All articles tagged with #nfl honors
Jaxon Smith-Njigba won the 2026 NFL Offensive Player of the Year at NFL Honors, but Druski's deliberate mispronunciation of his name drew backlash from Seahawks players and staff, who criticized the moment as disrespectful and overshadowing the award.
OutKick writer Zach Dean blasts the NFL Honors broadcast as an embarrassing debacle, criticizing mispronounced honorees, cringe-worthy celebrity bits, Madden clips, fake crowd noise, and a painful Roger Goodell segment, arguing the ceremony disrespected real winners and highlighted the league’s slide into spectacle over substance.
Former Georgia QB Matthew Stafford won the NFL MVP by a razor-thin 366-361 margin over Drake Maye, after throwing for 4,707 yards and 46 touchdowns to lead the league this season with the Rams going 12-5. In his acceptance speech, he said he will return next season as he turns 38. Georgia has now produced three NFL MVPs (Stafford, Terrell Davis, Fran Tarkenton), and Stafford’s 2021 Rams Super Bowl run is part of his hall‑of‑fame case.
Comedian Druski co-presented the NFL Offensive Player of the Year at NFL Honors and appeared to mispronounce Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s name, drawing criticism from the Seahawks’ PR team. Smith-Njigba didn’t attend, and the Seahawks star is gearing up for a Super Bowl matchup with the New England Patriots; the article also notes a misnamed “Mike Verbal” as Coach of the Year.
Tetairoa McMillan capped a historic rookie season by winning the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year at NFL Honors, posting 70 receptions for 1,014 yards and 7 touchdowns while starting all 17 games, leading rookies in receptions and yards and helping the Panthers return to the playoffs for the first time since 2017. He edged finalists like Tyler Shough and Jaxson Dart in voting (41 first-place votes, 445 points).
Former Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026, celebrated for a career defined by elite instincts, leadership and work ethic, with teammates and coaches praising his impact on and off the field as he joins a star-studded class including Drew Brees, Larry Fitzgerald, Adam Vinatieri and Roger Craig.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026 was revealed at NFL Honors, inducting Drew Brees, Larry Fitzgerald, Luke Kuechly, Adam Vinatieri and Roger Craig; the five-member class is one of the smallest in two decades, with four modern-era players elected and Craig the lone senior/contributor finalist chosen under the Hall’s bylaws.
Vrabel led the Patriots to a 14-3 season in his first year, a 10-win surge from 2024, and an AFC East title, with rookie Drake Maye thriving on offense and a stout defense helping New England reach Super Bowl LX; he won the 2025 AP NFL Coach of the Year in a close vote (302 points) at NFL Honors.
Chicago Bears offensive lineman Joe Thuney won the NFL Honors' inaugural Protector of the Year for his standout first season with Chicago, anchoring the line, finishing first in pass blocking per PFF and posting a 79.4 overall grade as the Bears went 11-6 and advanced to the NFC Divisional Round.
Matthew Stafford edged Drake Maye by a razor-thin margin to win the NFL MVP at the 2026 NFL Honors (366-361 points) and signaled he’ll return next season; the show also crowned Jaxon Smith-Njigba Offensive Player of the Year, Myles Garrett Defensive Player of the Year, Tetairoa McMillan Offensive Rookie, Joe Thuney Protector of the Year, Christian McCaffrey Comeback Player of the Year, Mike Vrabel Coach of the Year, and Carson Schwesinger Defensive Rookie of the Year, while Drew Brees, Larry Fitzgerald, Luke Kuechly, Adam Vinatieri and Roger Craig joined the Hall of Fame; Caleb Williams to D.J. Moore was the Play of the Year.
At the 15th NFL Honors, the NFL announced the AP NFL awards for the 2025 season and revealed the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026. MVP Matthew Stafford and Coach of the Year Mike Vrabel led the AP winners, with Christian McCaffrey as Comeback Player of the Year, Jaxon Smith-Njigba as Offensive Player of the Year, Myles Garrett as Defensive Player of the Year, Tetairoa McMillan as Offensive Rookie of the Year, Carson Schwesinger as Defensive Rookie of the Year, and Bobby Wagner as Walter Payton Man of the Year; the ceremony also unveiled the Hall of Fame inductees: Drew Brees, Luke Kuechly, Adam Vinatieri, and Roger Craig.
Browns linebacker Carson Schwesinger, a UCLA walk-on turned star, was named the 2025 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year at NFL Honors after collecting 156 tackles (6th in the league), 11 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, two interceptions and playing 97% of Cleveland's defensive snaps; he and teammate Myles Garrett became the first Browns pair to win Rookie of the Year and DPOY in the same season since 2003 Ravens' Suggs and Lewis.
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford was named the 2025 AP NFL Most Valuable Player at NFL Honors in San Francisco, edging Drake Maye in one of the closest MVP votes since 2003; Stafford led the league with 4,707 passing yards and 46 TDs, helped Los Angeles to a 12-5 season, and signaled he plans to return for 2026.
Bears left guard Joe Thuney won the inaugural Protector of the Year award at NFL Honors, recognizing the NFL's top offensive lineman for protection and durability. A panel of former linemen voted; Thuney, also a first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl selection and team captain, helped the Bears win the NFC North and reach the divisional round, anchoring a line that led the league in fewest giveaways (11) and allowed the third-fewest sacks (24) while aiding a strong rushing attack.
Patriots coach Mike Vrabel won NFL Coach of the Year for the second time, earning 302 points and 19 of 50 first‑place votes ahead of contenders like Liam Coen and Kyle Shanahan. Vrabel guided New England from a 4-13 previous season to a 13-4 campaign and an AFC East title in his first year as head coach. The award covers the regular season, with voting after Week 18, and Vrabel joins a small group of coaches who have won the honor with multiple franchises.