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Each year, the NFL reveals its award recipients during the NFL Honors ceremony. In addition to the individual player awards, the 2026 class of the NFL Hall of Fame will also be unveiled.

Though the MVP race isn’t as contentious as last year’s Lamar Jackson vs. Josh Allen showdown, it remains a challenging choice. The expectation is that this will come down to Matthew Stafford and Drake Maye, who are at drastically different points in their careers.

Among the eight primary awards, no definitive frontrunner emerges. The finalists for these honors were announced on January 22, and their names are listed below. The New England Patriots have the most potential winners, with six, followed by the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers with four.

The Sporting News has live updates from the NFL Honors 2026, including all the winners of the night.

MORE: Watch the 2026 NFL Honors on NBC with Peacock

NFL Honors 2026 award winners

Most Valuable Player:

Finalists:

  • Matthew Stafford, QB, Rams
  • Drake Maye, QB, Patriots
  • Josh Allen, QB, Bills
  • Trevor Lawrence, QB, Jaguars
  • Christian McCaffrey, RB, 49ers

MORE SN NFL AWARDS: Full list of 2025 winners | History of the awards

Offensive Player of the Year:

Finalists:

  • Drake Maye, QB, Patriots
  • Christian McCaffrey, RB, 49ers
  • Bijan Robinson, RB, Falcons
  • Puka Nacua, WR, Rams
  • Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Seahawks

MORE: Why Jaxon Smith-Njigba won 2025 Sporting News OPOY over Drake Maye

Defensive Player of the Year:

Finalists:

  • Will Anderson Jr., DE, Texans 
  • Nik Bonitto, LB, Broncos 
  • Myles Garrett, DE, Browns
  • Aidan Hutchinson, DE, Lions
  • Micah Parsons, DE, Packers 

Offensive Rookie of the Year:

Finalists:

  • Jaxson Dart, QB, Giants
  • Emeka Egbuka, WR, Buccaneers
  • TreVeyon Henderson, RB, Patriots
  • Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Panthers
  • Tyler Shough, QB, Saints

Defensive Rookie of the Year:

Finalists:

  • Abdul Carter, LB, Giants
  • Nick Emmanwori, DB, Seahawks
  • James Pearce Jr., DE,  Falcons
  • Carson Schwesinger, LB, Browns
  • Xavier Watts, S, Falcons

Comeback Player of the Year:

Finalists:

  • Stefon Diggs, WR, Patriots
  • Aidan Hutchinson, DE, Lions
  • Trevor Lawrence, QB, Jaguars
  • Christian McCaffrey, RB, 49ers
  • Dak Prescott, QB, Cowboys

MORE: Complete Sporting News’ NFL All-Pro team for 2025

Coach of the Year:

Finalists:

  • Liam Coen, Jaguars
  • Ben Johnson, Bears
  • Mike Macdonald, Seahawks
  • Kyle Shanahan, 49ers
  • Mike Vrabel, Patriots

Assistant Coach of the Year:

Finalists:

  • Vic Fangio, Eagles (DC)
  • Brian Flores, Vikings (DC)
  • Vance Joseph, Broncos (DC)
  • Klint Kubiak, Seahawks (OC)
  • Josh McDaniels, Patriots (OC)

MORE: Why Mike Vrabel won Sporting News’ 2025 COTY over Kyle Shanahan

Walter Payton Man of the Year:

Finalists:

  • Kelvin Beachum, Arizona Cardinals
  • A.J. Terrell Jr., Atlanta Falcons
  • Derrick Henry, Baltimore Ravens
  • Dion Dawkins, Buffalo Bills
  • Austin Corbett, Carolina Panthers
  • DJ Moore, Chicago Bears
  • Ted Karras, Cincinnati Bengals
  • Grant Delpit, Cleveland Browns
  • Solomon Thomas, Dallas Cowboys
  • Garett Bolles, Denver Broncos
  • DJ Reader, Detroit Lions
  • Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers
  • Azeez Al-Shaair, Houston Texans
  • Kenny Moore II, Indianapolis Colts
  • Logan Cooke, Jacksonville Jaguars
  • Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs
  • Maxx Crosby, Las Vegas Raiders
  • Cameron Dicker, Los Angeles Chargers
  • Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams
  • Bradley Chubb, Miami Dolphins 
  • C.J. Ham, Minnesota Vikings
  • Hunter Henry, New England Patriots
  • Demario Davis, New Orleans Saints
  • Bobby Okereke, New York Giants 
  • Quincy Williams, New York Jets
  • Jordan Mailata, Philadelphia Eagles
  • Alex Highsmith, Pittsburgh Steelers
  • Curtis Robin, San Francisco 49ers
  • Julian Love, Seattle Seahawks
  • Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
  • Jeffery Simmons, Tennessee Titans
  • Bobby Wagner, Washington Commanders

FedEx Air & Ground Player of the Year:

Finalists:

  • Matthew Stafford, QB, Rams
  • Drake Maye, QB, Patriots
  • Josh Allen, QB, Bills
  • Christian McCaffrey, RB, 49ers
  • Bijan Robinson, RB, Falcons
  • Puka Nacua, WR, Rams
  • Jaxson Smith-Njigba, WR, Seahawks
  • Jonathan Taylor, RB, Colts
  • Trey McBride, TE, Cardinals

Salute to Service Award:

Finalists:

  • Aaron Jones Sr., RB, Vikings
  • Christian McCaffrey, RB, 49ers
  • Jake Ferguson, TE, Cowboys

Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award:

Finalists:

