Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Emeka Egbuka Named 2025 Offensive Rookie of the Year Finalist

Buccaneers’ receiver Emeka Egbuka was named one of the finalists for the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year Award

Jan 23, 2026 at 03:22 PM

Staff Writer/Reporter

The NFL announced the finalists for the 2025 awards and Buccaneers' Emeka Egbuka is among the candidates for AP Offensive Rookie of the Year, along with Giants' Quarterback Jaxson Dart, Patriots' Running Back TreVeyon Henderson, Panthers' Wide Receiver Tetairoa McMillan and Saints' Quarterback Tyler Shough.

Award winners will be announced at NFL Honors presented by Invisalign, on Thursday, Feb. 5 at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco. NFL Honors, the league's primetime awards special, will air at 9 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. CT on NBC and NFL Network, with streaming available on Peacock and NFL+.

In his debut campaign, Egbuka tallied 63 receptions for 938 yards, a 14.9 average per reception and six touchdowns. He finished second among rookies in receiving yards (938) and yards after catch (335), while tying for second in receiving touchdowns (six), tying for fourth in receptions (62) and tying for fifth in yards from scrimmage (947). Egbuka, the September Offensive Rookie of the Month, is the only player in NFL history 25-plus receptions, 400-plus receiving yards and five-plus receiving touchdowns through five career games.

He helped ignite the Buccaners' offense in 2025, lining up at all three receiver posts. Egbuka, Tampa Bay's first-round draft pick in 2025, showcased his ball-tracking skills, feel at the catch point and ability to exploit coverage voids. He generated separation with route subtleties – timing, footwork - at the stem to spur the offense.

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