Bleacher Report's Picks for 2025-26 NFL Honors Awards

It's Super Bowl week, which means a flurry of activities, press conferences and parties ahead of Sunday's game between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks.

One of the highlights of the week is the NFL Honors, which started in 2012 and turned the awarding of the NFL's individual honors into a made-for-TV black-tie affair.

The 2025-26 NFL Honors takes place Thursday evening at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco. Actor Jon Hamm will host the show, and we will find out who this year's Most Valuable Player is, plus a number of other awards, from Defensive Player of the Year to Coach of the Year.

Ahead of the event, the Bleacher Report NFL staff, including analysts Gary Davenport, Kris Knox, Maurice Moton and Brent Sobleski, have offered up their takes on who is going to win what.

The first envelope, please...

Coach of the Year

AP Photo/Ashley Landis

Mike Vrabel, New England Patriots (5 votes)

There was no shortage of excellent coaches in the NFL this season.

In his first year as a head coach, Liam Coen led the Jacksonville Jaguars to 13 wins and the AFC South title. Mike Macdonald has the Seattle Seahawks in the Super Bowl. Kyle Shanahan didn't get the San Francisco 49ers that far, but given the injuries that ravaged the team in 2025, it's a minor miracle the team made the postseason at all.

With that said, it's the remarkable turnaround engineered by Mike Vrabel in New England that the panel expects to net him Coach of the Year honors.

"The New England Patriots were a disaster during the 2024 campaign," Sobleski said. "They featured one of the game's worst offensive rosters, while being led by the franchise's former defensive coordinator, who looked completely out of place.

"The squad lacked discipline and never seemed fully prepared, hence its 4-13 record and Jerod Mayo being dismissed after only one season as head coach.

"Vrabel automatically provided the team with a floor. Yes, the Patriots went out and spent in free agency and pieced together a strong rookie class. At the same time, Vrabel is one of the league's best coaches at having his team prepared for every situation, which dates back to his tenure with the Tennessee Titans.

"Furthermore, second-year quarterback Drake Maye blossomed into an MVP-caliber quarterback under Vrabel's watch.

"Even if we take the Super Bowl out of the equation, Vrabel is still deserving of this honor based on the team's turnaround from four to an NFL-leading 14 victories."

Others receiving votes: Mike Macdonald, Seattle Seahawks (1 vote); Kyle Shanahan, San Francisco 49ers (1 vote)

Offensive Player of the Year

AP Photo/Ben VanHouten

WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks (6 votes)

In recent years, the Offensive Player of the Year award has effectively gone to the league's best non-quarterback, since signal-callers receive most of the attention and MVP awards.

There are a number of worthy candidates for the honor this year, but the leaders are a pair of young wide receivers.

Puka Nacua of the Los Angeles Rams paced the league in receptions and receiving yards per game, but Jaxon Smith-Njigba led the NFL in receiving yards and tied Nacua with 10 touchdowns. That got the Ohio State product the nod from our group.

"When the Seattle Seahawks traded DK Metcalf to the Pittsburgh Steelers, many wondered if they had enough firepower to remain a top-eight passing attack," Moton said. "Jaxon Smith-Njigba answered that question by himself. He finished the 2025 campaign with a league-leading 1,793 receiving yards, racking up 100 or more yards in 10 out of 17 outings.

"The 23-year-old is also one of seven players with double-digit touchdown receptions this season. His gaudy receiving numbers were a major factor in the Seahawks winning 14 regular-season games and claiming the NFC's No. 1 seed. Between the numbers and impact on his team's success, he should be the front-runner for this award."

Others receiving votes: WR Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams (1 vote)

Defensive Player of the Year

AP Photo/Jeff Dean

Edge Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns (7 votes)

This is the first unanimous vote from our experts, and the biggest no-brainer call on this list.

Not a lot went right for the Cleveland Browns this season, but edge-rusher Myles Garrett was again a nightmare for opposing blockers. Despite facing double-teams (at least) constantly, he made NFL history, breaking the single-season sack record with 23.

That historic season makes Garrett an easy pick as Defensive Player of the Year and seals his status as one of the all-time great pass-rushers.

