When you think about the season Ja’Marr Chase had in 2025, it’s remarkable the numbers he was able to put up without Joe Burrow for nine games and an offensive line that wasn’t very good at the start of the season.
Chase finished the season with 125 receptions for 1,412 yards and eight touchdowns. Those numbers rank third, fourth, and tied for 11th in the NFL. It was a season filled with adversity, with Chase going, at one point, eight straight games without a touchdown reception, serving a one-game suspension for spitting at Steelers’ cornerback Jalen Ramsey, and being visibly frustrated at the Bengals’ inability to close out games.
Still, though, ESPN’s Seth Walder listed Chase at No. 19 in his Top 100 NFL MVP candidates this past season.
The MVP finalists were announced today ahead of the NFL Honors on Thursday, February 5th. Four quarterbacks— Josh Allen, Trevor Lawrence, Drake Maye, and Matthew Stafford— and running back Christian McCaffrey were named finalists for the MVP Award this season.
Despite his prolific season, which resulted in a fifth straight Pro Bowl and second straight First-Team All-Pro selection, Chase wasn’t even a finalist for the Offensive Player of the Year Award. Maye and McCaffrey were named finalists alongside wide receivers Puka Nacua and Jaxon Smith-Njigba and running back Bijan Robinson.
Chase is entering the sixth season of his career already in the top five in Bengals history in receptions (4th, 520), yards (5th, 6,837), and touchdowns (4th, 54).
