KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Grand View (Iowa) quarterback Jackson Waring has been named the 2025 NAIA Football Player of the Year, earning the honor for a second consecutive season and further cementing his place among the most accomplished players in NAIA football history.
Since taking over as the Vikings’ starting quarterback in 2023, Waring has compiled an extraordinary 38-1 record, a run that includes multiple postseason victories and sustained national prominence for the program.
During the 2025 season, Waring completed 159 passes for 2,410 yards and 33 touchdowns, adding 475 rushing yards and six rushing scores. Over his Grand View career, Waring has completed 528 passes for 7,826 yards and 94 touchdowns, rushing for 1,603 rushing yards and 24 touchdowns. He leads the Vikings into a second-straight NAIA Football National Championship Game, on Saturday.
With his repeat selection, Waring becomes the first back-to-back NAIA Football Player of the Year since Morningside’s Joe Dolincheck (2021–2022). His honor also continues a recent trend, as Waring is the sixth consecutive quarterback to receive the award.
Waring and the top-ranked, unbeaten Vikings (13-0) will put their perfect season on the line on Saturday, when they face No. 2 Keiser (Fla.) (12-0) in the NAIA Football National Championship Game. The game will air on NAIA Network and Urban Edge Network, with links, apps, and connected TV information at www.naia.org/watch.
