Joshua Sarner/Icon Sportswire
Author: Anthony Vlahovic
Last Updated: 08 April, 2025
2025-26 NFL Comeback Player Of The Year Odds
Of all the trophies and awards regarding the NFL, the Comeback Player Of The Year title is certainly something no player targets winning, as typically, the award recognizes players who have displayed resilience in making a triumphant return to top form from major injuries or excelling after a challenging season.
Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin was the betting favorite for almost all of 2023 until Joe Flacco swooped in and secured the award after leading the Browns to the playoffs. In 2024, Joe Burrow became the first player since Chad Pennington to win the award for the second time.
Here, we'll break down the odds for the 2025-26 Comeback Player of the Year award from the top sports betting apps in the US, and around the world.
NFL Comeback Player of the Year 2025-26 - Best Odds
Player | Opening Odds | Current Best Odds |
|---|---|---|
Aidan Hutchinson | +200 | +300 (Caesars) |
Christian McCaffrey | +300 | +350 (BetMGM) |
Dak Prescott | +350 | +350 (DraftKings*) |
Trevor Lawrence | +400 | +500 (Caesars*) |
J.J. McCarthy | +750 | +900 (BetMGM |
Rashee Rice | +1200 | +1500 (BetMGM) |
Maxx Crosby | +2000 | +2500 (Caesars) |
Tank Dell | +2200 | +3000 (BetMGM) |
Brandon Aiyuk | +2500 | +3000 (Caesars*) |
Derek Carr | +1800 | +3000 (BetMGM) |
Tua Tagovailoa | +2500 | +2500 (Bet365*) |
Chris Godwin | +3500 | +3500 (BetMGM*) |
Odds as of March 7, 2025
* = the same odds are offered by multiple sportsbooks.
NFL Comeback Player of the Year 2025-26 Betting Odds - Top 5 Contenders
Player | DraftKings | Caesars | BetMGM |
|---|---|---|---|
Aidan Hutchinson | +190 | +300 | +250 |
Christian McCaffrey | +300 | +300 | +350 |
Dak Prescott | +350 | +275 | +325 |
Trevor Lawrence | +450 | +500 | +500 |
J.J. McCarthy | +850 | +650 | +900 |
*odds as of March 7, 2025
Current Favorites
Aidan Hutchinson (DET Lions): He may have only been able to play in five games this past season, but in that time, Hutchinson looked like a potential Defensive Player of the Year. Prior to breaking his leg, Hutchinson recorded 7.5 sacks, putting him well on his way to a career-high. Regardless of who is calling the plays on defense for the Lions this upcoming season, Hutchinson still projects to be a game wrecker.
Christian McCaffrey (SF 49ers): Fresh off the best season of his career, Christian McCaffrey hardly saw the field during the 2024-25 season. After dealing with Achilles problems during the off-season and the beginning of the season, McCaffrey returned to action only to injure his PCL, forcing him to miss the rest of a disappointing season in San Francisco. In the offense he's in, McCaffrey could certainly post a big comeback year, but whether his body can hold up is a major question.
Dak Prescott (DAL Cowboys): The last seven Comeback Player of the Year awards have gone to a quarterback, and Dak Prescott has opened as the favorite among the position for the upcoming season. Prescott had a spectacular 2023-24 season, but he suffered a season-ending hamstring injury that required surgery this past season. Prescott will now have his offensive coordinator from the past few seasons as his head coach, so with the Cowboys' willingness to rely on the pass, the veteran QB could certainly post some big numbers if he's protected.
NFL Comeback Player of the Year Past Winners
When the award returned in 1998, quarterback Chad Pennington was the only player in NFL history to win the Comeback Player of the Year title more than once. However, after the 2024 season, that is no longer the case, as Joe Burrow has won the award twice since 2021.
Season | Player | Position | Team | Opening Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
2024 | Joe Burrow | Quarterback | Cincinnati Bengals | +250 |
2023 | Joe Flacco | Quarterback | Cleveland Browns | N/A |
2022 | Geno Smith | Quarterback | Seattle Seahawks | N/A |
2021 | Joe Burrow | Quarterback | Cincinnati Bengals | +800 |
2020 | Alex Smith | Quarterback | Washington Commanders | +300 |
2019 | Ryan Tannehill | Quarterback | Tennessee Titans | N/A |
2018 | Andrew Luck | Quarterback | Indianapolis Colts | +450 |
2017 | Keenan Allen | Wide receiver | Los Angeles Chargers | +900 |
2016 | Jordy Nelson | Wide receiver | Green Bay Packers | +600 |
2015 | Eric Berry | Safety | Kansas City Chiefs | +500 |
2014 | Rob Gronkowski | Tight end | New England Patriots | +1000 |
2013 | Philip Rivers | Quarterback | San Diego Chargers | N/A |
2012 | Peyton Manning | Quarterback | Denver Broncos | N/A |
2011 | Matthew Stafford | Quarterback | Detroit Lions | N/A |
2010 | Michael Vick | Quarterback | Philadelphia Eagles | N/A |
2009 | Tom Brady | Quarterback | New England Patriots | N/A |
2008 | Chad Pennington | Quarterback | Miami Dolphins | N/A |
2007 | Greg Ellis | Defensive end | Dallas Cowboys | N/A |
2006 | Chad Pennington | Quarterback | New York Jets | N/A |
2005 | Steve Smith Tedy Bruschi | Wide receiver Linebacker | Carolina Panthers New England Patriots | N/A |
2004 | Drew Brees | Quarterback | San Diego Chargers | N/A |
2003 | Jon Kitna | Quarterback | Cincinnati Bengals | N/A |
2002 | Tommy Maddox | Quarterback | Pittsburgh Steelers | N/A |
2001 | Garrison Hearst | Running back | San Francisco 49ers | N/A |
2000 | Joe Johnson | Defensive end | New Orleans Saints | N/A |
1999 | Bryant Young | Defensive tackle | San Francisco 49ers | N/A |
1998 | Doug Flutie | Quarterback | Buffalo Bills | N/A |
NFL CPOY Award History, Trends, and Pointers
Regarding player positions, quarterbacks have been favored in the Comeback Player of the Year title hunt. Ever since the award came back in 1998, a quarterback has won the title 17 times from the 26 total.
The last seven award winners have all been quarterbacks.
Only five defensive players have won the NFL CPOY since 1998, the last one being Kansas City safety Eric Berry in 2015.
The CPOY award has been shared only once in NFL history, as Tedy Bruschi and Steve Smith Sr. both won the title in 2005.
Most commonly, the CPOY award is given to a player who missed multiple games due to some type of injury during the previous season. Nine of the last ten winners missed at least five games from their previous season before being named Comeback Player of the Year.
Geno Smith, the 2022 winner, is one of only two players since 2013 to achieve this without suffering an injury in the preceding year.
While there are usually clear frontrunners for this award each year, even the "long shot" options can prevail. During the 2022-23 season, the CPOY winner Geno Smith's longest odds for Comeback Player of the Year were a whoppin' +6000.
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