The Los Angeles Rams didn’t just look the part in 2025 - they backed it up with hardware.
On Monday, the Professional Football Writers of America (PFWA) released their annual All-NFL, All-AFC, and All-NFC teams, and the Rams were front and center. Quarterback Matthew Stafford and wide receiver Puka Nacua earned First Team All-NFL honors, while edge rusher Byron Young locked down a spot on the All-NFC team. It was a fitting capstone to one of the most complete and compelling seasons the Rams have put together in recent memory.
This isn’t just a nod to good stats or flashy moments. The PFWA All-NFL team is one of the most respected postseason honors in the sport, voted on by writers who live and breathe NFL football.
Only 27 players across the league made the cut, and just 16 teams were represented. For the Rams to land three names on that list?
That’s not just recognition - it’s validation.
Stafford’s Late-Career Brilliance
At 37, Matthew Stafford isn’t just aging gracefully - he’s rewriting the script on what a quarterback can look like in the twilight of his career.
Stafford racked up 4,707 yards and 46 touchdowns through the air, completing 65 percent of his passes with only eight interceptions. That 46:8 touchdown-to-interception ratio wasn’t just impressive - it was surgical.
He played with the kind of poise, precision, and command that you typically only see from quarterbacks in MVP conversations. And that’s exactly where head coach Sean McVay believes Stafford belongs.
“Yes, I think Matthew’s the MVP of the league,” McVay said. “He played that way. Wouldn’t want anybody else leading the way… His play speaks for itself.”
Historically, Stafford joined rare company. He became just the eighth quarterback in league history to throw for at least 4,500 yards and 45 touchdowns in a single season.
Of the seven before him, six went on to win MVP. That’s not just elite company - that’s the kind of season that gets remembered.
But Stafford, ever the veteran, kept his eyes on the bigger prize.
“I’m just trying to do as best I can,” he said. “Really just proud of our team… I’ve got bigger fish to fry at the moment.”
Puka Nacua: From Breakout to Bona Fide Star
If Stafford was the steady hand, Puka Nacua was the spark that lit the fire.
In just his third year, Nacua turned in a monster season: 129 catches, 1,715 yards, and 10 touchdowns. He caught nearly 78 percent of his targets - an elite figure by any standard - and added 666 yards after the catch, routinely turning short throws into big gains. He wasn’t just catching passes; he was dictating terms to defenses.
And he wasn’t limited to the passing game. Nacua chipped in 105 rushing yards and a touchdown on gadget plays and jet sweeps, and his work as a blocker continued to separate him from other top-tier receivers. He’s physical, versatile, and relentless - the kind of player who forces defensive coordinators to circle his name in red ink every week.
One analyst even went so far as to call him a favorite for Offensive Player of the Year, noting that Nacua might be “the most complete player in the NFL.” That’s not hyperbole - it’s a reflection of how much he’s grown into a do-it-all weapon who impacts the game in every phase.
Byron Young: The Breakout on the Edge
While Stafford and Nacua were grabbing national headlines, Byron Young was quietly becoming one of the most disruptive edge rushers in the NFC.
Young earned All-NFC honors after a season that saw him tally 12 sacks, 57 pressures, 27 hurries, and 12 tackles for loss. That’s not just production - that’s presence. He was a constant problem for opposing quarterbacks, anchoring a Rams pass rush that often leaned on his ability to win one-on-one matchups and collapse the pocket.
This wasn’t a flash-in-the-pan season. Young’s consistency and motor turned him from a promising rotational piece into a cornerstone of the defense. His leap in 2025 didn’t just elevate his own profile - it reshaped the Rams’ defensive identity.
A Core That Powered the Rams’ Resurgence
The PFWA has been naming All-NFL teams since 1966, and earning a spot isn’t just about gaudy numbers. It’s about consistent excellence. It’s about being the kind of player who forces opponents to adjust their entire game plan.
That’s exactly what Stafford, Nacua, and Young did in 2025.
Together, they formed the heart of a Rams team that blended veteran leadership with rising star power. Stafford’s command, Nacua’s explosiveness, and Young’s disruption were the pillars of a squad that reasserted itself as a legitimate force in the NFL.
The individual honors are already in the books, but the bigger question looms: Can this trio turn personal accolades into something even more meaningful - a deep playoff run and a shot at another Lombardi?
If their regular season was any indication, the Rams aren’t just back. They’re built to last.