"Garrett was already a lock for the Pro Football Hall of Fame," Davenport said. "He had more sacks before his 30th birthday than any player in NFL history. He has at least 14 sacks in five straight seasons—also an NFL record. And now he's the single-season sack king and a lock to win Defensive Player of the Year for the second time in as many seasons.

"This may sound like hyperbole, but it's really not. This writer is old enough to remember Lawrence Taylor in his prime. And Reggie White in his prime. Garrett belongs in the conversation with players like Taylor, White and J.J. Watt.

"In fact, Garrett may be the most athletically gifted edge-rusher I have ever seen. And if he has another big year in 2026, he'll crack the top 10 all-time in sacks."

Offensive Rookie of the Year

AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman

WR Tetairoa McMillan, Carolina Panthers (7 votes)

That we have a second straight unanimous call is at least a little surprising.

It's not that Panthers wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan isn't deserving—Carolina's first pick in the 2025 draft quickly emerged as its No. 1 wide receiver and finished the season with 70 catches for 1,014 yards and seven scores.

But McMillan's first season wasn't head-and-shoulders better than the surprising success New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough had. Or the highlight-reel plays peeled off by New England Patriots running back TreVeyon Henderson on his way to over 1,100 total yards.

However, McMillan's role in Carolina's surprising playoff run put him over the top here.

"I decided not to go with 'Pro Bowl quarterback' Shedeur Sanders here," Knox said. "A number of rookies are more deserving of the award, including Emeka Egbuka, Tyler Shough, Tetairoa McMillan, and TreVeyon Henderson.

"Ultimately, though, I think McMillan will get the nod, for a couple of reasons. For one, he hit the 1,000-yard threshold, something no other rookie pass-catcher accomplished.

"Secondly, the Arizona product played a massive role in Bryce Young having a career year and in the Carolina Panthers winning the NFC South. That's their first division title since 2015, and that's big."

Defensive Rookie of the Year

Winslow Townson/AP Images for Panini

LB Carson Schwesinger, Cleveland Browns (6 votes)

It's not especially easy for off-ball linebackers to earn individual accolades, because they usually don't make a ton of splash plays.

Carson Schwesinger didn't have the success rushing the passer that Atlanta Falcons edge-rusher James Pearce Jr. did in an inaugural season that justified the team dealing its 2026 first-rounder to move up and select the Tennessee standout. He also didn't rack up takeaways like Falcons safety Xavier Watts, who had five interceptions.

However, Schwesinger was the defensive signal-caller for one of the better defenses in the NFL and amassed 156 tackles—sixth-most in the league.

So, this year, an off-ball linebacker gets his moment in the sun.

"Rewind to the start of the 2024 campaign, when Carson Schwesinger still played for the UCLA Bruins," Sobleski said. "At the onset of his final collegiate campaign, the linebacker had yet to become a starter. It didn't happen until the third game of that season. Now, he's the NFL's best first-year defender.

"This amazing story speaks to the talent and perseverance of the former walk-on. The second-round draft pick quickly became a vital component of the Cleveland Browns' standout defense, as the play-caller in the middle of the unit wearing the green dot.

"Schwesinger is a complete second-line defender, who quickly triggers downhill against the run, makes plays from sideline to sideline and is athletic enough to drop comfortably into space.

"His 156 total tackles led all rookies and finished sixth overall. In fact, he was the only NFL defender this past season with a combination of at least 150 total tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and two interceptions."

Others receiving votes: Edge James Pearce Jr., Atlanta Falcons (1 vote)

Comeback Player of the Year

AP Photo/Stephen Brashear

RB Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers (5 votes)

The 2024 season was a forgettable one for San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey.

After surpassing 2,000 total yards and scoring 21 total touchdowns in 2023, multiple injuries limited him to just 50 carries for 202 rushing yards over four games.

This has been something of a theme with McCaffrey: massive seasons followed by injury-marred campaigns. The 29-year-old was back to form in 2025.

McCaffrey carried the San Francisco offense last season. His 413 regular-season touches were far and away the most of any running back in the league. He surpassed 1,200 yards on the ground, caught 102 passes for 924 yards, and found the end zone 17 times.

