AP Most Valuable Player
Running back Christian McCaffrey was named one of five finalists for the prestigious AP Most Valuable Player award. He faces stiff competition, as McCaffrey is the only non-quarterback among the finalists—historically a challenging position from which to win the award.
The other finalists are Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence, New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, and Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, who is currently the betting favorite.
McCaffrey is coming off a dominant 2025 season. The All-Pro started all 17 games and led the NFL with a career-high and league-leading 413 touches, totaling 2,126 scrimmage yards and 17 touchdowns.
AP Comeback Player of the Year
McCaffrey is also a finalist for the AP Comeback Player of the Year award and is widely considered a favorite. His outstanding 2025 campaign followed an injury-plagued 2024 season in which he appeared in just four games due to Achilles tendinitis and a PCL injury.
Returning to post his third career season with more than 2,000 scrimmage yards underscores the significance of his comeback.
The other finalists are New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs, Detroit Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence, and Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott.
The competition is formidable. Hutchinson recorded 14.5 sacks one season after fracturing both his tibia and fibula. Diggs totaled 1,013 receiving yards after returning from a torn ACL. Prescott threw for 4,552 yards and 30 touchdowns following hamstring surgery, while Lawrence surpassed 4,000 passing yards after an injury-shortened 2024 season.
AP Coach of the Year
The 49ers endured significant adversity in 2025, with injuries impacting nearly every level of the roster. Despite those challenges, head coach Kyle Shanahan guided the team to a 12-win season and a playoff berth—arguably one of the strongest coaching performances of his career.
Those efforts earned Shanahan a finalist spot for AP Coach of the Year. He faces strong competition, including Super Bowl LX head coaches Mike Macdonald of the Seattle Seahawks and Mike Vrabel of the New England Patriots.
The remaining finalists are Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen and Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson.
NFL Salute to Service Award
McCaffrey was also named a finalist for the NFL Salute to Service Award, which honors players for exceptional efforts in supporting members of the military community.
"It's an honor to be recognized as a finalist for this year's Salute to Service Award," McCaffrey said via a statement from the 49ers. "Serving those who serve us has been something myself and everyone involved with my foundation [the Christian McCaffrey Foundation] have prioritized over the years."
The Christian McCaffrey Foundation focuses on providing resources to active-duty military members, veterans, U.S. elite forces, and frontline workers through initiatives such as 23 and Troops, with an emphasis on mental health, trauma recovery, and PTSD support.
The other finalists are Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones Sr. and Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson.
Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award
For the second consecutive year, the 49ers selected linebacker Curtis Robinson as their nominee for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award, one of the league's most prestigious honors, recognizing excellence on the field and impact in the community.
Each NFL team nominates one player, resulting in 32 total nominees annually.
Robinson has been a leading force in the 49ers' community outreach, championing education, social justice, and mentorship.
Through his work with the 49ers Foundation, Inspire Change initiatives, and multiple Bay Area nonprofits, he has supported youth education, directed significant funding to community organizations, mentored justice-impacted teens, and delivered tangible resources—from books to free haircuts and family support—to underserved communities.