NFL Honors 2026 live award show updates, winners for MVP, OPOY, DPOY and more

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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 winnersMost Valuable Player:

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

Offensive Player of the Year:

Finalists:

Drake Maye, QB, PatriotsChristian McCaffrey, RB, 49ersBijan Robinson, RB, FalconsPuka Nacua, WR, RamsJaxon 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, BrownsAidan Hutchinson, DE, LionsMicah Parsons, DE, Packers Offensive Rookie of the Year:

Finalists:

Jaxson Dart, QB, GiantsEmeka Egbuka, WR, BuccaneersTreVeyon Henderson, RB, PatriotsTetairoa McMillan, WR, PanthersTyler Shough, QB, SaintsDefensive Rookie of the Year:

Finalists:

Abdul Carter, LB, GiantsNick Emmanwori, DB, SeahawksJames Pearce Jr., DE,  FalconsCarson Schwesinger, LB, BrownsXavier Watts, S, FalconsComeback Player of the Year:

Finalists:

Stefon Diggs, WR, PatriotsAidan Hutchinson, DE, LionsTrevor Lawrence, QB, JaguarsChristian McCaffrey, RB, 49ersDak Prescott, QB, Cowboys

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

Coach of the Year:

Finalists:

Liam Coen, JaguarsBen Johnson, BearsMike Macdonald, SeahawksKyle Shanahan, 49ersMike Vrabel, PatriotsAssistant 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 CardinalsA.J. Terrell Jr., Atlanta FalconsDerrick Henry, Baltimore RavensDion Dawkins, Buffalo BillsAustin Corbett, Carolina PanthersDJ Moore, Chicago BearsTed Karras, Cincinnati BengalsGrant Delpit, Cleveland BrownsSolomon Thomas, Dallas CowboysGarett Bolles, Denver BroncosDJ Reader, Detroit LionsJordan Love, Green Bay PackersAzeez Al-Shaair, Houston TexansKenny Moore II, Indianapolis ColtsLogan Cooke, Jacksonville JaguarsTravis Kelce, Kansas City ChiefsMaxx Crosby, Las Vegas RaidersCameron Dicker, Los Angeles ChargersKyren Williams, Los Angeles RamsBradley Chubb, Miami Dolphins C.J. Ham, Minnesota VikingsHunter Henry, New England PatriotsDemario Davis, New Orleans SaintsBobby Okereke, New York Giants Quincy Williams, New York JetsJordan Mailata, Philadelphia EaglesAlex Highsmith, Pittsburgh SteelersCurtis Robin, San Francisco 49ersJulian Love, Seattle SeahawksBaker Mayfield, Tampa Bay BuccaneersJeffery Simmons, Tennessee TitansBobby Wagner, Washington CommandersFedEx Air & Ground Player of the Year:

Finalists:

Matthew Stafford, QB, RamsDrake Maye, QB, PatriotsJosh Allen, QB, BillsChristian McCaffrey, RB, 49ersBijan Robinson, RB, FalconsPuka Nacua, WR, RamsJaxson Smith-Njigba, WR, SeahawksJonathan Taylor, RB, ColtsTrey McBride, TE, CardinalsSalute to Service Award:

Finalists:

Aaron Jones Sr., RB, VikingsChristian McCaffrey, RB, 49ersJake Ferguson, TE, CowboysArt Rooney Sportsmanship Award:

Finalists:

Budda Baker, Arizona CardinalsKaden Elliss, Atlanta FalconsKyle Van Noy, Baltimore RavensJosh Allen, Buffalo BillsDerrick Brown, Carolina PanthersDrew Dalman, Chicago BearsChase Brown, Cincinnati BengalsJoel Bitonio, Cleveland BrownsDak Prescott, Dallas CowboysTalanoa Hufanga, Denver BroncosDerrick Barnes, Detroit LionsJordan Love, Green Bay PackersNico Collins, Houston TexansDeForest Buckner, Indianapolis ColtsTravis Etienne, Jacksonville JaguarsTrent McDuffie, Kansas City ChiefsBrock Bowers, Las Vegas RaidersKhalil Mack, Los Angeles ChargersMatthew Stafford, Los Angeles RamsZach Sieler, Miami Dolphins Brian O’Neill, Minnesota VikingsMarcus Jones, New England PatriotsDemario Davis, New Orleans SaintsWan’Dale Robinson, New York Giants Harrison Phillips, New York JetsZack Baun, Philadelphia EaglesPat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh SteelersKyle Juszczyk, San Francisco 49ersCharles Cross, Seattle SeahawksLavonte David, Tampa Bay BuccaneersPeter Skoronski, Tennessee TitansTress Way, Washington CommandersDeacon 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: TBDNFL Fan of the Year:

