The 2026 NFL Honors will take place February 5, with winners determined by a 50-member media panel that voted before the playoffs began. The voting system awarded 10 points for first place, with second through fifth place receiving 5, 3, 2, and 1 points respectively.
Most Valuable Player
The MVP race features an elite field. Reigning winner Josh Allen led Buffalo to another playoff appearance with 3,668 passing yards, 25 touchdowns and 14 rushing scores. Drake Maye topped the NFL in passer rating (113.5) and completion percentage (72%) while throwing for 4,394 yards and 31 touchdowns, leading New England to the AFC Championship Game. Matthew Stafford posted career-high numbers with 4,707 passing yards and 46 touchdowns, earning his first All-Pro selection in 17 seasons.
Christian McCaffrey delivered 1,202 rushing yards and 102 receptions despite injuries plaguing San Francisco, while Trevor Lawrence guided Jacksonville to 13 wins and an AFC South title.
Coach of the Year
Five coaches earned recognition for transformative seasons. Mike Macdonald led Seattle to a 14-3 record and the NFC's top seed. Mike Vrabel engineered a 10-win turnaround in his first season with New England. Liam Coen produced a nine-win improvement for Jacksonville, while Ben Johnson delivered Chicago its first division championship in seven years. Kyle Shanahan navigated extensive injuries to guide San Francisco to 12 victories.
Defensive Player of the Year
The race centers on elite pass rushers. Myles Garrett set a single-season record with 23 sacks and 33 tackles for loss, earning unanimous All-Pro honors. Nik Bonitto registered 14 sacks for Denver's second-ranked defense, while Aidan Hutchinson posted 14.5 sacks. Will Anderson Jr. anchored Houston's top-ranked unit with 12 sacks. Micah Parsons had 12.5 sacks before a season-ending injury.
Offensive Player of the Year
Beyond Maye and McCaffrey, three receivers earned nominations. Puka Nacua led the NFL with 129 catches for 1,715 yards, while Jaxon Smith-Njigba topped all receivers with 1,793 yards on 119 receptions. Both earned unanimous All-Pro selections. Bijan Robinson led the league with 2,298 scrimmage yards, combining 1,478 rushing yards with 79 receptions.
Additional Awards
Assistant Coach of the Year finalists include defensive coordinators Vic Fangio (Philadelphia), Brian Flores (Minnesota), and Vance Joseph (Denver), alongside offensive coordinators Klint Kubiak (Seattle) and Josh McDaniels (New England).
Comeback Player nominees feature Lawrence, McCaffrey, Stefon Diggs, Hutchinson, and Dak Prescott.
Defensive Rookie finalists are Abdul Carter, Nick Emmanwori, James Pearce Jr., Carson Schwesinger, and Xavier Watts. Offensive Rookie candidates include Jaxson Dart, Emeka Egbuka, TreVeyon Henderson, Tetairoa McMillan, and Tyler Shough.
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