Carolina Panthers wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan is the favorite for Offensive Rookie of the Year heading into the postseason after setting a franchise rookie record with 1,014 yards in 2025, which leads all first-year players.
McMillan is more focused on Saturday’s win against the Los Angeles Rams than on several postseason awards.
“Shoot, I mean, it’s obviously a blessing,” he said via the team’s official website. “But of all the things we were able to get to the playoffs, we had a chance to do something great in Charlotte that hasn’t been done in a long time. So I feel like, you know, that has more power than me being the front-runner for the rookie year offensively.”
Not only did McMillan lead all rookies in receiving yards, but he also scored the most TDs (7) and had more catches (70) than any other first-year wide receiver (only tight ends Tyler Warren and Harold Fannin Jr. had more catches).
It’s fair to say the Panthers wouldn’t be playing right now if it weren’t for the talent of the rookie wide receiver. McMillan accounted for 30.7 percent of Carolina’s receiving yards in 2025 (6th highest in the NFL) and 3rd highest by a rookie on a playoff team since the 1970 combine (Bengals Isaac Curtis, 34.6% in 1973, 32 Na.cua%, 32 Na.cua). Jalen Coker was second on the Panthers with 394 yards, 616 yards behind McMillan.
In the Week 13 win over the Rams, McMillan was held to just one catch for 43 yards, but it was the game-winning touchdown. Coker racked up 74 yards on four catches with a score against LA
In the undefeated win over the highly touted Rams, LA racked up 164 yards on the ground, 358 total yards and went 4-of-4 on fourth down to stay on the field and used two Matthew Stafford interceptions to put up a season-high 31 points.
The Panthers (8-9) are the fifth team ever (excluding strike-shortened seasons) to reach the playoffs despite finishing with a loss. They are the only franchise to do it twice (also 2014: 7-8-1, won Wild Card game at Arizona, then lost at Seattle).
“I mean, it’s basically a whole new era,” McMillan said. “Anybody can win. Anybody can lose any day. And obviously, when the season ends, it ends suddenly. When you lose, you’re out. So nobody wants to end that way.
“So there’s definitely a lot more to play now and I feel like the energy will be a lot higher.”
Saturday will be Carolina’s first postseason game since 2017 and its first home playoff game in Charlotte since beating the Cardinals in the 2015 NFC Championship Game.
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