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- Headline winners and what they achieved
- Vote counts and the closest races
- Rookies, honor rolls and specialty awards
- Pro Football Hall of Fame Class revealed
- Ceremony highlights and key moments
- Stat-based awards and leaders
- Where and when to watch NFL Honors in 2026
- Memorable acceptance lines and human moments
The NFL’s annual Honors night in San Francisco delivered drama, records and emotional speeches. Voters split on several categories, but a few clear performers rose above the pack. Below is a fresh, search-friendly recap of winners, voting details and the most talked-about moments from the 2026 awards ceremony.
Headline winners and what they achieved
- MVP — Matthew Stafford (Rams): Narrowly topped a tight vote for the league’s top individual honor.
- Defensive Player of the Year — Myles Garrett (Browns): Unanimous selection after setting a single-season sack mark.
- Offensive Player of the Year — Jaxon Smith-Njigba (Seahawks): Led the league in receiving yards and earned top offensive honors.
- Coach of the Year — Mike Vrabel (Patriots): Credited with a dramatic turnaround and a 10-win improvement.
- Comeback Player — Christian McCaffrey (49ers): Returned to elite form and surpassed 2,000 scrimmage yards.
- Offensive Rookie of the Year — Tetairoa McMillan (Panthers): Breakout season that crowned him the top first-year offensive player.
- Defensive Rookie of the Year — Carson Schwesinger (Browns): Rookie impact on defense earned league-wide recognition.
- Walter Payton Man of the Year — Bobby Wagner (Commanders): Honored for outstanding community service and leadership off the field.
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Vote counts and the closest races
Key tallies that shaped the night
- MVP: Stafford beat Drake Maye by five points, 366 to 361. The margin was one of the slimmest in recent memory.
- DPOY: Garrett was unanimous, sweeping first-place votes and posting the maximum points in the balloting.
- OPOY: Jaxon Smith-Njigba led the field in first-place votes and points to secure the award.
Several other categories featured decisive victories, while a handful came down to late ballots. Voter splits showed next-generation stars rising fast.
Rookies, honor rolls and specialty awards
- Offensive Rookie of the Year: Tetairoa McMillan earned the nod after a 1,000-yard season.
- Defensive Rookie of the Year: Carson Schwesinger stood out as the year’s top first-year defender.
- Protector of the Year: Joe Thuney was recognized as the inaugural winner for his blocking and leadership.
- FedEx Air & Ground Players: Drake Maye, Christian McCaffrey and Jaxon Smith-Njigba shared recognition for playmakers.
- Salute to Service: Christian McCaffrey honored for his support of military and veteran causes.
- Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award: Budda Baker received the leaguewide sportsmanship prize.
- NFL Fan of the Year: Edward Callahan represented the Eagles and captured fan recognition.
- NFL FLAG Players: Female winner Ava Rotondi (NY) and male winner Brysen Wright (FL) earned the youth honors.
Pro Football Hall of Fame Class revealed
- Inductees for 2026: Larry Fitzgerald, Luke Kuechly, Drew Brees, Adam Vinatieri and Rodger Craig.
- The class mixes elite skill players, a legendary kicker and a standout linebacker.
- Several notable finalists were also considered before voters finalized this balanced class.
Ceremony highlights and key moments
- Red carpet arrivals included stars, coaches and media names ahead of the main show.
- Host Jon Hamm led the program from the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco.
- Early awards set the tone: Tetairoa McMillan and Carson Schwesinger earned rookie honors during the first hour.
- Myles Garrett’s unanimous Defensive Player of the Year call drew praise and attention to his record sack total.
- Emotional acceptance speeches highlighted community work, family influences and resilience.
- Caleb Williams’ touchdown to DJ Moore won Next Gen Stats Moment of the Year.
- Late in the show, Matthew Stafford was announced as MVP, sparking debate and headlines across social media.
Stat-based awards and leaders
- Deacon Jones Sack Leader: Myles Garrett led the NFL with 23 sacks.
- Jim Brown Award (rushing leader): James Cook topped the league with 1,621 yards on the ground.
- Those statistical crowns underlined why their winners dominated voting in defensive and rushing categories.
Where and when to watch NFL Honors in 2026
Broadcast, streaming and schedule
- TV: NBC and NFL Network carried the live telecast.
- Streaming: Peacock streamed the ceremony live.
- Date & time: Thursday, Feb. 5 — 9 p.m. ET.
- Venue: Palace of Fine Arts, San Francisco.
- Host: Jon Hamm guided the evening’s presentations and interviews.
Memorable acceptance lines and human moments
- Bobby Wagner dedicated his Walter Payton award to family and community advocates in a poignant speech.
- Several winners used their platform to spotlight charitable causes and teammates.
- Fan reactions and social feeds lit up after tight races and unexpected wins.
