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01/10 08:01 CST Stafford gets first nod for AP All-Pro. Garrett, Nacua and
Smith-Njigba are unanimous choices
Stafford gets first nod for AP All-Pro. Garrett, Nacua and Smith-Njigba are
unanimous choices
By ROB MAADDI
AP Pro Football Writer
Matthew Stafford beat out Drake Maye, while Myles Garrett, Puka Nacua and Jaxon
Smith-Njigba were unanimous choices for the 2025 Associated Press NFL All-Pro
Team.
Bijan Robinson is the running back while Christian McCaffrey earned the
All-Purpose spot. Ja'Marr Chase is the third wide receiver and tight end Trey
McBride got 49 of 50 first-place votes.
Will Anderson Jr. and Micah Parsons joined Garrett at edge rusher. Jeffery
Simmons and Zach Allen were selected as interior defensive linemen.
"That's great. Needed that for real," said Parsons, who had surgery to repair a
torn ACL and won't be playing in the playoffs for the Packers. "Look forward to
trying to get back to that same status this offseason."
The 37-year-old Stafford received 31 first-place votes to Maye's 18 to earn
All-Pro honors for the first time in his 17-year career. Josh Allen got the
other vote. Stafford was first in the NFL with 4,707 yards and 46 touchdowns.
His passer rating of 109.2 was second only to Maye, who finished at 113.5. Maye
had 4,394 yards passing and 31 TDs.
Last year, Lamar Jackson was the first-team All-Pro quarterback and Allen was
the AP NFL MVP.
"That's amazing," Stafford said when he heard the news. "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's not an easy thing to do. It means a
lot."
Stafford is the second player ever to be named a first-team All-Pro for the
first time in his 17th season or later, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
Kicker Gary Anderson also made it for the first time in his 17th season, in
1998. Before Stafford, the longest wait for a quarterback was Fran Tarkenton,
who was an All-Pro for the first time in his 15th season, in 1975.
The Denver Broncos, the AFC's No. 1 seed, had four first-team players and two
second. Allen, left tackle Garrett Boles, left guard Quinn Meinerz and special
teamer Devon Key made the first team. Cornerback Patrick Surtain II, the
reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year, and safety Talanoa Hufanga made the
second team.
Eagles cornerback Quinyon Mitchell and slot cornerback Cooper DeJean made the
roster in their second seasons. Houston's Derek Stingley Jr. got 41 first-place
votes to lead the voting at cornerback.
Chiefs center Creed Humphrey, Bears left guard Joe Thuney and Lions right
tackle Penei Sewell along with Meinerz are repeat selections.
Garrett, who broke the NFL's single-season sack record with 23, is a five-time
All-Pro. Parsons is a three-time first-teamer and once made the second team.
"That's crazy," Anderson said about joining Garrett and Parsons. "It means a
lot. It's such a blessing. I have to give credit to my guys. I wouldn't be here
without them."
Baltimore's Kyle Hamilton and Chicago's Kevin Byard are the safeties. Detroit's
Jack Campbell and Miami's Jordyn Brooks are the linebackers.
San Francisco fullback Kyle Juszczyk rounds out the offense.
Eighteen players are first-timers, including five on special teams.
Key, Vikings kicker Will Reichard, Ravens punter Jordan Stout, Bills kick
returner Ray Davis and Titans rookie punt returner Chimera Dike are the
first-timers. Jaguars long snapper Ross Matiscik made it for the second time.
Dike is the fourth rookie since 2020 to make the team.
"That's awesome," Dike said. "Everyone wants to be All-Pro one day and that's
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'm just thankful (special teams) coach (John
Fassel) and my teammates had belief in me."
This was the fourth year for the AP's new voting system. Voters chose a first
team and a second team. First-team votes are worth 3 points, second-team votes
are worth 1.
Votes were tabulated by the accounting firm of Lutz and Carr.
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AP Pro Football Writer Josh Dubow contributed to this report.
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