  • Budda Baker, Arizona Cardinals
  • Kaden Elliss, Atlanta Falcons
  • Kyle Van Noy, Baltimore Ravens
  • Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
  • Derrick Brown, Carolina Panthers
  • Drew Dalman, Chicago Bears
  • Chase Brown, Cincinnati Bengals
  • Joel Bitonio, Cleveland Browns
  • Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
  • Talanoa Hufanga, Denver Broncos
  • Derrick Barnes, Detroit Lions
  • Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers
  • Nico Collins, Houston Texans
  • DeForest Buckner, Indianapolis Colts
  • Travis Etienne, Jacksonville Jaguars
  • Trent McDuffie, Kansas City Chiefs
  • Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders
  • Khalil Mack, Los Angeles Chargers
  • Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams
  • Zach Sieler, Miami Dolphins 
  • Brian O’Neill, Minnesota Vikings
  • Marcus Jones, New England Patriots
  • Demario Davis, New Orleans Saints
  • Wan’Dale Robinson, New York Giants 
  • Harrison Phillips, New York Jets
  • Zack Baun, Philadelphia Eagles
  • Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers
  • Kyle Juszczyk, San Francisco 49ers
  • Charles Cross, Seattle Seahawks
  • Lavonte David, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
  • Peter Skoronski, Tennessee Titans
  • Tress Way, Washington Commanders

Deacon Jones Sack Leader Award: Myles Garrett, DE, Browns

This award is given to the player who leads the NFL in sacks during the regular season. Garrett had 23 sacks; the next closest was Brian Burns with 16.5.

The Jim Brown Award: James Cook III, RB, Bills

This award is given to the player who leads the NFL in rushing yards during the regular season. Cook had 23 1,621 rushing yards; the next closest was Derrick Henry with 1,595.

Next Gen Stats Moment of the Year: TBD

NFL Fan of the Year:

Finalists:

  • Kenny Salinas, Arizona Cardinals
  • Charlie McAdoo, Atlanta Falcons
  • Eric Ceelen, Baltimore Ravens
  • Therese Forton-Barnes, Buffalo Bills
  • Lawrence Wilkinson, Carolina Panthers
  • Johnathan Otten, Chicago Bears
  • Steve Thompson, Cincinnati Bengals
  • Kyle Kovach, Cleveland Browns
  • Tom Gipson, Dallas Cowboys
  • Kevin Nunn & Sue Nunn, Denver Broncos
  • Kyla Wright & Ninotchka Jackson-Wright, Detroit Lions
  • Ashley Christensen, Green Bay Packers
  • Sebastian Cruz, Houston Texans
  • Allison Balay, Indianapolis Colts
  • Amanda Harper, Jacksonville Jaguars
  • Yvette Richards, Kansas City Chiefs
  • Jeffrey Catterson, Las Vegas Raiders
  • Lawrence Branton, Los Angeles Chargers
  • Da’Mon Jackson, Los Angeles Rams
  • Thomas Dubinski & Lydia Dubinski, Miami Dolphins 
  • Leanne Adkins, Minnesota Vikings
  • Scott Richman, New England Patriots
  • Angela Austin, New Orleans Saints
  • James Smolenski & Rosie Smolenski, New York Giants 
  • Maria Francisco, New York Jets
  • Edward Callahan, Philadelphia Eagles
  • Hayden Shock, Pittsburgh Steelers
  • Donna Bettencourt, San Francisco 49ers
  • Elise Robinson, Seattle Seahawks
  • Joseph Parrino & JoAnn Parrino, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
  • Francina “Kaye” Jernigan, Tennessee Titans
  • Stephen Boyd, Washington Commanders

NFL Latino Youth Honors:

Finalists:

  • Atiana González 
  • Edward Jordan IV.
  • Jasen Lopez
  • Oscar Rios
  • Alayna Adamez
  • Will Berry
  • Isabella Jubrey 
  • Alissa Escutia

NFL FLAG Players of the Year award:

Female winner:

Male winner:

Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026

Finalists:

  • Willie Anderson, OT
  • Drew Brees, QB
  • Jahri Evans, OG
  • Larry Fitzgerald, WR
  • Frank Gore, RB
  • Torry Holt, WR
  • Luke Kuechly, LB
  • Eli Manning, QB
  • Terrell Suggs, OLB/DE
  • Adam Vinatieri, K
  • Reggie Wayne, WR
  • Kevin Williams, DT
  • Jason Witten, TE
  • Darren Woodson, S
  • Marshal Yanda, OG/OT

NFL Honors 2026 results, highlights from awards show

Winner of Dancing With the Stars Robert Irwin is at the NFL Honors.

Myles Garrett arrives at NFL Honors.

Ava Rotondi, 2025 Flag Player of the Year and Steelers representative, on the NFL Honors red carpet

Kay Adams arrives at the red carpet at the NFL Honors.

Dhar Mann at the 25th Annual NFL Honors.

A sneak peek at the red carpet moments before some of the players begin to arrive.

The seating arrangement for the NFL Honors has been set.

Where to watch 2026 NFL Honors awards show

What channel is the 2026 NFL Honors awards show on?

  • TV channel: NBC | NFL Network
  • Live stream: Peacock

The 2026 NFL Honors ceremony will air live on NBC and NFL Network.

Viewers can stream the event live on Peacock.

NFL Honors start time

  • Date: Thursday, Feb. 5
  • Time: 9 p.m. ET 

The NFL Honors will begin at 9 p.m. ET on Thursday, Feb. 5

This year’s awards show will be held at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco, hosted by Jon Hamm.

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