15th NFL Honors

Last updated

15th NFL Honors
DateFebruary 5, 2026
Site Palace of Fine Arts
(San Francisco, California)
Hosted by Jon Hamm
Television coverage
Network
Duration2 hours

The 15th NFL Honors, presented by the National Football League, honored the standout players and performances of the 2025 NFL season. Hosted by Jon Hamm, the ceremony took place on February 5, 2026, at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco, California, and was broadcast on NBC and NFL Network with streaming on Peacock and NFL+. [1] [2]

Contents

Matthew Stafford of the Los Angeles Rams secured his first career Most Valuable Player award after leading the league with 4,707 passing yards and 46 touchdowns. Stafford edged out the New England Patriots' Drake Maye in the closest MVP vote since 2003. [3] The Seattle Seahawks' Jaxon Smith-Njigba was named Offensive Player of the Year after leading the NFL with 1,793 receiving yards, becoming the second Seahawk to win the honor following Shaun Alexander in 2005. [4] On defense, Myles Garrett of the Cleveland Browns was named Defensive Player of the Year unanimously, joining J. J. Watt as the only players to achieve this feat. This marked Garrett's second career win and was highlighted by a historic 2025 campaign in which he set a new single-season sack record with 23. [5] [6] For leading the league in sacks during the season, Garrett was also the recipient of the Deacon Jones Award. [6]

Rookie honors went to Tetairoa McMillan of the Carolina Panthers and Carson Schwesinger of the Browns, who won Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year, respectively. McMillan led all rookies with 1,014 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns, while Schwesinger topped the rookie class with 146 total tackles and 11 tackles for loss. [7] [8] The inaugural Protector of the Year award, recognizing the league's top offensive lineman, was presented to Joe Thuney of the Chicago Bears. [9] The top non-player award, Coach of the Year, went to Mike Vrabel, the head coach of the Patriots. In his debut season with the team, Vrabel orchestrated a historic turnaround, leading New England to a 14–3 record following back-to-back 4–13 finishes. He became the first head coach to inherit a 13-loss team and win at least 13 games in his first year. This was Vrabel's second Coach of the Year win, having previously won in 2021 with the Tennessee Titans. [10] The ceremony also featured the unveiling of the 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame class: Drew Brees, Roger Craig, Larry Fitzgerald, Luke Kuechly, and Adam Vinatieri. [11] In late January 2026, ESPN reported that former Patriots head coach Bill Belichick would not be elected as a first ballot hall of famer. As a result the voters received criticism due Belichick's coaching resume including leading the Patriots to six Super Bowl victories, while winning an additional two as an assistant coach. [12] [13] [14] [15]

