As the calendar turns to February, a celebration of excellence begins for the National Football League. For one, you have the Super Bowl, an annual game between the National Football Conference and American Football Conference to determine who is the best team in the NFL.
A few days before the biggest night of the season, the league’s best gather at a local theater to celebrate the greats of the past season in an event known as the NFL honors.
The 15th annual ceremony promises to do just that in a show full of star power, new faces and all the potential in the world.
Most Valuable Player
This year’s MVP debate quickly boiled down to a horse race between New England Patriots QB Drake Maye and Los Angeles Rams QB Matthew Stafford. Despite being nominated for the same award and having similar statlines, the two could not be more different.
Maye is in year two. Stafford is in year 16. Maye is 23. Stafford is 37.
Stafford’s year has been nothing short of electrifying. The former Detroit Lion led the league with 4,707 passing yards, and 46 passing touchdowns. He also has two pro bowlers to throw to. It’s a system designed by Rams head coach Sean McVay to succeed. If you put Maye into that system, the Super Bowl would be a foregone conclusion.
But Maye isn’t in that system, and he is in the Super Bowl.
Say all you will about the “easy” schedule the Patriots had in the 2025-26 season but in his second season as an NFL QB, Maye led his team to the biggest stage in the game. If it weren’t for him, the Patriots would be long out of postseason contention. It’s for that reason I believe Maye to be the MVP.
Offensive Player of the Year
While the nominees are filled with greatness on the offensive side of the ball, one truly stands out amongst the field. Who? The 5’11 brute anchoring the backfield of the San Francisco 49ers Christian McCaffery.
With the 49ers attack being severely banged up and injured, head coach Kyle Shanahan made McCaffery the focal point of the offense. And it worked.
McCaffery not only recorded over 1,000 rushing yards for the second time in his career, he came 76 yards shy of 1,000 receiving yards for the second time in his career. Not to mention his 10 touchdowns led the team.
As much as I want to call this a forgone conclusion, the NFL loves to give awards to QBs, which this category is full of.
Defensive Player of the Year
While the offensive side of the ball is in question, the defensive side is not. Cleveland Browns defensive end taking home his second defensive player of the year award is all but certain. Why? He broke the single season sack record which was held for over 25 years by Michael Strahan. All due respect to the other men nominated for the award, but this shouldn’t be close.
Offensive Rookie of the Year
In similar fashion to the previous award, this shouldn’t be close whatsoever.
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan led all rookies in receptions with 70, receiving yards with 1,014 and receiving touchdowns with seven. No other rookie, regardless of position, came anywhere close to these numbers.
Defensive Rookie of the Year
When it comes to the defensive rookies, the field is a lot more contested.
On one side, you have linebacker Carson Schwesinger who has been one of the few positive notes of a rather forgettable Cleveland Browns team due to his high football IQ and 157 total tackles, which ranks top 10 amongst all defensive players.
On the other, is a hard hitting safety from Seattle in Nick Emmanwori. The North Carolina native showed shades of Kam Chancellor in his rookie year, creating chaos all over the field. Emmanwori recorded 81 tackles, 2.5 sacks and an interception.
It’s a close race and one that I’d be happy to see either man take home the award, but I’m giving the slight edge to Emmanwori due to his contributions to the Seahawks historicdefense.
The annual ceremony takes place on Thursday, Feb. 5 from the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco at 9 p.m. ET.
