If you were watching Super Bowl LIX at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, you saw Jalen Hurts hoist the Pete Rozelle Trophy. Confetti was everywhere. The Eagles had just dismantled the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22. It felt like a done deal. But honestly, the super bowl 2025 mvp voting was way more of a mess than the final score suggests.
A lot of people think the MVP is just a popularity contest. It kind of is, but there's a specific, weird math to it that almost cost Hurts the hardware.
How the Super Bowl 2025 MVP Voting Actually Worked
The NFL doesn't just let anyone pick the winner. It's a split system. You've got 16 media members who handle 80% of the weight. The other 20% comes from us—the fans voting on the internet.
In 2025, that 20% fan block was actually divided into "vote points." The top fan-favorite got 2.5 votes, the second got 1, and the third got 0.5. It sounds small, but when you only have 20 total votes to go around, every decimal counts.
Here is the thing about the media panel: they have to decide fast. Usually, they’re scribbling down names with about five minutes left on the clock. If a crazy play happens in the last two minutes, they can pivot, but by then, the narrative is usually baked in. For Super Bowl LIX, the narrative was "The Revenge of Jalen Hurts."
The Defensive Snub Nobody Talks About
While Jalen Hurts took home the trophy, he didn't actually sweep the room. Not even close.
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The Eagles' defense was terrifying that night. They sacked Patrick Mahomes six times. They forced three turnovers. If you look at the raw voting data that leaked after the game, defensive end Josh Sweat was a legitimate threat to win.
Sweat had 2.5 sacks and basically lived in the Chiefs' backfield. Charean Williams, a veteran voter from the PFWA, actually went on record saying she picked Sweat. She wasn't alone. Out of the 20 total votes available:
- Jalen Hurts: 12 votes
- Josh Sweat: 4.5 votes
- Cooper DeJean: 3.5 votes
Wait, who is Cooper DeJean? The rookie cornerback actually won the fan vote. Because the fans went all-in on DeJean (who had a massive pick-six in the game), he actually ended up with more "voting points" than some of the other offensive stars.
The Stats That Secured the Bag
Hurts won because he was efficient. He didn't have to be a superhero because the defense was so good, but he didn't make the big mistake that haunted him in Super Bowl LVII.
He finished 17-of-22 for 221 yards and two scores. More importantly, he ran for 72 yards. That broke his own record for the most rushing yards by a QB in a Super Bowl. When you break records, the voters notice.
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The turning point for the media panel was likely the 46-yard touchdown bomb to DeVonta Smith. It put the Eagles up 34-0. At that point, the "garbage time" points the Chiefs scored later didn't matter. The voters had already seen enough.
Why It's Hard for Defensive Players to Win
It has been roughly a decade since a defensive player won Super Bowl MVP (Von Miller in 2016). The super bowl 2025 mvp voting proves why it's so hard to break that streak.
When a defense plays as a unit, the credit gets spread out. Do you give it to Sweat for the sacks? Or Zack Baun for the interception? Or Cooper DeJean for the return?
Voters get confused. When in doubt, they look at the quarterback. Hurts was the safe, logical choice, even if the defense was the real reason Mahomes looked human for four quarters.
The Controversy Over the Voting Window
There is a growing movement among NFL writers to change when the super bowl 2025 mvp voting happens. Right now, it's too frantic.
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Reporters like Mike Florio have pointed out that voters don't get to watch the film or even check the final stat sheet before they have to submit. If they had an extra hour, maybe Josh Sweat’s 2.5 sacks would have carried more weight.
Instead, it’s a gut-reaction award. And Jalen Hurts has the kind of "leader of the team" aura that wins gut-reaction votes every single time.
What You Can Take Away From This
If you're ever betting on Super Bowl MVP or just arguing with friends, remember these three things about the process:
- The Quarterback Bias is Real: Unless a QB throws three picks, they are the default winner if the score is even remotely close.
- Fan Voting Matters (A Little): Cooper DeJean showed that a massive social media push can actually put a dark horse on the scoreboard, even if it doesn't win them the trophy.
- Timing is Everything: Players who make big plays in the second and third quarters are more likely to win than those who dominate the first quarter and fade, simply because of when the ballots are due.
The 2025 race was closer than the history books will show. Jalen Hurts is the MVP, but in a different voting system, that trophy might be sitting on Josh Sweat's mantle right now.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Check the official NFL communications for the 2026 voting panel list to see if any new media outlets have been added to the 16-member group.
- Monitor the "MVP Odds" throughout next season; usually, the top three favorites are the only ones who actually receive a single media vote.