Tom Brady drops his personal 2025 NFL awards list, and some of his picks are turning heads

Tom Brady's 2025 NFL awards list dropped like a midweek shockwave across the league, not because of controversy, but because of conviction. The Fox Sports analyst and Las Vegas Raiders minority owner publicly shared his personal ballot for the season’s biggest honors, offering rare insight into how the greatest quarterback of his era sees today’s NFL hierarchy.What stood out immediately was not star power alone, but intent. Brady’s choices blended dominance, timing, and trust in players who shaped winning moments. His list ignored consensus thinking in spots and leaned into performance over popularity, which explains why fans and insiders alike paused to look twice.Matthew Stafford topped Brady’s Player of the Year list, a nod that mirrored the Rams quarterback’s command of the season. Stafford’s case hardly needed decoration. He was sharp, durable, and decisive when it mattered most. Brady doubled down by making it clear that if he holds an MVP vote again, Stafford would be his pick, just as Brady backed Lamar Jackson last year before Josh Allen won.The Offensive Player of the Year selection came split between Rams receiver Puka Nacua and Seahawks wideout Jaxon Smith-Njigba. It was a rare dual honor that highlighted how both players redefined their offenses in different ways. Defense brought less debate. Myles Garrett earned Defensive Player of the Year after rewriting the single-season sacks record, a milestone Brady treated as automatic.Rookie awards added intrigue. Carolina receiver Tetairoa McMillan took Offensive Rookie of the Year, while Seattle defensive back Nick Emmanwori edged out favorite Carson Schwesinger for Defensive Rookie of the Year, a pick that raised eyebrows and conversations.Brady’s most unconventional move came with Coach of the Year. Instead of one name, he chose four. Mike Vrabel led the group after guiding New England from 4-13 to a 14-3 record, an AFC title, and a Super Bowl 60 appearance. Brady’s praise carried humor and history.“They go from 4-13 to playing in the Super Bowl. Vrabes, you’re like my brother. I love you. I’m so proud of you,” Brady said in the video posted to X by FOX Sports. “Even though you went to Ohio State. ... You became a great teammate of mine and a Super Bowl champion. And not to mention a great goal line — and I’m just going to mention the goal line receiver that you were. You didn’t do anything outside the 1-yard line. So you’re not that good of a receiver, but you’re a hell of a coach."Chicago’s Ben Johnson, Seattle’s Mike Macdonald, and Jacksonville’s Liam Coen joined Vrabel on Brady’s list, all finalists alongside Kyle Shanahan. The only lingering question is philosophical. Should a minority owner hold an awards vote at all? Brady’s list did not answer that, but it certainly fueled the debate.