5 San Francisco 49ers who could win NFL MVP award in 2025
The San Francisco 49ers haven't had an NFL MVP award winner since 1994 when quarterback Steve Young took home the trophy for a second time in three seasons.
They got close in 2023 when running back Christian McCaffrey and quarterback Brock Purdy finished No. 3 and No. 4 in the voting, respectively. We were sifting through their chances to snag an MVP winner for the first time in more than 30 years and came up with five players who could bring the award back to the Bay Area:
5. LB Fred Warner
It's admittedly hard to fathom a linebacker winning an MVP award. We picked Warner out of respect for his all-around skill set and the fact he was a First-Team All-Pro last year despite playing from Week 4 on with a fractured ankle. If the 49ers have the No. 1 defense and Warner leads the way with a few interceptions, a handful of sacks, and some dominant prime time performances, perhaps an off-ball LB works his way into the MVP conversation.
4. QB Mac Jones
Look, at least we're making Jones the No. 4 candidate and not No. 1 like some people did after Sam Darnold signed with the 49ers ahead of the 2023 season. That was actually a thing. While Jones hasn't been particularly good since his rookie season, he's still a quarterback which gives him a major boost in the MVP discussion. If Purdy gets hurt early in the year and Jones steps into head coach Kyle Shanahan's offense, thrives and leads San Francisco to a division title, he would at the very least be in the discussion for the award.
3. DE Nick Bosa
Playing a high-profile position where sacks offer a flashy, catch-all stat for voters to cite helps Bosa's case quite a bit over other defensive players. The 49ers would love to get a year from their former Defensive Player of the Year where he leaps into the MVP conversation. If he does, it means he's in the 20-plus sack realm and spearheading a defense that is one of the NFL's most dominant units.
2. RB Christian McCaffrey
We don't need to reach very far to make McCaffrey an MVP candidate considering he finished third in MVP voting just two years ago. Despite his recent injury problems, McCaffrey is still the most unique playmaker on the 49ers. Quarterback Brock Purdy may have to rely on McCaffrey a lot as a receiver, putting another season with 1,000 rushing yards and 1,000 receiving yards on the table. If he hits those benchmarks on a high-octane 49ers offense, he'll be back in the MVP mix.
1. QB Brock Purdy
The 49ers paid Purdy like a player who can win an MVP, and he played like that in 2023. Last season he took a step back, but if he and the 49ers improve this year, and the 49ers offense gets back to scoring 30 points on almost everyone, he'll be prominent in the MVP discourse.
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2025 — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City 2024 — Jaylen Brown, Boston 2023 — Nikola Jokic, Denver 2022 — Stephen Curry, Golden State 2021 — Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee 2020 — LeBron James, L.A. Lakers 2019 — Kawhi Leonard, Toronto 2018 — Kevin Durant, Golden State 2017 — Kevin Durant, Golden State 2016 — LeBron James, Cleveland 2015 — Andre Iguodala, Golden State 2014 — Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio 2013 — LeBron James, Miami 2012 — LeBron James, Miami 2011 — Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas 2010 — Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers 2009 — Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers 2008 — Paul Pierce, Boston 2007 — Tony Parker, San Antonio 2006 — Dwyane Wade, Miami 2005 — Tim Duncan, San Antonio 2004 — Chauncey Billups, Detroit 2003 — Tim Duncan, San Antonio 2002 — Shaquille O'Neal, L.A. Lakers 2001 — Shaquille O'Neal, L.A. Lakers 2000 — Shaquille O'Neal, L.A. Lakers 1999 — Tim Duncan, San Antonio 1998 — Michael Jordan, Chicago 1997 — Michael Jordan, Chicago 1996 — Michael Jordan, Chicago 1995 — Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston 1994 — Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston 1993 — Michael Jordan, Chicago 1992 — Michael Jordan, Chicago 1991 — Michael Jordan, Chicago 1990 — Isiah Thomas, Detroit 1989 — Joe Dumars, Detroit 1988 — James Worthy, L.A. Lakers 1987 — Magic Johnson, L.A. Lakers 1986 — Larry Bird, Boston 1985 — Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, L.A. Lakers 1984 — Larry Bird, Boston 1983 — Moses Malone, Philadelphia 1982 — Magic Johnson, L.A. Lakers 1981 — Cedric Maxwell, Boston 1980 — Magic Johnson, L.A. Lakers 1979 — Dennis Johnson, Seattle 1978 — Wes Unseld, Washington 1977 — Bill Walton, Portland 1976 — Jo Jo White, Boston 1975 — Rick Barry, Golden State 1974 — John Havlicek, Boston 1973 — Willis Reed, New York 1972 — Wilt Chamberlain, L.A. Lakers 1971 — Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Milwaukee 1970 — Willis Reed, New York 1969 — Jerry West, L.A. Lakers
