NEW YORK – Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs, Minnesota Vikings cornerback Byron Murphy and San Francisco 49ers punter Corliss Waitman are the NFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for games played in Week 5 (October 8, 11-12).
OFFENSE: RB JAHMYR GIBBS, DETROIT LIONS
- Gibbs led the NFL in scrimmage yards (207), ranked second in rushing yards (151) and scored two touchdowns (one rushing, one receiving) in Detroit’s 45-21 win at Arizona in Week 5, surpassing Pro Football Hall of Famer Barry Sanders (57 scrimmage touchdowns) for the most scrimmage touchdowns by a player under the age of 25 in NFL history. Gibbs also joined Pro Football Hall of Famers Jim Brown (1958 and 1963 with Cleveland), Eric Dickerson (1983 with the L.A Rams) and Emmitt Smith (1995 with Dallas) as well as Priest Holmes (2002 with Kansas City) as the only running backs all-time with at least 700 scrimmage yards and nine scrimmage touchdowns in his team’s first five games of a season.
- This is Gibbs’ fourth career Offensive Player of the Week award. He joins Pro Football Hall of Famer Barry Sanders (11-time winner) as the only Lions running backs in franchise history to win the award four times.
- 2024: Week 18
- 2025: Weeks 10 and 12
- 2026: Week 5
- Gibbs is the third former Alabama running back to earn four Offensive Player of the Week awards, joining Derrick Henry (10-time winner with Tennessee and Baltimore) and Shaun Alexander (seven-time winner with Seattle).
DEFENSE: CB BYRON MURPHY, MINNESOTA VIKINGS
- Murphy recorded three tackles, two interceptions and a tackle for loss in the Vikings’ 23-13 win at New Orleans as Minnesota allowed fewer than 100 passing yards for the second-consecutive week.
- This is Murphy’s second-career Defensive Player of the Week award (Week 3, 2021 with Arizona). He is the 10th Vikings cornerback to win the award and the first since Isaiah Rodgers (Week 3, 2025).
- Murphy is the second former Washington cornerback to win multiple Defensive Player of the Week awards, joining Marcus Peters (three-time winner with Kansas City).
SPECIAL TEAMS: P CORLISS WAITMAN, SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
- Waitman recorded five punts for 216 yards (43.2 avg.) with all five punts landing inside the 20-yard line, including three inside the 10-yard line in San Francisco’s 32-29 win at Seattle. His five punts inside the 20-yard line and three punts inside the 10-yard line are tied for the most in a single game this season.
- This is Waitman’s second-career Player of the Week award (Week 3, 2022 with Denver). He becomes the fourth 49ers punter to win Special Teams Player of the Week, joining Andy Lee (three-time winner), Mitch Wishnowsky (two-time winner) and Bradley Pinion (Week 9, 2018).
