NEW YORK – Chicago Bears running back D’Andre Swift, Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Zack Baun and Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Simi Fehoko are the NFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for games played in Week 1 (September 9-10, 13-14).
OFFENSE: RB D’ANDRE SWIFT, CHICAGO BEARS
- Swift rushed for 124 yards and a career-high three touchdowns in Chicago’s 59-37 win at Carolina. Swift contributed to a Chicago offense that recorded a league-high six rushing touchdowns, tying the 1920 Detroit Heralds, 1920 Rock Island Independents and the 1922 Canton Bulldogs for the most in a season opening game in NFL history.
- This is Swift’s second-career Offensive Player of the Week award (Week 2, 2023 with Philadelphia). He joins Pro Football Hall of Famer Walter Payton (three-time winner) and Neal Anderson (Week 1, 1988), Jordan Howard (Week 8, 2016), Matt Forte (Week 1, 2010) and Anthony Thomas (Week 14, 2001) as the only Bears running backs to win the award.
- Swift becomes the sixth former Georgia running back to win multiple Offensive Player of the Week awards, joining Pro Football Hall of Famer Terrell Davis (seven-time winner), Todd Gurley (five), James Cook (three), Garrison Hearst (three) and Herschel Walker (two).
DEFENSE: LB ZACK BAUN, PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
- Baun recorded 12 tackles, two passes defensed and a tackle for loss in Philadelphia’s 24-22 win against Washington. Per Next Gen Stats, Baun was targeted six times in coverage, allowing three receptions for -2 yards, one of two defenders since the start of last season (Denzel Ward) to allow negative receiving yards on five-or-more targets in a game.
- This is Baun’s second-career Defensive Player of the Week award (Week 10, 2024). He becomes the third Eagles linebacker to win the award multiple times, joining Seth Joyner (three-time winner) and William Thomas (two).
- Baun is the fourth former Wisconsin player to win multiple Defensive Player of the Week honors, joining T.J. Watt (nine-time winner), J.J. Watt (seven) and Nate Odomes (two).
SPECIAL TEAMS: WR SIMI FEHOKO, ARIZONA CARDINALS
- Fehoko blocked a punt with 12:28 remaining in the fourth quarter to give the Cardinals a 1st-and-goal at the three-yard line. The play set up a touchdown to give Arizona a 23-14 lead in their eventual 26-14 victory against the Los Angeles Chargers.
- This is Fehoko’s first-career Player of the Week award. He becomes the first Cardinals non-kicker or punter to win Special Teams Player of the Week in 11 seasons (David Johnson, Week 2, 2015).
- Fehoko is the first former Stanford non-kicker or punter to win Special Teams Player of the Week in 15 seasons (Doug Baldwin, Week 14, 2011).
