SAN FRANCISCO — The numbers screamed “winner,” but the voters looked north. Despite a campaign that rewrote the Rams’ record books yet again, Puka Nacua finished third in the 2025 Associated Press Offensive Player of the Year voting announced Thursday night at the NFL Honors.
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba took home the hardware, capitalizing on his team’s run to Super Bowl LX with 272 points and 14 first-place votes. San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey landed in second with 223 points (12 first-place votes), leaving Nacua in the third spot with 170 points and eight first-place nods.
The Numbers Game
Nacua didn’t just catch passes; he inhaled them. The Rams’ standout led the NFL with 129 receptions and racked up 1,715 receiving yards, trailing only Smith-Njigba for the league lead. While the hardware went to Seattle, the analytics community crowned Nacua the king of grit. He set a Pro Football Focus record with 27 contested catches and turned short throws into long gains, finishing first among all receivers with 729 yards after the catch (YAC) per Next Gen Stats.
The voting board featured a heavy NFC West flavor, with three of the top four finishers hailing from the division. Falcons running back Bijan Robinson claimed fourth (168 points), while Patriots rookie sensation quarterback Drake Maye rounded out the top five (58 points) as he prepares to face Smith-Njigba in Sunday’s Super Bowl.
“It’s super exciting. I feel blessed.” — Puka Nacua, Rams Wide Receiver
Despite the statistical fireworks, Nacua remained focused on the unglamorous side of the position. In interviews following the announcement, he brushed off the snub to highlight his blocking—a trait that endeared him to head coach Sean McVay since his rookie year. He noted that moving defenders to spring Kyren Williams for big runs meant just as much as the 11 touchdowns he posted this season.
What’s Next
While Smith-Njigba gears up for a Super Bowl LX showdown against New England at Levi’s Stadium this Sunday, Nacua and the Rams head into the offseason with a clear message: the offense runs through No. 17. With Matthew Stafford confirming his return for 2026, the connection that torched defenses for over 1,700 yards stays intact. The chip on Nacua’s shoulder just got a little heavier, and NFC West defensive coordinators should be worried.