List of award winners

Matthew Stafford was named the Most Valuable Player. Stafford 6 731 (cropped3).jpg
Matthew Stafford was named the Most Valuable Player.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba was named the Offensive Player of the Year. Jaxon Smith-Njigba FanDuel Interview (cropped).png
Jaxon Smith-Njigba was named the Offensive Player of the Year.
Myles Garrett was named the Defensive Player of the Year. Myles Garrett (2021).jpg
Myles Garrett was named the Defensive Player of the Year.
Award winners
AwardWinnerPositionTeamRef.
Most Valuable Player Matthew Stafford Quarterback Los Angeles Rams [3]
Offensive Player of the Year Jaxon Smith-Njigba Wide receiver Seattle Seahawks [4]
Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett Defensive end Cleveland Browns [5]
Offensive Rookie of the Year Tetairoa McMillan Wide receiver Carolina Panthers [7]
Defensive Rookie of the Year Carson Schwesinger Linebacker Cleveland Browns [8]
Protector of the Year Joe Thuney Guard Chicago Bears [9]
Comeback Player of the Year Christian McCaffrey Running back San Francisco 49ers [16]
Coach of the Year Mike Vrabel Head coach New England Patriots [10]
Assistant Coach of the Year Josh McDaniels Offensive coordinator [17]
Walter Payton Man of the Year Bobby Wagner Linebacker Washington Commanders [18]
Salute to Service Award Christian McCaffrey Running back San Francisco 49ers [19]
Deacon Jones Award Myles Garrett Defensive end Cleveland Browns [6]
Jim Brown Award James Cook Running back Buffalo Bills [20]
Art Rooney Award Budda Baker Safety Arizona Cardinals [21]
Moment of the Year Caleb Williams game-winning touchdown pass in overtime to D. J. Moore vs. the Green Bay Packers N/a Chicago Bears [22]
FedEx Air & Ground Players of the Year Drake Maye
Christian McCaffrey
Jaxon Smith-Njigba 		Quarterback
Running back
Wide receiver 		New England Patriots
San Francisco 49ers
Seattle Seahawks 		[23]
Pepsi Rookie of the Year Tyler Shough Quarterback New Orleans Saints [24]
NFL Fan of the YearEd CallahanN/a Philadelphia Eagles [25]
Don Shula High School Coach of the Year Dave Ettinger(Nominated by the New York Giants)
Dylen Smith (Nominated by the Los Angeles Chargers)		 Head coaches Garden City High School (NY)
Palisades Charter High School (CA)		 [26]
NFL FLAG Players of the Year AwardAva Rotondi
Brysen Wright		N/a St. Joseph by the Sea High School (NY)
Mandarin High School (FL)		 [27]
[28]

2026 Hall of Fame class

2026 Hall of Fame class
PlayerPositionTeam(s)Ref.
Drew Brees Quarterback San Diego Chargers (2001–2005)
New Orleans Saints (2006–2020)		 [11]
Roger Craig Running back / Fullback San Francisco 49ers (1983–1990)
Los Angeles Raiders (1991)
Minnesota Vikings (1992–1993)
Larry Fitzgerald Wide receiver Arizona Cardinals (2004–2020)
Luke Kuechly Linebacker Carolina Panthers (2012–2019)
Adam Vinatieri Placekicker New England Patriots (1996–2005)
Indianapolis Colts (2006–2019)

