NFL’s 15 most interesting figures for the 2025 season
Josh Allen | Photo by Todd Rosenberg/Getty Images
A look at the players, coaches, situations to closely monitor in the upcoming season
With training camps starting in the NFL in just over a month, let’s take a look at 15 figures in the league that are in the most interesting situations to monitor going in the 2025 season, presented in alphabetical order:
Josh Allen:
The Buffalo Bills’ quarterback just turned 29 and he is clearly early in his prime as he prepares to defend his first NFL MVP award. We know Allen is still getting better, but we’re at the point where we don’t need to see another MVP season. He need to see Allen lead the Bills to a Super Bowl appearance and we need to see it sooner or later. Allen’s 2025 season will be must-see viewing.
Saquon Barkley:
Barkley fueled the Philadelphia Eagles’ Super Bowl winning season by putting together one of the best all-around seasons ever produced by a running back. He was dominant. We know the shelf life of running backs is a real thing, but this is Barkley’s age 28 season. So, his second season with the Eagles after darting from NFC East foe, the New York Giants, can be just as impressive. It’s worth watching.
Brock Bowers:
Bowers wasn’t properly appreciated for what he accomplished as a rookie in 2024. The Las Vegas’ first-round pick had one of the most productive seasons ever by a tight end and he shattered rookie receiving records. The Georgia product had 112 catches for 1,194 yards and he as named first-team All-Pro. Now, he has a better offensive coordinator in Chip Kelly, a better quarterback in Geno Smith and help from rookie running back Ashton Jeanty. This monster is just getting started on a special career.
Dan Campbell:
The Knee Cap Guy is no longer just a fun story. The Detroit Lions’ coach has arrived. But can he stay on top? The Lions were the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs last season, a year after they blew a big lead at the San Francisco 49ers to end their 2023 season. In 2024, the Lions were upset by the Washington Commanders in their first playoff game. Then, Campbell saw his two coordinators, Aaron Glenn and Ben Johnson, get head-coaching jobs. How ill Campbell adjust in 2025 as he tries to keep the Lions’ Super Bowl window open.
Cleveland Browns quarterbacks:
This will be the story of the NFL preseason and training camp sessions Joe Flacco? Kenny Pickett? Shedeur Sanders? Dillon Gabriel? Deshaun Watson at some point? Someone has to win this job. We’ll all be watching.
Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images
Jayden Daniels
Jayden Daniels:
The Offensive Rookie of the Year was incredible in 2024. He was dynamic as a passer and runner and he looks like an eight-year veteran. There are expectations that Daniels can lead the Washington Commanders on a real Super Bowl run. We’ll be watching whether he can avoid a sophomore slump and take the next step in what could be an all-time quarterbacking career.
Sam Darnold:
Who are we going to see? Will the new Seattle Seahawks quarterback be the breakout star he was for most of last season with the Minnesota Vikings or the player who look like the career journeyman he was prior to last season in the Vikings’ two final games. The Seahawks are banking on the former. We shall see.
Jim Harbaugh:
He showed last season, after a nearly a decade away from the NFL, that the league has not past him by as he led the Los Angeles Chargers to the postseason. After a solid offseason, Harbaugh looks primed to make a serious Super Bowl run as he tires to join his older brother, John, as a Lombardi Trophy-winning head coach.
Travis Hunter:
This really may happen. He may see a player play significant snaps on both offense and defense. After trading up to the No. 2 overall pick, the Jacksonville Jaguars worked Hunter at wide receiver and cornerback extensively. If he can pull it off, Hunter can be a star unlike we’ve seen in the modern NFL game.
Ben Johnson:
Johnson was the head-coaching prize of this hiring cycle as he transitioned form being the Lions’ offensive coordinator to the head coach NFC North rival, the Chicago Bears. The Bears were the most intriguing team that was hiring a coach in 2025 and they tried to load up this offseason Johnson has some edge to him. Now, it’s up to him to live up to the hype.
Photo by Bruce Yeung/Getty Images
Patrick Mahomes
Patrick Mahomes:
Who remember him, right? It seems like some folks are trying hard for push the narrative that Mahomes is no longer a dominant player after a relatively down 2024 season and a blowout loss in the Super Bowl. This guy fuels on negativity. He’s coming back with a vengeance. Count on it.
J.J. McCarthy:
The Vikings believed McCarthy was ready to make an impact before a preseason knee injury cost him his rookie season. Now, McCarthy appears to be healthy and the Vikings are all in on him. Minnesota has a big-time roster. If McCarthy delivers, Minnesota can make along run. Expectations are high for this guy before he’s thrown his first regular-season pass.
Michael Penix:
The No. 8 overall pick last year finished as the Atlanta Falcons’ starting quarterback. Reviews were mixed, but the Falcons have a solid supporting offensive cast around Penix. This season will tell a lot about his future. The fact that Kirk Cousins is still hovering spices things up as well.
Brock Purdy:
Irrelevant no more. The 49ers paid Purdy $265 million over the next five seasons. It has gotten real for the final pick of the 2022 draft. The 49ers are tied to Purdy and this is still a solid roster looking for a bounce back from a dreadful Super Bowl-hangover 2024 season. Can Purdy prove he’s worth the immense financial commitment the franchise made to him?
Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images
Mike Tomlin
Mike Tomlin:
It seems there’s a faction of Pittsburgh Steelers fans who are suffering from Tomlin fatigue. Many want him to sit on the hot seat. Tomlin is the longest tenured NFL coach as he has been in Pittsburgh since 2007. He has never had a losing season, but the Steelers haven’t won a playoff game since the 2016 season. Now, Tomlin has teamed with Aaron Rodgers to try to end the postseason drought. It will be fascinating to watch unfold.
