{"id":13903,"date":"2026-01-10T19:06:57","date_gmt":"2026-01-10T19:06:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/stafford-first-ap-all-pro\/"},"modified":"2026-01-10T19:06:57","modified_gmt":"2026-01-10T19:06:57","slug":"stafford-first-ap-all-pro","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/stafford-first-ap-all-pro\/","title":{"rendered":"Stafford gets first nod for AP All-Pro; Garrett, Nacua and Smith-Njigba unanimous"},"content":{"rendered":"<article>\n<p>Matthew Stafford earned his first career first-team spot on the 2025 Associated Press All\u2011Pro Team after leading the NFL with 4,707 passing yards and 46 touchdowns, edging Drake Maye in the voting. Myles Garrett, Puka Nacua and Jaxon Smith\u2011Njigba were unanimous first\u2011team selections, while Bijan Robinson and Christian McCaffrey filled the running back and all\u2011purpose roles. The ballot also gave Trey McBride 49 of 50 first\u2011place votes at tight end and placed Ja\u2019Marr Chase as the third wide receiver. Voters used the AP\u2019s updated two\u2011team system and results were tabulated by accounting firm Lutz and Carr.<\/p>\n<h2>Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Matthew Stafford, 37, received 31 first\u2011place votes to claim his first first\u2011team All\u2011Pro honor in his 17th NFL season; Drake Maye had 18 first\u2011place votes and Josh Allen received one.<\/li>\n<li>Myles Garrett was a unanimous selection after setting the NFL single\u2011season sack record with 23 sacks.<\/li>\n<li>Puka Nacua and Jaxon Smith\u2011Njigba were unanimous choices at receiver; Ja\u2019Marr Chase was named the third receiver.<\/li>\n<li>Trey McBride tallied 49 of 50 first\u2011place votes at tight end; Bijan Robinson was the first\u2011team running back and Christian McCaffrey earned the all\u2011purpose spot.<\/li>\n<li>Edge rushers Will Anderson Jr. and Micah Parsons joined Garrett on the first team; interior defensive linemen were Jeffery Simmons and Zach Allen.<\/li>\n<li>Special teams featured several first\u2011time honorees, including Devon Key, rookie punt returner Chimere Dike and kick returner Ray Davis.<\/li>\n<li>The AP voting system awards 3 points for a first\u2011team vote and 1 point for a second\u2011team vote; votes were tallied by Lutz and Carr.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Background<\/h2>\n<p>The Associated Press All\u2011Pro Team is an annual recognition of the NFL\u2019s top performers as determined by a national panel of voters. In 2025 the AP continued its two\u2011team format introduced in recent years: voters designate a first team and a second team, with weighted points deciding the roster. Historically, All\u2011Pro selections carry prestige distinct from the Pro Bowl and often influence contract negotiations, Hall of Fame discussions and legacy narratives for veteran players.<\/p>\n<p>Stafford\u2019s first\u2011time All\u2011Pro nod came late in a long career; according to the Elias Sports Bureau he is the second player to make a first\u2011team All\u2011Pro for the first time in his 17th season, joining kicker Gary Anderson (1998). The AP\u2019s previous first\u2011team quarterback in the last season was Lamar Jackson, while Josh Allen was the AP NFL MVP the previous year. The AP release also noted several repeat selections \u2014 players whose performances have earned them consecutive recognition \u2014 and a substantial group of first\u2011time honorees, especially on special teams.<\/p>\n<h2>Main Event<\/h2>\n<p>The ballot results highlighted both established stars and emerging names. Stafford topped the quarterback voting with 31 first\u2011place votes, narrowly surpassing Maye (18) while Josh Allen received a single first\u2011place vote. Stafford finished the regular season with 4,707 yards and 46 TDs; his passer rating was 109.2, behind Maye\u2019s 113.5. Voters credited Stafford\u2019s production and veteran leadership in reaching the first\u2011team selection.<\/p>\n<p>Defensive honors included a unanimous nod for Garrett, whose 23 sacks set a new single\u2011season NFL mark. Will Anderson Jr. and Micah Parsons joined Garrett on the edge, while Jeffery Simmons and Zach Allen were chosen as interior defensive linemen. The panel also recognized safeties Kyle Hamilton and Kevin Byard and linebackers Jack Campbell and Jordyn Brooks for first\u2011team spots.<\/p>\n<p>On offense, receivers Puka Nacua and Jaxon Smith\u2011Njigba were unanimous; Ja\u2019Marr Chase joined them as the third receiver. Bijan Robinson was the top running back selection and Christian McCaffrey earned the all\u2011purpose designation. Trey McBride captured nearly all tight\u2011end first\u2011place votes, taking 49 of 50, underscoring his breakout season in a tight\u2011end group that drew strong voter support.<\/p>\n<h2>Analysis &#038; Implications<\/h2>\n<p>Stafford\u2019s All\u2011Pro recognition reshapes his late\u2011career narrative: a long-tenured quarterback earning first\u2011team honors in Year 17 strengthens his case in legacy debates and could affect offseason conversations about contract value and post\u2011season evaluations. The Elias Sports Bureau comparison to Gary Anderson underscores how rare such late first\u2011time selections are for position players. For Stafford personally, the award provides a benchmark after a statistically elite season.<\/p>\n<p>Garrett\u2019s unanimous selection and sack record have wider defensive implications. A 23\u2011sack season recalibrates how teams value elite pass rushers in free agency and draft planning; consistent pressure production typically correlates with greater defensive scheme investment and roster support. Garrett\u2019s performance also raises the bar for defensive awards and could influence Defensive Player of the Year discussions.<\/p>\n<p>The unanimous receiver selections and the inclusion of several young defensive backs signal shifting positional dynamos. Nacua and Smith\u2011Njigba\u2019s consensus nods reflect high targeting and yardage production in passing attacks, while the presence of second\u2011year cornerbacks on the roster points to an influx of impactful underclass talent. Special teams and rookie returner recognitions highlight that game\u2011changing plays on punts and kicks remain a pathway to leaguewide acclaim.