Is there a better feeling in sports than watching a player come back from injury and outperform all odds and expectations? That kind of resilience defines true greatness. This season, three NFL stars are showing exactly that as they make their case for the 2025–26 Comeback Player of the Year Award.
- Daniel Jones, Indianapolis Colts
After a brutal fallout with the Giants following an up-and-down six years, Daniel Jones has bounced back big time. Notably, Jones suffered a neck injury and an ACL tear, which tore apart his 2023 season and lingered into 2024. As a result, he struggled, was eventually benched, and then released after managing just eight touchdowns compared to 7 interceptions in 10 games last season.
Jones’ career as a full-fledged starter looked all but over, but he proved everyone wrong. The 28-year-old quarterback finished the season with the Vikings in a backup role before signing a one-year deal with the Colts in the offseason.
Jones’ move to the Colts has turned out to be a match made in heaven. The seventh-year veteran has been on absolute fire so far this season, averaging nearly 266 passing yards per game, a career high, along with 20 total touchdowns in just 10 starts.
Thanks to Jones, the Colts sit atop the AFC at 8-2, with Super Bowl hopes in sight with their new star quarterback leading the way. Once written off, Jones has reminded everyone what resilience truly looks like.
- Christian McCaffrey, San Fransico 49ers
Christian McCaffrey is no stranger to a comeback story. One year, he might miss significant time with an injury, while in others, he stays healthy and posts elite numbers. So far, 2025 has been one of those healthy years.
Despite suffering a high-grade calf strain and a season-ending Achilles injury in 2024, McCaffrey has returned like he never left, showing why he is one of the most dynamic players in the NFL. Whether running between the tackles or catching passes out of the backfield, he continues to make a huge impact every game.
In just nine games this season, the 49ers’ back has carried a massive workload and made the most of it. McCaffrey ranks 13th in rushing yards with 626, 6th in receiving yards with 692, and 2nd best in the league in total scrimmage yards with 1,222.
He has excelled both on the ground and through the air, continuing to be the centerpiece of the 49ers’ offense, and helping lead them to a 6-4 record. It’s one of those years for McCaffrey, and he is performing at a level few backs in the league can match.
- Aidan Hutchinson, Detroit Lions
Aidan Hutchinson endured one of the toughest injuries a player can face, suffering a fractured tibia and fibula in Week 6 of 2024. The Lions’ star underwent surgery and missed the rest of the season, leaving Detroit without one of its most dominant defensive forces. Many players might struggle to regain form after an injury like that, but Hutchinson is not like most.
From the very start of his rehab, it was clear that he was determined not just to return, but to make an immediate impact and help his team. His mindset, preparation, and relentless work ethic set the stage for a comeback that few could have predicted.
In just nine games this season, the fourth-year edge rusher has returned even stronger, recording seven sacks, seven tackles for loss, and a league-leading four forced fumbles. Hutchinson’s dominance off the edge has made him a top candidate for Comeback Player of the Year and a contender for Defensive Player of the Year.
The Lions have leaned on him heavily, and he has delivered at an even higher level, proving himself to be one of the NFL’s elite defensive players, showing that setbacks have only made him better.
