Panthers WR McMillan named AP Rookie Of The Year

SAN FRANCISCO — Tetairoa McMillan capped his historic rookie season with the Carolina Panthers on Thursday night when he was named the Associated Press offensive rookie of the year. The award was announced during the annual NFL Honors presentation. 

McMillan is the first Carolina Panthers player to win the award since Cam Newton in 2011.

The receiver put together an impressive resume by any means, but one that also led rookies in nearly every major category. He finished with 70 receptions for 1,014 yards, both numbers that led all rookies, and his yardage was 14th in the entire league, while hauling in seven touchdowns, which was the most receiving touchdowns by a rookie this season. 

A total of 27 of his 70 catches were explosive receptions (16+ yards), which are the most explosive receptions and explosive plays by an NFL rookie this season. McMillan also caught seven passes on fourth down, six of which produced first downs for Carolina. Among all NFL players, he finished the season tied for the most catches on fourth down and totaled the most explosive receptions on those six receptions, with five.

McMillan’s 55 total receiving first downs led all rookies and was tied for 7th league wide. 

He had a pair of 100-yard receiving games, and he registered a catch in all 17 games. He was the NFL Rookie of the Week when he caught three passes for 29 yards and two touchdowns in a 30-27 victory over Dallas in Week 6.

The Arizona product was named rookie of the year by 50 electors from across sports media, as selected by the AP. He beat out finalist Tyler Shough (QB, Saints), Jaxson Dart (QB, Giants), Emeka Egbuka (WR, Buccaneers), and TreVeyon Henderson (RB, Patriots). 

McMillan played 87.18 percent of the Panthers’ offensive snaps this season, the most amongst all five finalists, and was the only finalist to start all 17 regular-season games. He was responsible for 20.18 percent of the offense’s production, the most of any non-quarterback finalist, making highlight-worthy plays and touchdowns to help send the Panthers back to the playoffs for the first time since 2017. 

His quarterback, Bryce Young, felt confident at the end of the season that McMillan would be going home with the hardware. 

“TMac, he was him,” bragged Young of his top receiver at the end of the season. “He was, he’s exactly who he’s been. He was elite; he’s a special player. He’ll be the offensive rookie of the year.”

McMillan was a heavy favorite to win the award for much of the year, but shared earlier this week that while the possibility of the award was on his family’s mind before his rookie year even began, he purposely stayed focused on the season ahead, putting any final stats out of his head. 

“Whatever came was going to be a blessing to me,” McMillan said. 

Now that includes one of the most prestigious awards in the sport, honored as the best of the best amongst the NFL’s 2025 rookie class. 

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