Hubbard, Van Ginkel, Aubrey named NFC Players of the Week

Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard, Minnesota Vikings linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel and Dallas Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey are the NFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for Week 16, the league announced Tuesday.

OFFENSE: 

• Hubbard recorded 165 scrimmage yards (152 rushing, 13 receiving) and two rushing touchdowns in Carolina’s 36-30 overtime victory against Arizona, including the game-winning 21-yard touchdown run in overtime. His 152 rushing yards were the most in the NFC in Week 16 and he was the only player in the NFC to record 165-or-more scrimmage yards and two-or-more rushing touchdowns.

• This is the first-career Offensive Player of the Week award for Hubbard, becoming the third Panthers running back in the past 15 seasons (2010-24) to win the award, joining D’Onta Foreman (Week 16, 2022) and Jonathan Stewart (Week 14, 2017).

• Hubbard becomes the third former Oklahoma State running back to win Offensive Player of the Week, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers Barry Sanders (11-time winner) and Thurman Thomas (five).

DEFENSE: 

• Van Ginkel recorded five tackles and two sacks in Minnesota’s 27-24 victory at Seattle, finishing as the only player in Week 16 to record five-or-more tackles and two-or-more sacks. He was the only player in the NFC to register two-or-more sacks, with both coming in the fourth quarter.

• This is the first Defensive Player of the Week award for Van Ginkel, joining Jonathan Greenard (Week 3, 2024), Ivan Pace (Week 14, 2023) and Za’Darius Smith (Week 8, 2022) as the only Vikings linebackers in the past 10 seasons (2015-24) to win the award in their first year with the team.

• Van Ginkel becomes the sixth former Wisconsin linebacker to win Defensive Player of the Week, joining T.J. Watt (eight-time winner), Zack Baun, Chirs Borland, DeAndre Levy and Joe Schobert.

SPECIAL TEAMS: 

• Aubrey converted on all four of his field goal attempts, including three from over 50 yards, along with both of his point-after attempts in Dallas’ 26-24 victory over Tampa Bay on Sunday Night Football. Aubrey was the only kicker in Week 16 to make multiple field goals from 50-or-more yards.

• This is the third-career Special Teams Player of the Week award for Aubrey, becoming the fourth Cowboys kicker to win Special Teams Player of the Week three-or-more times, joining Dan Bailey (three-time winner), Billy Cundiff (three) and Brett Maher (three).

  • 2023: Weeks 8, 14

  • 2024: Week 16

• Aubrey becomes the third player from Notre Dame to win Special Teams Player of the Week three-or more times, joining John Carney (13-time winner) and Craig Hentrich (five).