"McCaffrey's bounce-back season in 2025 was a reminder just how dominant an offensive weapon he can be when at his best," Davenport said. "Despite the fact that he averaged less than four yards a carry, he sailed past 2,000 total yards and nearly became the first player in NFL history to have 1,000 rushing yards and 1,000 receiving yards in a season twice.

"There's no way San Francisco sniffs the playoffs this season without him, although his ridiculous workload doesn't bode especially well for his 2026 prospects."

Others receiving votes: Edge Aidan Hutchinson, Detroit Lions (2 votes)

Most Improved Player

AP Photo/David Zalubowski

QB Drake Maye, New England Patriots (4 votes)

The 2025 season was a coming-out party for a pair of second-year signal-callers.

In Chicago, Caleb Williams lived up to his status as the first overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft. After a rocky rookie year, he threw for a franchise-record 3,942 yards and 27 touchdowns with just seven picks on the way to leading the Bears to the NFC North championship. He also made arguably the wildest throw of the season.

However, Williams and the Bears will be watching Super Bowl LX from home, while the player taken two picks after him will be trying to earn his first ring.

After showing flashes as a rookie, Drake Maye of the Patriots became a legitimate franchise quarterback in 2025—the 23-year-old led the league in completion percentage, yards per attempt, air yards per attempt, passer rating and QBR.

"If Drake Maye doesn't win league MVP," Moton said, "he can still take home some hardware as the Most Improved Player. As a rookie, he had his ups and downs under the New England Patriots' previous regime, throwing for 15 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

"This season, Maye led the league in passer rating (113.5), a QBR of 77.1 and completion rate (72 percent). He more than doubled his passing touchdown total from the previous year with 31 scores through the air while throwing two fewer picks.

"At the most important position, Maye made a significant leap that helped the Patriots become a Super Bowl team."

Others receiving votes: QB Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears (2 votes); WR Michael Wilson, Arizona Cardinals (1 vote)

Fantasy Player of the Year

AP Photo/Terrance Williams

RB Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers (6 votes)

As discussed, Christian McCaffrey had himself a season with the 49ers in 2025. And in news that should surprise no one, players who amass over 2,000 total yards, catch over 100 passes and find the end zone 17 times have considerable fantasy value, especially in PPR formats.

In that scoring system, there were five players total who surpassed 400 fantasy points. McCaffrey was the only non-quarterback to do so, and he had more fantasy points than every player bar Josh Allen and Matthew Stafford.

It was the second time in three years that McCaffrey was fantasy's top running back by a sizable margin.

Davenport was the lone voice of dissent here, though, going instead with Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride.

"To be clear, McCaffrey had a great season for fantasy managers," Davenport said. "But as good as he was, he didn't dominate his position the way McBride did.

"The fourth-year veteran caught 126 passes, topped 1,200 receiving yards, scored almost twice as many touchdowns as over his first three seasons combined and outscored the No. 2 tight end by over six PPR points per game."

Others receiving votes: TE Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals (1 vote)

Most Valuable Player

AP Photo/Stephen Brashear

QB Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams (6 votes)

The NFL's Most Valuable Player award might as well be called "Most Valuable Quarterback." In the last two decades, just one non-QB has won the honor: Adrian Peterson in 2012.

This year won't be any different, despite the inclusion of McCaffrey as a finalist.

There isn't much Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford hasn't accomplished in his 17 NFL seasons. He has thrown for 5,000 yards in a season, won a Super Bowl and Comeback Player of the Year.

But he has never won Most Valuable Player, and this is the year when Bleacher Report's NFL staff believes he does.

"To be perfectly honest," Knox said, "I think an argument can be made that Drake Maye did more for less as the Patriots' quarterback than Matthew Stafford did with the Rams. I'd be willing to bet, though, that at least a few voters favored Stafford, believing that Maye is young enough to get multiple shots at the award.

"It's not as if Stafford's campaign wasn't deserving, either. He led the league in passing yards and passing touchdowns while tossing a mere eight interceptions. The Rams aren't winning 12 games without him. Period.

"However, I do believe that Stafford having a career year at age 37 played a role in him leading the All-Pro voting and will play a role in him winning the MVP."

Others receiving votes: QB Drake Maye, New England Patriots (1 vote)