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NFL Honors 2026: Full awards results for MVP, top rookies and more
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- NFL Honors 2026: Full awards results for MVP, top rookies and more
Editor's note: Follow along for live updates for Super Bowl 60 throughout the day.
Three days ahead of Super Bowl 60 , the NFL wrapped up the 2025 season by recognizing its top individual performers.
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Thursday's NFL Honors in San Francisco again served as the forum for the league to reveal the winners of its most prestigious awards, from Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year to MVP. The Pro Football Hall of Fame also unveiled its five-person class, which has already been marked by the controversial omission of Bill Belichick , along with Robert Kraft and Eli Manning .
Here's a look back at all the winners from the night as well as a voting breakdown for each of the most notable awards:
NFL Honors awards winner: Full results
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Coach of the Year: Mike Vrabel, New England Patriots
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Offensive Player of the Year: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Seattle Seahawks
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Defensive Player of the Year: Myles Garrett, DE, Cleveland Browns
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Comeback Player of the Year: Christian McCaffey, RB, San Francisco 49ers
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Offensive Rookie of the Year: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Carolina Panthers
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Defensive Rookie of the Year: Carson Schwesinger, LB, Cleveland Browns
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Assistant Coach of the Year: Josh McDaniels, offensive coordinator, New England Patriots
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Walter Payton Man of the Year: Bobby Wagner , LB, Washington Commanders
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Protector of the Year: Joe Thuney , G, Chicago Bears
NFL MVP: Matthew Stafford
Matthew Stafford's 17th NFL season faced plenty of uncertainty as he sorted through contract issues and a nagging balk problem in the offseason. It culminated, however, with football's top honor.
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Stafford was voted the NFL's MVP for the 2025 season, beating out New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye by one first-place vote.
Stafford, who will turn 38 on Saturday, led the NFL with 46 touchdown passes while piloting an offense that paced the league in scoring and total yards.
With the award, the former No. 1 overall pick and longtime Detroit Lions signal-caller added a new chapter to his career renaissance in Los Angeles , where he won a Super Bowl title in 2021.
In his acceptance speech, Stafford confirmed he would be returning for the 2026 season.
NFL MVP voting results
1. Matthew Stafford: 24
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2. Drake Maye: 23
3. Josh Allen : 2
4. Christian McCaffrey : 0
5. Trevor Lawrence : 0
(Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert received the remaining first-place vote but did not finish among the top five.)
NFL Offensive Player of the Year: Jaxon Smith-Njigba
Jaxon Smith-Njigba has made a habit of securing all passes that come into his orbit. On Thursday, that skill helped him haul in something else.
The Seattle Seahawks wide receiver was voted the NFL's Offensive Player of the Year.
In his third season, Smith-Njigba often served as the engine powering a Seahawks offense that underwent a drastic offseason reimagining. With DK Metcalf traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers and franchise mainstay Tyler Lockett cut, Smith-Njigba reached a new level after being named a Pro Bowl selection in 2024. He repeatedly freed himself from coverage to give Sam Darnold a go-to target capable of delivering the explosive plays necessary to power new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak's attack.
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He finished the season with a league-high 1,793 yards on 119 catches. Seattle secured the NFC's top seed before pushing its way to a spot in Super Bowl 60.
Smith-Njigba bested division rivals in San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey and Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua , as well as Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson and New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye.
NFL Offensive Player of the Year voting results
Jaxon Smith-Njigba: 14
Christian McCaffrey: 12
Puka Nacua: 8
Bijan Robinson: 6
Drake Maye: 5
NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year: Carson Schwesinger
Carson Schwesinger surely couldn't command the same level of attention as fellow Cleveland Browns rookie Shedeur Sanders or teammate Myles Garrett did in 2025. Still, his pro debut is hardly going unrecognized.
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The second-round linebacker was voted the NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Year.
Schwesinger recorded a team-high 156 tackles as well as 11 tackles for a loss. While taking over as the starter in the middle of Jim Schwartz's defense, he quickly earned acclaim for his playmaking range and savvy approach.
He came out ahead of four other finalists: Seattle Seahawks safety Nick Emmanwori , New York Giants outside linebacker Abdul Carter , Atlanta Falcons defensive end James Pearce Jr. and Falcons safety Xavier Watts .
NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year voting
Carson Schwesinger: 40
Nick Emmanwori: 7
James Pearce Jr.: 2
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Xavier Watts: 1
Abdul Carter: 0
Pro Football Hall of Fame 2026 class
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Roger Craig
For more on the Pro Football Hall of Fame's 2026 class, read Jarrett Bell's story on the five-man group .
NFL Coach of the Year: Mike Vrabel
One of the NFL's more hotly debated awards chases has been settled.