Finalists:

Kenny Salinas, Arizona CardinalsCharlie McAdoo, Atlanta FalconsEric Ceelen, Baltimore RavensTherese Forton-Barnes, Buffalo BillsLawrence Wilkinson, Carolina PanthersJohnathan Otten, Chicago BearsSteve Thompson, Cincinnati BengalsKyle Kovach, Cleveland BrownsTom Gipson, Dallas CowboysKevin Nunn & Sue Nunn, Denver BroncosKyla Wright & Ninotchka Jackson-Wright, Detroit LionsAshley Christensen, Green Bay PackersSebastian Cruz, Houston TexansAllison Balay, Indianapolis ColtsAmanda Harper, Jacksonville JaguarsYvette Richards, Kansas City ChiefsJeffrey Catterson, Las Vegas RaidersLawrence Branton, Los Angeles ChargersDa’Mon Jackson, Los Angeles RamsThomas Dubinski & Lydia Dubinski, Miami Dolphins Leanne Adkins, Minnesota VikingsScott Richman, New England PatriotsAngela Austin, New Orleans SaintsJames Smolenski & Rosie Smolenski, New York Giants Maria Francisco, New York JetsEdward Callahan, Philadelphia EaglesHayden Shock, Pittsburgh SteelersDonna Bettencourt, San Francisco 49ersElise Robinson, Seattle SeahawksJoseph Parrino & JoAnn Parrino, Tampa Bay BuccaneersFrancina “Kaye” Jernigan, Tennessee TitansStephen Boyd, Washington CommandersNFL Latino Youth Honors:

Finalists:

Atiana González Edward Jordan IV.Jasen LopezOscar RiosAlayna AdamezWill BerryIsabella Jubrey Alissa EscutiaNFL FLAG Players of the Year award:

Female winner:

Male winner:

Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026

Finalists:

Willie Anderson, OTDrew Brees, QBJahri Evans, OGLarry Fitzgerald, WRFrank Gore, RBTorry Holt, WRLuke Kuechly, LBEli Manning, QBTerrell Suggs, OLB/DEAdam Vinatieri, KReggie Wayne, WRKevin Williams, DTJason Witten, TEDarren Woodson, SMarshal Yanda, OG/OTNFL Honors 2026 results, highlights from awards show

.@heykayadams at NFL Honors 📸 pic.twitter.com/F04Ctjmbhu

— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) February 5, 2026

Dhar Mann at the 25th Annual NFL Honors.

.@dharmann 15th Annual NFL Honors#nflhonors pic.twitter.com/cN9NTGugCY

— Award Show News (@AwardShowNews) February 5, 2026

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

Getting set at NFL Honors in San Francisco. Posted up on the red carpet looking to snag as many interviews as humanly possible with current and former NFL stars, celebrities and other luminaries in attendance. pic.twitter.com/DgITRuQa6U

— Sean Cunningham (@SeanCunningham) February 5, 2026

The seating arrangement for the NFL Honors has been set.

Red carpet starts 🔜

NFL Honors — Thursday 9pm ET on NBC/NFL Network
Stream on @NFLPlus & Peacock pic.twitter.com/TiliNtdQIm

— NFL (@NFL) February 5, 2026Where to watch 2026 NFL Honors awards showWhat channel is the 2026 NFL Honors awards show on?TV channel: NBC | NFL NetworkLive 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 timeDate: Thursday, Feb. 5Time: 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.