Josh Allen wins his 1st MVP

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen has officially been named the 2025 AP NFL MVP, securing his first Most Valuable Player award in a career-defining season. However, his victory came with an unexpected twist—despite winning MVP honors, Allen did not receive the majority of first-team All-Pro votes, finishing behind Baltimore Ravens’ Lamar Jackson in that category.

This unusual voting outcome challenges past trends, where the All-Pro quarterback almost always secured the NFL MVP title. With Allen’s win, the MVP voting system has once again proven its complexity, highlighting factors beyond just All-Pro recognition. This article explores Allen’s journey to the award, the voting process, historical precedents, and what this means for future MVP selections.

A Rare MVP Selection: Allen Overcomes All-Pro Deficit

In most cases, the AP NFL MVP and first-team All-Pro quarterback honors go hand in hand. Over the last 11 seasons, the media panel responsible for selecting the All-Pro team has also determined the MVP, and their selections have almost always aligned. However, 2025 proved to be an exception.

Despite Lamar Jackson receiving 30 out of 50 first-team All-Pro votes—significantly more than Josh Allen, who collected 18—Allen still managed to edge Jackson in the final MVP tally. Allen finished with 378 points, narrowly surpassing Jackson’s 352 points in the MVP voting process.

The key difference came from the MVP vote distribution. Unlike All-Pro voting, which is a straightforward selection process, the MVP scoring system assigns 10 points for a first-place vote, with descending values for lower placements. While Jackson and Allen appeared as the top two choices on 47 of the 49 ballots, Allen secured nine additional first-place votes, while Jackson lost eight.

This discrepancy was significant enough to push Allen ahead, despite Jackson’s advantage in the All-Pro race. Interestingly, one voter placed Jackson fourth on their MVP ballot, which may have ultimately contributed to his runner-up finish.

Historical Cases: How Often Does This Happen?

Josh Allen’s MVP victory without being a first-team All-Pro selection is incredibly rare, occurring only twice before in NFL history.

• 2003: Peyton Manning and Steve McNair – Manning and McNair shared the MVP award, but McNair finished second in All-Pro voting. Despite McNair’s lower standing, he garnered enough MVP votes to tie Manning for the league’s top individual honor.
• 1987: John Elway vs. Joe Montana – In another surprising outcome, John Elway was crowned MVP, even though Joe Montana secured more first-team All-Pro votes that season.

In both cases, the MVP race was highly competitive, similar to the 2025 Allen-Jackson battle, where the final result depended on subtle variations in voter preferences.

These examples illustrate that while the All-Pro vote carries significant weight, MVP selection ultimately depends on more than just All-Pro recognition. A player’s overall impact, clutch performances, and team success all contribute to the final MVP decision.

Why Did Allen Win Over Jackson?

Several factors likely played a role in Allen’s MVP win despite Jackson’s strong All-Pro support.

1. Clutch Performances in Key Moments

   • Throughout the 2024 NFL season, Allen delivered several standout performances in critical matchups. His ability to perform under pressure, especially in late-game situations, may have swayed voters in his favor.

2. Statistical Prowess

   • Allen’s season was marked by impressive numbers across multiple categories, including passing yards, touchdowns, and rushing contributions. While Jackson also had a stellar campaign, Allen’s dual-threat ability and consistency throughout the season likely resonated with MVP voters.

3. Perception of Value to His Team

   • The Buffalo Bills relied heavily on Allen’s playmaking ability, and his leadership was a key reason they remained competitive throughout the season. Voters may have considered Allen’s individual impact on his team’s success greater than Jackson’s.

4. Voting Trends and Media Influence

   • The MVP award is determined by media members who may weigh certain aspects of a player’s season differently than those selecting All-Pro teams. In Allen’s case, his reputation, leadership, and ability to deliver in big moments might have given him the edge.

Despite Jackson’s dominance in All-Pro voting, Allen’s well-rounded season and perception as the most valuable player in 2025 sealed his victory.

The Future of NFL MVP Voting

Josh Allen’s MVP win in 2025 signals a potential shift in how voters approach the award. While the first-team All-Pro quarterback has traditionally been the MVP frontrunner, this year’s outcome suggests that the media panel is increasingly considering other factors beyond All-Pro selections.

Possible Changes in MVP Voting Trends

1. More emphasis on playoff performance?

   • While the MVP award is based solely on the regular season, late-season heroics and postseason positioning may indirectly influence voter sentiment.

2. A More Open Race in the Future

   • Historically, the MVP race has been dominated by quarterbacks. However, the 2025 voting process showed that the award isn’t strictly tied to statistical leaders or All-Pro winners. Future MVP decisions may feature closer competition among multiple candidates.

3. The Impact of Media Narratives

   • As seen in Allen’s case, media narratives can shape MVP voting, sometimes even overriding All-Pro voting results. If a player gains momentum as the season progresses, it could affect their MVP chances—even if they aren’t the unanimous All-Pro choice.

With Josh Allen’s win, future MVP races could see more unpredictable results, where team leadership, late-season dominance, and overall impact become just as important as All-Pro recognition.

Conclusion

Josh Allen’s first MVP award in 2025 will go down as one of the most unique victories in NFL history. Despite finishing second in All-Pro voting, his clutch performances, overall value to the Buffalo Bills, and additional first-place MVP votes ultimately secured him the trophy.

This rare deviation from past MVP trends serves as a reminder that MVP voting is complex, and factors like leadership, consistency, and late-season performance can outweigh traditional All-Pro selections.

As the NFL continues to evolve, so too will the MVP selection process. If Josh Allen’s 2025 win is any indication, future races could be more competitive and unpredictable than ever before.

One thing is certain—Josh Allen has cemented his place among the NFL’s elite, and his MVP victory is a testament to his growth, leadership, and ability to perform when it matters most.