Ahead of Super Bowl 60, the New England Patriots' Mike Vrabel has been voted as the NFL Coach of the Year for the 2025 season.
Vrabel emerged from a highly competitive pool of finalists. Mike Macdonald of the Seattle Seahawks was among the group after leading his own team to a spot in the Super Bowl, while the Jacksonville Jaguars ' Liam Coen and Chicago Bears ' Ben Johnson also led drastic turnarounds. Meanwhile, San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan navigated a calamitous run of injuries to lead his team to the divisional round of the playoffs.
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Vrabel, however, takes home the award for the second time in his career after sparking a record-tying 10-win improvement in his first season at the helm in New England.
NFL Coach of the Year voting results
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Mike Vrabel: 19
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Liam Coen: 16
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Mike Macdonald: 8
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Ben Johnson: 1
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Kyle Shanahan: 6 (Shanahan had more first-place votes but finished behind Johnson)
NFL Comeback Player of the Year: Christian McCaffrey
In a season replete with injury hits to many of their most vital figures, the San Francisco 49ers were able to count on one star, even as he worked his way back from multiple significant setbacks the previous season.
For that effort, running back Christian McCaffrey was voted the NFL's Comeback Player of the Year.
McCaffrey missed all but four games in 2024, with his season being waylaid by bilateral Achilles tendinitis and a posterior cruciate ligament injury. This fall, however, he bounced back by reeling off 2,126 yards from scrimmage (second most in the NFL) on a league-high 413 touches.
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Despite San Francisco seeing several key starters sidelined for extended stretches, McCaffrey helped push the team all the way to the divisional round of the playoffs.
McCaffrey came out ahead of four other finalists: Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence, New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs , Detroit Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson and Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott .
NFL Comeback Player of the Year voting results
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1. Christian McCaffrey 31
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2. Aidan Hutchinson 9
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3. Dak Prescott 6
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4. Trevor Lawrence 2
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5. Stefon Diggs 0
(Colts quarterback Philip Rivers and Saints wide receiver Chris Olave each received one first-place vote but did not finish in the top five.)
NFL Protector of the Year Award: Joe Thuney
Call Joe Thuney a trailblazer.
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For the first time, the NFL honored an offensive lineman with a Protector of the Year award, and the Chicago Bears guard went home with the trophy.
Thuney knows. Attention for an offensive lineman goes totally against the grain.
Yet the 10-year vet also realizes that the recognition is well deserved for a group that often toils in anonymity — until there's some egregious mistake.
That's why Buffalo Bills tackle Dion Dawkins pushed for an O-line honor. And the NFL listened.
"You know, I think it's definitely long overdue," said Thuney, who won four Super Bowl rings from his previous stops with the Chiefs and Patriots. "Credit to the NFL and Dion Dawkins for really being the driving force around it."
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As you'd expect from an O-linemen, Thuney deflected attention from himself in talking about the significance of his fresh honor.
"There's so many offensive linemen, they've given so much to this game, and the qualities of selflessness and toughness and team that overrides everything else, and so I just think those qualities need to be commended and celebrated, and there's so many names in the NFL that should be up here with me."
-- Jarrett Bell
NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year: Tetairoa McMillan
Cam Ward and Ashton Jeanty generated the most attention of all the offensive stars ahead of the 2025 NFL draft. But it was a slightly less-heralded classmate who was granted the top recognition for first-year players.
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Carolina Panthers wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan was voted the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year for 2025.
Down the stretch of the season, the race seemed to lack the consensus front-runner easily established for other awards. McMillan, however, easily beat out quarterbacks Tyler Shough ( New Orleans Saints ) and Jaxson Dart ( New York Giants ) as well as running back TreVeyon Henderson (New England Patriots) and wide receiver Emeka Egbuka ( Tampa Bay Buccaneers ).
McMillan, the No. 8 overall pick out of Arizona , finished his debut campaign with 1,014 receiving yards and seven touchdowns on seven catches, bringing a much-needed downfield element to a wobbly Panthers passing attack.
NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year voting results
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1. Tetairoa McMillan 41 first-place votes
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2. Tyler Shough 5
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3. TreVeyon Henderson 1
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4. Jaxson Dart 1
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5. Emeka Egbuka 0
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(Seahawks offensive guard Grey Zabel received 2 first-place votes but did not finish in the top five)
NFL Defensive Player of the Year: Myles Garrett
The only mystery surrounding Myles Garrett's candidacy for NFL Defensive Player of the Year was whether anyone would dare vote for another player after the Cleveland Browns defensive end set the league's single-season sack record.
Turns out, no one did.
Garrett became just the second player in league history to unanimously win the award, following J.J. Watt in 2014.
Garrett claimed the honor for the second time in his career after his bid to surpass the previous sack mark set by Michael Strahan and T.J. Watt stretched all the way to the final quarter of Week 18. But with his takedown of Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow , Garrett claimed his 23rd sack and a place in NFL history.
