Dak Prescott’s biggest competition for Comeback Player of the Year is someone who didn’t even suffer a major injury in 2024
Which player that suffered a career setback in 2024 has positioned themselves the best to win the Comeback Player of the Year award in 2025?
With the NFL season halfway done, our team at A to Z Sports decided to vote on who should win each of the major NFL awards. Over the next week, we’ll release one article per day, covering each award. This article will cover the Comeback Player of the Year award.
A panel of four writers was selected for each award, and we attempted to exclude the primary beat reporters for the top-five favorites by betting odds in each category. That way, we’ll minimize bias in the voting as much as possible.
And speaking of voting, we copied the NFL’s MVP point system, where first-place votes result in 10 points, second-place votes receive five points, third-place votes get three points, fourth-place votes are worth two points, and fifth-place votes are worth one point. Obviously, the player with the most points wins the award.
For the Comeback Player of the Year, our panel includes Tyler Forness, Rob Gregson, John Sheeran, and Evan Winter.
A to Z Sports midseason Comeback Player of the Year voting
Dak Prescott, QB, Dallas Cowboys
“As someone who covers the Cincinnati Bengals, I know all about this award going to quarterbacks. I also know that the spirit of the award belongs to those who come back from injury, not irrelevance. That’s why Prescott gets the nod over Daniel Jones from me. Prescott, who missed half of last year with a hamstring injury, has done what he can to keep the Cowboys competitive despite an atrocious defense. Jones has been the better QB, but if the AP voters don’t want to abide by the guidelines, I will.” – John Sheeran, A to Z Sports Cincinnati
Daniel Jones, QB, Indianapolis Colts
“When Daniel Jones was signed by the Colts in the offseason, many believed it was to “push” Anthony Richardson in hopes of finding a spark within the young passer. When it became clear that Jones would be the starter, there were people going as far as to say that Indy was tanking for Arch Manning. Yet here they sit, 7-2, thanks in large part ot the efficiency of Daniel Jones. He leads the league in passing success rate, and he’s bettered himself in terms of taking care of the ball. He honestly looks like a totally different player, and in the best way possible – Rob Gregson, A to Z Sports Pittsburgh
Final voting results
- Dak Prescott: 25 points (2)
- Daniel Jones: 22 points (2)
- Aidan Hutchinson: 16 points
Comeback Player of the Year winner: Dak Prescott
“It’s nearly impossible to root against someone like Dak Prescott. Not only is his quarterbacking often underrated by the NFL world due to the Cowboys’ lack of playoff success, but he is one of the hardest-working players in football. That surely shows up in his rehab from a nasty, season-ending hamstring injury in 2024. Prescott consistently stayed ahead of schedule in rehab and showed up to OTAs completely ready to go.
Since returning to the field, Prescott has played the best football of his career. He’s generated the seventh-most pass EPA per Sumer Sports this year. He’s done so with a new play-caller, CeeDee Lamb missing multiple games, and with a banged-up offensive line that’s been fully healthy for two out of eight games. He deserves the award. – Mauricio Rodriguez, A to Z Sports Dallas
Detroit Lions News
The NFL’s first ever Protector of the Year has Penei Sewell, Garett Bolles and Quenton Nelson in the spotlight at midseason point
Which star offensive lineman deserves the honor of becoming the NFL’s first ever Protector of the Year?
