Byard, Thuney earn AP first-team nods, as 3 Chicago Bears earn All-Pro honors

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Matthew Stafford beat out Drake Maye, while Myles Garrett, Puka Nacua and Jaxon Smith-Njigba were unanimous choices for the 2025 Associated Press NFL All-Pro Team.

The Chicago Bears earned three All-Pro honors, with guard Joe Thuney and safety Kevin Byard leading the way as first-team All-Pro players. Fourth-year offensive tackle Darnell Wright was named a second-team All-Pro right tackle.

Bijan Robinson is the running back while Christian McCaffrey earned the All-Purpose spot. Ja’Marr Chase is the third wide receiver and tight end Trey McBride got 49 of 50 first-place votes.

Will Anderson Jr. and Micah Parsons joined Garrett at edge rusher. Jeffery Simmons and Zach Allen were selected as interior defensive linemen.

"That’s great. Needed that for real," said Parsons, who had surgery to repair a torn ACL and won’t be playing in the playoffs for the Packers. "Look forward to trying to get back to that same status this offseason."

The 37-year-old Stafford received 31 first-place votes to Maye’s 18 to earn All-Pro honors for the first time in his 17-year career. Josh Allen got the other vote. Stafford was first in the NFL with 4,707 yards and 46 touchdowns. His passer rating of 109.2 was second only to Maye, who finished at 113.5. Maye had 4,394 yards passing and 31 TDs.

Last year, Lamar Jackson was the first-team All-Pro quarterback and Allen was the AP NFL MVP.

"That’s amazing," Stafford said when he heard the news. "I did not see that coming. Played a lot of years. A lot of respect for this game. A lot of respect for the other guys who do what I do. It’s not an easy thing to do. It means a lot."

Stafford is the second player ever to be named a first-team All-Pro for the first time in his 17th season or later, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Kicker Gary Anderson also made it for the first time in his 17th season, in 1998. Before Stafford, the longest wait for a quarterback was Fran Tarkenton, who was an All-Pro for the first time in his 15th season, in 1975.

The Denver Broncos, the AFC’s No. 1 seed, had four first-team players and two second. Allen, left tackle Garrett Boles, left guard Quinn Meinerz and special teamer Devon Key made the first team. Cornerback Patrick Surtain II, the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year, and safety Talanoa Hufanga made the second team.

Eagles cornerback Quinyon Mitchell and slot cornerback Cooper DeJean made the roster in their second seasons. Houston’s Derek Stingley Jr. got 41 first-place votes to lead the voting at cornerback.

Chiefs center Creed Humphrey, Thuney and Lions right tackle Penei Sewell along with Meinerz are repeat selections.

CINCINNATI, OH - NOVEMBER 02: Chicago Bears guard Joe Thuney (62) walks off the field after the game against the Chicago Bears and the Cincinnati Bengals on November 2, 2025, at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, OH. (Photo by Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire …

Garrett, who broke the NFL’s single-season sack record with 23, is a five-time All-Pro. Parsons is a three-time first-teamer and once made the second team.

"That’s crazy," Anderson said about joining Garrett and Parsons. "It means a lot. It’s such a blessing. I have to give credit to my guys. I wouldn’t be here without them."

Baltimore’s Kyle Hamilton and Byard are the safeties. Detroit’s Jack Campbell and Miami’s Jordyn Brooks are the linebackers.

San Francisco fullback Kyle Juszczyk rounds out the offense.

Eighteen players are first-timers, including five on special teams.

Key, Vikings kicker Will Reichard, Ravens punter Jordan Stout, Bills kick returner Ray Davis and Titans rookie punt returner Chimere Dike are the first-timers. Jaguars long snapper Ross Matiscik made it for the second time.

Dike is the fourth rookie since 2020 to make the team.

"That’s awesome," Dike said. "Everyone wants to be All-Pro one day and that’s one of the goals I set at the beginning of the season for my career and to be able to do that in my first year, I’m just thankful (special teams) coach (John Fassel) and my teammates had belief in me."

This was the fourth year for the AP’s new voting system. Voters chose a first team and a second team. First-team votes are worth 3 points, second-team votes are worth 1.

Votes were tabulated by the accounting firm of Lutz and Carr.

First team

Offense

Quarterback — Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams

Running Back — Bijan Robinson, Atlanta

Fullback — Kyle Juszczyk, San Francisco

Wide Receivers — Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams; Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle; Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati

All Purpose — Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco

Tight End — Trey McBride, Arizona

Left Tackle — Garrett Bolles, Denver

Left Guard — Joe Thuney, Chicago

Center — Creed Humphrey, Kansas City

Right Guard — Quinn Meinerz, Denver

Right Tackle — Penei Sewell, Detroit

Defense

Edge Rushers — Myles Garrett, Cleveland; Will Anderson Jr., Houston; Micah Parsons, Green Bay

Interior Linemen — Jeffery Simmons, Tennessee; Zach Allen, Denver

Linebackers — Jack Campbell, Detroit; Jordyn Brooks, Miami

Cornerbacks — Derek Stingley Jr., Houston; Quinyon Mitchell, Philadelphia

Slot cornerback — Cooper DeJean, Philadelphia

Safeties — Kyle Hamilton, Baltimore; Kevin Byard, Chicago

Special Teams

Placekicker — Will Reichard, Minnesota

Punter — Jordan Stout, Baltimore

Kick Returner — Ray Davis, Buffalo

Punt Returner — Chimere Dike, Tennessee

Special Teamer — Devon Key, Denver

Long Snapper — Ross Matiscik, Jacksonville

___

Second team

Offense

Quarterback — Drake Maye, New England

Running Back — James Cook, Buffalo

Fullback — Patrick Ricard, Baltimore

Wide Receivers — George Pickens, Dallas; Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit; Chris Olave, New Orleans

All Purpose — Bijan Robinson, Atlanta

Tight End — Kyle Pitts, Atlanta

Left Tackle — Trent Williams, San Francisco

Left Guard — Quenton Nelson, Indianapolis

Center — Aaron Brewer, Miami

Right Guard — Chris Lindstrom, Atlanta

Right Tackle — Darnell Wright, Chicago

Defense

Edge Rushers — Brian Burns, New York Giants; Danielle Hunter, Houston; Aidan Hutchinson, Detroit

Interior Linemen — Leonard Williams, Seattle; Cameron Heyward, Pittsburgh

Linebackers — Devin Lloyd, Jacksonville; Ernest Jones IV, Seattle

Cornerbacks — Patrick Surtain II, Denver; Devon Witherspoon, Seattle

Slot cornerback — Derwin James, Los Angeles Chargers

Safeties — Jessie Bates III, Atlanta; (asterisk)-Talanoa Hufanga, Denver; (asterisk)-Xavier McKinney, Green Bay

Special teams

Placekicker — Brandon Aubrey, Dallas

Punter — Michael Dickson, Seattle

Kick Returner — Kavontae Turpin, Dallas

Punt Returner — Marcus Jones, New England

Special Teamer — Del’Shawn Phillips, Los Angeles Chargers

Long Snapper — Andrew DePaola, Minnesota

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