2026 NFL Honors Winners Crowned in San Francisco

The 15th NFL Honors ceremony took place on February 5, 2026, at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco, where the league handed out its top awards for the 2025 season. Actor Jon Hamm hosted the event, which aired on NBC and drew a crowd of players, coaches, and celebrities ahead of Super Bowl LX between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks.

Background

The NFL Honors started in 2011 as a way to celebrate the best from the regular season and playoffs. This year's event marked the 15th time the league held it, always the night before the Super Bowl. San Francisco hosted as part of Super Bowl week, with the Palace of Fine Arts serving as the venue for its elegant setting.

A panel of 50 media members picked the winners for the main Associated Press awards. The ceremony mixed football talk with entertainment, as stars from TV and music joined NFL players on the red carpet. Jon Hamm, known for his role in Mad Men, took the stage as host. He brought energy to the night and shared stories about his love for the game.

Presenters included Tiffany Haddish, Tracy Morgan, Druski, Rich Eisen, and Madelyn Cline. Local Bay Area rappers E-40 and Too $hort added to the vibe during Super Bowl week events. The show recognized not just on-field play but also off-field work, like community service and military tributes.

This event set the tone for Super Bowl LX. Players from both finalist teams, Patriots and Seahawks, attended, building excitement for Sunday's game at Levi's Stadium.

Key Details

Christian McCaffrey of the San Francisco 49ers stood out as a finalist in three categories: MVP, Offensive Player of the Year, and Comeback Player of the Year. He joined Josh Allen, Trevor Lawrence, Drake Maye, and Matthew Stafford in the MVP race. Maye, the Patriots quarterback headed to the Super Bowl, also vied for Offensive Player of the Year.

Major Award Winners

Josh McDaniels, offensive coordinator for the New England Patriots, won Assistant Coach of the Year. Myles Garrett of the Cleveland Browns took the Deacon Jones Award for his sack leadership. James Cook, running back for the Buffalo Bills, earned the Jim Brown Award.

Tyler Shough, the New Orleans Saints quarterback, received the Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year award. Finalists for Offensive Rookie included Tetairoa McMillan, Jaxson Dart, Emeka Egbuka, and TreVeyon Henderson. Defensive Rookie contenders were Carson Schwesinger, Nick Emmanwori, Abdul Carter, James Pearce Jr., and Xavier Watts.

Comeback Player of the Year finalists featured Christian McCaffrey, Dak Prescott, Stefon Diggs, Aidan Hutchinson, and Trevor Lawrence. Coach of the Year candidates were Mike Vrabel, Mike Macdonald, Liam Coen, Ben Johnson, and Kyle Shanahan. Assistant Coach finalists besides McDaniels included Vic Fangio, Brian Flores, Vance Joseph, and Klint Kubiak.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame announced its 2026 class during the show. Finalists like Adam Vinatieri, Darren Woodson, Drew Brees, Eli Manning, Frank Gore, Jahri Evans, Jason Witten, Kevin Williams, Larry Fitzgerald, Luke Kuechly, Marshal Yanda, Reggie Wayne, Terrell Suggs, Torry Holt, and Willie Anderson waited for the news.

"Hosting the NFL Honors has been a highlight for me. The players' stories of hard work and grit remind us why we love this sport." – Jon Hamm, host

Red carpet moments grabbed attention too. Shedeur Sanders talked about his Pro Bowl interception. Celebrities mingled with athletes, blending sports and Hollywood.

The event ran from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Pacific Time, sponsored by Invisalign. It honored categories like Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year, Salute to Service, Art Rooney Award, Moment of the Year, FedEx Air and Ground Players, and Bud Light Celly of the Year.

What This Means

These awards highlight who shaped the 2025 season. Winners like McDaniels boost the Patriots' profile heading into the Super Bowl against the Seahawks. Drake Maye and Matthew Stafford's MVP push shows the quarterback focus in today's NFL.

Rookies such as Tyler Shough signal fresh talent ready to change teams. Defensive stars like Myles Garrett prove edge rushers remain key to stopping offenses. Comeback stories from McCaffrey and others inspire fans facing their own setbacks.

Hall of Fame inductees will join legends, preserving football history. The mix of awards reflects the league's growth, from player stats to character and community impact.

Super Bowl LX now takes center stage. Patriots and Seahawks players carry this momentum. Fans will watch how honored athletes perform under the lights. The ceremony bridged the regular season's end to the championship, keeping football talk alive all week.

Off-field, the event showed football's wide reach. Celebrities and musicians attending underline its cultural pull. As the league expands globally, moments like these draw new eyes to the game.

Awards also spark debates. Some fans question picks, like MVP favorites. Others celebrate overlooked categories, such as Ground Player or Fan of the Year. This keeps conversations going year-round.

For teams not in the Super Bowl, wins provide bright spots. Buffalo's James Cook award lifts Bills spirits after missing playoffs. Browns fans cheer Garrett amid rebuild talks.

Players use these honors as fuel. McCaffrey, even without a ring yet, builds his legacy. Maye, if he won big, enters the Super Bowl with extra confidence.

The NFL plans more such events to engage fans. Next season's honors will build on this, perhaps with new categories or venues. For now, San Francisco's night capped a strong year.