NFL Honors Night Preview: Award Finalists, MVP Race, Rookies & Coaches In The Spotlight

NFL Honors Night Approaches as League Celebrates the Best of the Season

Thursday night marks one of the final marquee moments of the NFL calendar as the league hands out its annual awards, recognizing the players and coaches who defined the season. From MVP debates to breakout rookie performances, this year’s finalists reflect both elite consistency and game changing impact.

Most Valuable Player (MVP)

The league’s top individual honor once again features quarterbacks and playmakers who carried their teams week after week.

Finalists:

• Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills

• Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars

• Drake Maye, New England Patriots

• Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers

• Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams

Offensive Player of the Year

This award highlights the most dominant offensive force, regardless of position.

Finalists:

• Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers

• Drake Maye, New England Patriots

• Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams

• Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons

• Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks

Defensive Player of the Year

Game wreckers and tone setters headline this stacked defensive category.

Finalists:

• Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns

• Will Anderson Jr., Houston Texans

• Nik Bonitto, Denver Broncos

• Aidan Hutchinson, Detroit Lions

• Micah Parsons, Green Bay Packers

Offensive Rookie of the Year

The next generation of stars made their presence felt immediately.

Finalists:

• Jaxson Dart, New York Giants

• Emeka Egbuka, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

• TreVeyon Henderson, New England Patriots

• Tetairoa McMillan, Carolina Panthers

• Tyler Shough, New Orleans Saints

  
  

Defensive Rookie of the Year

Young defenders stepped into major roles and delivered big moments.

Finalists:

• Abdul Carter, New York Giants

• Nick Emmanwori, Seattle Seahawks

• James Pearce Jr., Atlanta Falcons

• Carson Schwesinger, Cleveland Browns

• Xavier Watts, Atlanta Falcons

Comeback Player of the Year

This award honors resilience, recovery, and elite returns to form.

Finalists:

• Stefon Diggs, New England Patriots

• Aidan Hutchinson, Detroit Lions

• Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars

• Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers

• Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys

Coach of the Year

Strategists who maximized rosters and exceeded expectations headline this category.

Finalists:

• Liam Coen, Jacksonville Jaguars

• Ben Johnson, Chicago Bears

• Mike Macdonald, Seattle Seahawks

• Kyle Shanahan, San Francisco 49ers

• Mike Vrabel, New England Patriots

Assistant Coach of the Year

Assistants who made the most of the players they were directly responsible for.

Finalists:

• Vic Fangio, Philadelphia Eagles DC

• Brian Flores, Minnesota Vikings DC

• Vance Joseph, Denver Broncos DC

• Klint Kubiak, Seattle Seahawks OC

• Josh McDaniels, New England Patriots OC

With awards night serving as both a celebration and one of the last steps before the final game, the NFL officially begins closing one chapter while setting the stage for the next.

Pregame Sports Bar Crawl: Las Vegas Edition

Experience the excitement of the game like never before with our Pregame Sports pub crawl in Las Vegas! Join fellow sports fans for exclusive drink specials at some of the city's best sports bars. It's the ultimate way to gear up for game night, whether you're repping your squad or just in it for the fun. Stay tuned for upcoming dates and exclusive deals!