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Fellow edge rushers Will Anderson Jr. , Micah Parsons , Nik Bonitto and Aidan Hutchinson were the other finalists.
Shortly after receiving his much-anticipated award, Garrett was already poised to look ahead.
As he held his trophy, the Browns defensive end lamented the sacks that got away and how he still could have reached another level with a few more sacks.
How does it feel to be a unanimous winner?
"The feeling never being satisfied," he said.
Contributing: Jarrett Bell
NFL Assistant Coach of the Year: Josh McDaniels
Josh McDaniels' third stint with the New England Patriots is off to an incredibly fruitful start.
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The offensive coordinator was voted the NFL's Assistant Coach of the Year for the 2025 season.
In returning to New England as part of coach Mike Vrabel's staff, McDaniels helped the Patriots offense jump from 30th to second in scoring and from 31st to third in total yards. Meanwhile, second-year quarterback Drake Maye emerged as a top MVP candidate while powering the team's run to Super Bowl 60.
McDaniels beat out Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores and Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio.
NFL Assistant Coach of the Year voting results
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Josh McDaniels: 17
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Vance Joseph: 10
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Brian Flores: 8
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Vic Fangio: 4
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Klint Kubiak: 3
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Matt Burke: 3
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Robert Saleh: 2
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Anthony Campanile: 2
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Aaron Kromer: 1
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NFL MVP finalists
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Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills quarterback
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Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback
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Drake Maye, New England Patriots quarterback
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Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers running back
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Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams quarterback
NFL Offensive Player of the Year finalists
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Drake Maye, New England Patriots quarterback
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Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers running back
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Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams wide receiver
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Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons running back
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Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks wide receiver
NFL Defensive Player of the Year finalists
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Will Anderson Jr., Houston Texans defensive end
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Nik Bonitto, Denver Broncos outside linebacker
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Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns defensive end
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Aidan Hutchinson, Detroit Lions defensive end
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Micah Parsons, Green Bay Packers defensive end
NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year finalists
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Jaxson Dart, New York Giants quarterback
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Emeka Egbuka, Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver
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TreVeyon Henderson, New England Patriots running back
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Tetairoa McMillan, Carolina Panthers wide receiver
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Tyler Shough, New Orleans Saints quarterback
NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year finalists
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Abdul Carter, New York Giants outside linebacker
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Nick Emmanwori, Seattle Seahawks safety
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James Pearce Jr., Atlanta Falcons defensive end
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Carson Schwesinger, Cleveland Browns linebacker
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Xavier Watts, Atlanta Falcons safety
NFL Comeback Player of the Year finalists
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Stefon Diggs, New England Patriots wide receiver
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Aidan Hutchinson, Detroit Lions defensive end
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Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback
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Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers running back
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Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys quarterback
NFL Coach of the Year finalists
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Liam Coen, Jacksonville Jaguars
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Ben Johnson, Chicago Bears
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Mike Macdonald, Seattle Seahawks
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Kyle Shanahan, San Francisco 49ers
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Mike Vrabel, New England Patriots
NFL Assistant Coach of the Year finalists
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Vic Fangio, Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator
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Brian Flores, Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator
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Vance Joseph, Denver Broncos defensive coordinator
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Klint Kubiak, Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator
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Josh McDaniels, New England Patriots offensive coordinator
NFL Protector of the Year finalists
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Garett Bolles , Denver Broncos offensive tackle
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Aaron Brewer , Miami Dolphins center
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Creed Humphrey , Kansas City Chiefs center
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Quinn Meinerz , Denver Broncos offensive guard
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Penei Sewell , Detroit Lions offensive tackle
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Joe Thuney, Chicago Bears offensive guard
When is NFL Honors scheduled to take place?
NFL Honors will be held at 9 p.m. ET on Thursday, Feb. 5.
How can I watch NFL Honors? TV info, channel
NFL Honors will be broadcast live on NBC and NFL Network, and it will also be streamed on Peacock and NFL+.
Who is hosting NFL Honors?
Jon Hamm will be hosting this year's ceremony.
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Which awards will be handed out at NFL Honors?
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AP Most Valuable Player
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AP Coach of the Year
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AP Comeback Player of the Year
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AP Offensive Player of the Year
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AP Defensive Player of the Year
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AP Offensive Rookie of the Year
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AP Defensive Rookie of the Year
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Next Gen Stats Moment of the Year
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Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year
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Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026
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FedEx Air & Ground Players of the Year
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Salute to Service Award
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Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award
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Deacon Jones Sack Leader Award
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Jim Brown Award
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AP Assistant Coach of the Year
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NFL Fan of the Year
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Protector of the Year
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2026 NFL Honors awards: Full results on MVP, top rookies and more
