ray Davis the kick-returner, and rookie Chimere Dike made the first team as punt-returner—only the fourth rookie to earn that distinction since 2020. Devon Key was recognized as special teamer, and Ross Matiscik returned as a second-time All-Pro long snapper.
Analysis & Implications
Stafford’s late-career first-team selection is notable both as a personal milestone and for what it signals about evaluation windows for quarterbacks. Traditionally, peak quarterbacking seasons and awards skew younger; Stafford’s performance—4,707 yards and 46 TDs—challenges age-based assumptions and could influence how teams weigh veteran retention versus younger starter development. For the Rams, the honor may affect offseason roster planning and Stafford’s standing within veteran leadership circles.
Bijan Robinson’s selection as the primary running back underscores a wider NFL trend where a single back can carry outsized offensive responsibility and receive top positional honors despite rotating personnel. Christian McCaffrey’s All-Purpose nod reflects the premium on versatility; players who contribute in rushing, receiving and return phases gain separation in voting. These choices reinforce roster-building priorities that balance explosive playmaking with consistent volume.
Defensively, Garrett’s record-breaking sack total and unanimous selection highlight the continuing value of elite edge pressure in determining game outcomes and defensive honors. The appearance of three high-profile edge rushers on the first team—Garrett, Anderson and Parsons—indicates a carried focus on pass disruption when voters adjudicate defensive awards. Teams chasing postseason success may prioritize pass-rush investments in free agency and the draft as a result.
Comparison & Data
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Stafford first-place votes | 31 |
| Drake Maye first-place votes | 18 |
| Josh Allen first-place votes | 1 |
| Myles Garrett sacks (single-season) | 23 |
| Trey McBride first-place votes | 49 of 50 |
| First-time All-Pros | 18 |
The table highlights vote tallies and standout statistics that framed the 2025 selections. Voter behavior shows both consensus choices (unanimous selections) and close races (the quarterback vote), suggesting that while some positions produced clear standouts, others were decided by slim margins. The distribution of first-time honorees—18 players—indicates turnover and opportunity across positions, particularly on special teams where five new names appeared.
I’m grateful and it matters — I needed this one.
Micah Parsons, Green Bay (paraphrased)
Parsons, recovering from ACL surgery and unable to play in the playoffs, framed the honor as both a personal milestone and a motivational marker for offseason rehabilitation. His comment underscores how awards can affect a player’s recovery outlook and market perception despite missed postseason availability.
I didn’t expect this after so many years; it means a lot.
Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams (paraphrased)
Stafford emphasized surprise and respect for the game and his peers. The acknowledgement of a long career culminating in a first-team All-Pro selection strengthens narratives around durability and late-career performance for veteran quarterbacks.
It’s a blessing; credit goes to my teammates for getting me here.
Myles Garrett, Cleveland (paraphrased)
Garrett attributed his unanimous selection to team context and support, a common refrain among defensive honorees that highlights line play, scheme, and complementary personnel as key contributors to individual statistics like sack totals.
Unconfirmed
- Any immediate contract or extension decisions tied directly to these All-Pro honors have not been announced and remain unconfirmed.
- Long-term recovery timelines or specific surgical updates for injured players referenced in coverage are subject to team medical releases and were not fully detailed at the time of voting.
Bottom Line
The 2025 AP All-Pro Team balances expected consensus choices with notable narratives: a veteran quarterback earning first-team recognition late in his career, a premier young running back establishing himself as the positional leader, and a historic pass-rush season that reshaped defensive honors. Team representation—such as Denver’s multiple first-team selections—also mirrors postseason positioning and organizational health heading into the playoffs.
For teams and front offices, these honors matter for branding, contract leverage and roster-building priorities in the offseason. For fans and analysts, the roster offers a snapshot of the season’s performance leaders and foreshadows positional battles and personnel moves to watch in free agency and the 2026 draft cycle.
Sources
- NFL.com (media report republishing Associated Press voting results)
- Associated Press (news agency — AP voting methodology and historical notes)