References

  1. ↑ Dubin, Jared (February 5, 2026). "How to watch NFL Honors: MVP headlines 2025 season's player, coach awards set to be announced". CBS Sports . Archived from the original on February 4, 2026. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
  2. ↑ Meza, Victoria (January 4, 2026). "Actor Jon Hamm to host 15th annual NFL Honors in San Francisco". KNTV . Archived from the original on January 5, 2026. Retrieved January 5, 2026.
  3. 1 2 Schwab, Frank (February 5, 2026). "Rams QB Matthew Stafford beats out Drake Maye to win his first NFL MVP award in a very close vote". Yahoo Sports . Archived from the original on February 6, 2026. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
  4. 1 2 Condotta, Bob (February 5, 2026). "Seahawks' Jaxon Smith-Njigba wins NFL Offensive Player of the Year". The Seattle Times . Archived from the original on February 6, 2026. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
  5. 1 2 Middlehurst-Schwartz, Michael (February 5, 2026). "Myles Garrett unanimously wins NFL Defensive Player of Year". USA Today . Archived from the original on February 6, 2026. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
  6. 1 2 3 Shuck, Barry (February 6, 2026). "NFL honors provides signs of hope for Browns". Dawgs By Nature. Archived from the original on February 6, 2026. Retrieved February 6, 2026.
  7. 1 2 "Panthers' Tetairoa McMillan Wins Offensive Rookie of the Year After Standout Season vote". Fox Sports . February 5, 2026. Archived from the original on February 6, 2026. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
  8. 1 2 Easterling, Chris (February 5, 2026). "Browns LB Carson Schwesinger is Defensive Rookie of the Year at NFL Honors". Akron Beacon Journal . Archived from the original on February 6, 2026. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
  9. 1 2 Williams, Charean (February 5, 2026). "Protector of the Year: Joe Thuney". NBC Sports . Archived from the original on February 6, 2026. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
  10. 1 2 Sullivan, Tyler (February 5, 2026). "2026 NFL Honors: Mike Vrabel named Coach of the Year after leading historic turnaround with Patriots". CBS Sports . Archived from the original on February 6, 2026. Retrieved February 6, 2026.
  11. 1 2 Bergman, Jeremy (February 5, 2026). "Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026 revealed at 'NFL Honors'". NFL.com . Archived from the original on February 6, 2026. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
  12. ↑ Van Natta Jr., Don; Wickersham, Seth (January 27, 2026). "Sources: Bill Belichick will not be a first-ballot Hall of Famer". ESPN . Archived from the original on January 28, 2026. Retrieved February 6, 2026.
  13. ↑ McKenna, Henry (February 3, 2026). "Big Picture: Bill Belichick, Robert Kraft Snubs Show Hall of Fame Voting Is Broken". Fox Sports . Archived from the original on February 4, 2026. Retrieved February 6, 2026.
  14. ↑ Jhabvala, Nicki (February 5, 2026). "After Bill Belichick's snub, has the Pro Football Hall of Fame been tarnished?". The New York Times . Archived from the original on February 7, 2026. Retrieved February 6, 2026.
  15. ↑ Nadkarni, Rohan (February 6, 2026). "Bill Belichick snubbed from Pro Football Hall of Fame; Brees, Fitzgerald among 2026 class". NBC News . Archived from the original on February 6, 2026. Retrieved February 6, 2026.
  16. ↑ Bachar, Zach (February 5, 2026). "Christian McCaffrey Wins 2025–26 Comeback Player of the Year Award, Full Voting Results". Bleacher Report . Archived from the original on February 6, 2026. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
  17. ↑ Streeter, Jennifer (February 5, 2026). "Patriots' Josh McDaniels Named Assistant Coach of the Year". Sports Illustrated . Archived from the original on February 6, 2026. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
  18. ↑ Gordon, Grant (February 5, 2026). "Commanders LB Bobby Wagner named 2025 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year". NFL.com . Archived from the original on February 6, 2026. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
  19. ↑ "49ers' Christian McCaffrey wins 2025 Salute to Service award". ESPN . February 4, 2026. Archived from the original on February 5, 2026. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
  20. ↑ Bronstein, Jonah (January 8, 2026). "Rushing title is a 'special' achievement for Bills RB James Cook". WIVB-TV . Archived from the original on January 8, 2026. Retrieved February 4, 2026.
  21. ↑ Williams, Charean (February 5, 2026). "Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award: Budda Baker". NBC Sports . Archived from the original on February 6, 2026. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
  22. ↑ "Bears' Week 16 walk-off TD vs. Packers wins 2025 NGS Moment of the Year". Chicago Bears . February 5, 2026. Archived from the original on February 6, 2026. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
  23. ↑ "List of 'NFL Honors' award winners from 2025 NFL season". NFL.com . February 5, 2026. Archived from the original on February 6, 2026. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
  24. ↑ Brooks, Jesse (February 5, 2026). "Saints QB Tyler Shough wins NFL Rookie of the Year, voted by fans". WLBT . Archived from the original on February 5, 2026. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
  25. ↑ "Ed Callahan is the NFL's Ultimate Fan of the Year". Philadelphia Eagles . February 5, 2026. Archived from the original on February 6, 2026. Retrieved February 5, 2026.
  26. ↑ "NFL Names 2025 Don Shula High School Coaches of the Year". NFL Play Football . February 3, 2026. Archived from the original on February 6, 2026. Retrieved February 6, 2026.
  27. ↑ Speciale, James (January 22, 2026). "Staten Island HS flag football: Sea's Ava Rotondi named NFL Flag Football Player of the Year" . Staten Island Advance . Archived from the original on January 22, 2026. Retrieved February 6, 2026.
  28. ↑ Freeman, Clayton (January 22, 2026). "Brysen Wright to earn NFL Honors award. What's next for Mandarin WR?" . The Florida Times-Union . Archived from the original on February 6, 2026. Retrieved February 6, 2026.
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