While the 2025 Detroit Lions offense wasn’t as explosive as we’ve recently seen, the unit is still filled with a ton of playmakers. Last year, a handful of players on offense made plays week in and week out. So next on our Pride of Detroit award nominations, we’re talking about Offensive Player of the Year.
Below are our nominations, but your vote in the poll at the bottom of the page will determine the winner.
Previous awards (voting still open!)
2025 Detroit Lions Offensive Player of the Year
Brandon Knapp: Jahmyr Gibbs
Gibbs had his best year yet in the league and he did it behind a makeshift offensive line that continuously had a different starting five as the season progressed. Once the OL gets upgraded and stable, I think he can become an All-Pro next year. His receiving game saw an increase this year, too, and I think the team is just scratching the surface of what they can do with him in that regard.
Erik Schlitt: Jahmyr Gibbs
While Gibbs may have fallen a bit short of the rushing numbers he put up in 2024, he remains an explosive play waiting to happen every time he touches the ball, notching 27 rushes of 10+ yards (ninth most in the NFL) and eclipsing speeds of 20+ miles per hour six times (second most). His contributions as a receiver in 2025 were where he saw the most growth, with 77 receptions, 616 receiving yards, and five receiving touchdowns, all third among running backs in the NFL.
Al Karsten: Penei Sewell
While the Lions had three skill players eclipse 1,000 yards—Jahmyr Gibbs, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and Jameson Williams—it was Penei Sewell who served as the offense’s rock, their most consistent and talented performer. Sewell dominated as a bulldozer in the run game and delivered arguably his best season as a pro in pass protection, all while still just 25 years old.
Jeremy Reisman: Jahmyr Gibbs
When you think about some of the Lions’ biggest wins, it was usually Jahmyr Gibbs leading the way. Two touchdowns vs. the Ravens, 218 yards and two scores vs. the Buccaneers, 264 yards and three touchdowns vs. the Giants, and 120 yards and three touchdowns vs. the Cowboys. As Gibbs went, so did the team. So it’s not surprising when Gibbs struggled to get going late in the year, the Lions’ season fell apart.
Ryan Mathews: Jahmyr Gibbs
If it wasn’t for a disappointing end to the season–something that could be said about the Lions as a whole–we could have seen Gibbs earn his first All-Pro selection and potentially be the league’s Offensive Player of the Year. Still, Gibbs finished sixth in yards per carry (5.0), t-third in missed tackles forced (62), and third in yards per route run (1.67) among qualifying running backs.
John Whiticar: Penei Sewell
No disrespect to Amon-Ra St. Brown or Jahmyr Gibbs or Jared Goff, all of whom are vital parts of a good Lions offense. However, Penei Sewell is simply otherworldly. PFF grades are fickle things to rely on, but Sewell’s league-leading grade of 95.2 is absurd. In a season where the offensive line was being reshuffled every week, Sewell was the anchor keeping everything in place. The only game he missed was a meaningless Week 18 tilt, a game he likely would have started if the stakes were higher.
Meko Scott: Jahmyr Gibbs
There were definitely more consistent players for this offense in 2025, but none were more impressive Jahmyr Gibbs in my opinion. In a year where Gibbs was given a larger role as the lead rusher for the Lions he was able to climb into the conversation as one of the best running backs in the league. We saw Jah accumulate top-10 numbers at his position with 1,223 rushing yards and 13 rushing touchdowns, while also expanding his role in the passing game with another 5 touchdowns and 616 receiving yards. All of this production was generated while also dealing with a shuffling O-line and two different play callers this season. Just a truly impressive showing from Sonic that is still hopefully just the tip of the iceberg for what is yet to come in his young career.
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