<\/p>\n<h2>Comparison &#038; Data<\/h2>\n<figure>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Quarterback<\/th>\n<th>Passing Yards<\/th>\n<th>TDs<\/th>\n<th>Passer Rating<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Matthew Stafford<\/td>\n<td>4,707<\/td>\n<td>46<\/td>\n<td>109.2<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Drake Maye<\/td>\n<td>4,394<\/td>\n<td>31<\/td>\n<td>113.5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Josh Allen<\/td>\n<td>(season stats varied)<\/td>\n<td>(see team reports)<\/td>\n<td>(received 1 first\u2011place vote)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\n<p>The table contrasts the two leading vote\u2011getters at quarterback. Stafford led the league in yards and TDs while Maye posted the top passer rating; both metrics influenced voter preferences. Voter behavior in the AP ballot often reflects a mix of raw totals and efficiency metrics, which can split support when candidates trade off yards, touchdowns and rating. The AP system\u2019s point weighting (3 points\/first\u2011team, 1 point\/second\u2011team) also means a consensus of second\u2011team placements can affect final roster composition.<\/p>\n<h2>Reactions &#038; Quotes<\/h2>\n<p>Players and coaches offered measured responses after the AP release, highlighting personal meaning and team recognition.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cThat\u2019s amazing. I did not see that coming. Played a lot of years. A lot of respect for this game. A lot of respect for the other guys who do what I do. It\u2019s not an easy thing to do. It means a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><cite>Matthew Stafford<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Stafford framed the honor as unexpected and meaningful after a long career. His comments emphasize respect for peers and the personal value of the All\u2011Pro distinction.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cThat\u2019s great. Needed that for real. Look forward to trying to get back to that same status this offseason.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><cite>Micah Parsons<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Parsons, recovering from surgery, described the selection as affirmation and noted a focus on offseason recovery and returning to form. The reaction underlines how awards can serve as milestones during injury rehab.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cThat\u2019s awesome. Everyone wants to be All\u2011Pro one day and that\u2019s one of the goals I set at the beginning of the season for my career and to be able to do that in my first year, I\u2019m just thankful (special teams) coach (John Fassel) and my teammates had belief in me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><cite>Chimere Dike<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Rookie punt returner Chimere Dike described the honor as the result of team support and personal objectives, highlighting the pathway from rookie impact to league recognition.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<details>\n<summary>Explainer: How the AP All\u2011Pro voting works<\/summary>\n<p>The AP panel submits ballots naming first\u2011 and second\u2011team players at each position. First\u2011team votes count for 3 points and second\u2011team votes for 1 point; point totals determine the roster. Votes are compiled and certified by an independent accounting firm (Lutz and Carr). The All\u2011Pro team is distinct from the Pro Bowl and is widely used in evaluations of individual performance and historical comparisons.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<\/aside>\n<h3>Unconfirmed<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>The AP does not publish the full voter list publicly; individual voter rationales beyond point totals are not disclosed.<\/li>\n<li>Detailed round\u2011by\u2011round vote breakdowns for every position beyond first\u2011place counts and the point system summary were not released with the AP summary.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Bottom Line<\/h2>\n<p>Matthew Stafford\u2019s first first\u2011team All\u2011Pro selection crowns an exceptional statistical season and alters late\u2011career assessments of his standing among peers. The mix of unanimous choices, record\u2011setting performances and a notable group of first\u2011time honorees illustrates both established excellence and emerging contributors across the league.<\/p>\n<p>For teams and agents, the AP roster will factor into offseason planning, award conversations and contract discussions; for fans, the list provides a data\u2011grounded snapshot of who defined the 2025 regular season. Expect further analysis as teams, analysts and the Elias Sports Bureau mine the vote totals and player metrics for longer\u2011term implications.<\/p>\n<h3>Sources<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/nfl-allpro-team-86b72f1cb4283f16c9ae6b6908418d21\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">AP News \u2014 Associated Press (news organization; AP All\u2011Pro release)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.eliasbureau.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Elias Sports Bureau \u2014 Sports statistics and historical context<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Matthew Stafford earned his first career first-team spot on the 2025 Associated Press All\u2011Pro Team after leading the NFL with 4,707 passing yards and 46 touchdowns, edging Drake Maye in the voting. Myles Garrett, Puka Nacua and Jaxon Smith\u2011Njigba were unanimous first\u2011team selections, while Bijan Robinson and Christian McCaffrey filled the running back and all\u2011purpose &#8230; <a title=\"Stafford gets first nod for AP All-Pro; Garrett, Nacua and Smith-Njigba unanimous\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/stafford-first-ap-all-pro\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Stafford gets first nod for AP All-Pro; Garrett, Nacua and Smith-Njigba unanimous\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":13899,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_title":"Stafford earns first AP All\u2011Pro nod \u2014 AP News","rank_math_description":"Matthew Stafford earned his first AP first\u2011team All\u2011Pro after a 4,707\u2011yard, 46\u2011TD season; Garrett, Nacua and Smith\u2011Njigba were unanimous selections and several rookies made the team.","rank_math_focus_keyword":"Stafford, Myles Garrett, Puka Nacua, Jaxon Smith\u2011Njigba, All\u2011Pro, AP","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13903","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-top-stories"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13903","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13903"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13903\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13899"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13903"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13903"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13903"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}