Last night, the NFL Awards were handed out for the 2025 season. Calling them the
2026 NFL Awards, some of them were expected, and some of them were a surprise to
everyone, including the nominees. With or without controversy, here is a look at the
second-place winners, and making the case (as best as possible) that they should have
won it.
2026 NFL Awards: Assistant Coach Of The Year
New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels won the award, with 17
first-place votes, beating out Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, who
had 10. It’s tough to argue against McDaniels, who has proven once again that he is the
best offensive play caller in the entire league. He won Super Bowls with Tom Brady,
helped a rookie (Mac Jones) make the playoffs, and coached Drake Maye to almost
winning the MVP (more on that later).
Joseph did all right on his own. He called plays for the NFL’s third-best scoring defense
(18.3 points per game), allowing the second-fewest yards in the league (278 yards per
game), and created the most quarterback pressures in the league (213). Teams that
played the Broncos this season completed just 57.8% of their passes (2nd best in the
NFL) and notched a passer rating of 78.7 (6th).
The argument could be made that if the Broncos quarterback hadn’t broken his ankle, it
would be the 14-3 Denver team going to the Super Bowl instead of the 14-3 New
England team. If that happens, maybe that vote is 17-10 in the other direction. After all,
offense wins games, but defense wins championships (allegedly).
2026 NFL Awards: Coach Of The Year
This was another close vote, and it was another Patriots win. Mike Vrabel received 19
first-place votes to the Jaguars head coach, Liam Coen’s 16. It’s difficult to argue what
Vrabel has done in Massachusetts, leading a 4-13 team to a 14-3 record and a Super
Bowl birth. The pieces were already in place for him there, though, and it could be
argued that Coen did more with less.
Despite the large contract that Jacksonville gave him, quarterback Trevor Lawrence was
being called a bust in some circles. Coen turned him into an MVP contender. The team
had a turnaround similar to New England’s, going from 4-13 to 13-4, winning the AFC
South. They went from 18.8 points per game (26th in the NFL) to 27.9 (6th). They also
didn’t have the luxury of the league’s easiest schedule. It probably should have been
Coen taking home the hardware.
2026 NFL Awards: Offensive Player Of The Year
In another close race, the Seattle Seahawks’ third-year receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba
hauled in more than 119 receptions for 1,793 yards. He also hauled in 14 first-place
votes for Offensive Player of the Year (otherwise known as the Most Valuable
Non-Quarterback Award). He edged out division rival Christian McCaffrey, who had 12
first-place votes. This feels like another case of, “Let’s reward the guy who made the
Super Bowl’. It seems unfathomable to pick anyone but McCaffrey.
The San Francisco 49ers running back amassed 1,202 yards on 311 carries (3.9ypc)
with 10 rushing touchdowns, adding 102 receptions for 924 yards and 7 touchdowns.
That’s 2,126 yards versus 1,793 and 17 touchdowns versus 10. He became just the
seventh running back in history to catch 100 passes, and two of the other six were
Christian McCaffrey. This award should have gone to him.
2026 NFL Awards: Defensive Player Of The Year
It’s tough to make a case for anyone other than Myles Garrett, who won the award for
the second time in three years, this time, unanimously (Garrett received all 50 first-place
votes). It makes sense. He broke the record for most sacks in a season (23), even
though it took him 17 games. He also had a league-leading 39 tackles for a loss, and he
pressured the quarterback 53 times.
The runner-up, with 0 first-place votes, was Will Anderson of the Houston Texans.
Anderson had a fantastic season, and if he wasn’t playing in the same league as
Garrett, he may be taking home the trophy. Tree forced fumbles, with two recovered,
and one for a touchdown. 12 sacks and 36 pressures, he was a menace on the
defensive side of the ball.
2026 NFL Awards: Most Valuable Player
This may be the easiest one to argue the second-place finisher. Los Angeles Rams
quarterback Matthew Stafford took home the award, with 24 first-place votes. Drake
Maye finished second with 23 votes. Josh Allen got two, and Justin Herbert got one.
Who the hell voted for Justin Herbert?
Stafford had a great year, and the first look at the numbers would say he is a deserving
candidate. 65% completion for 276.9 yards per game and a league-leading 46
touchdowns to just eight interceptions. Maye had a better completion percentage (72%,
best in the NFL) and a better passer rating (113.5 to 109.2). Maye’s team also had a
better record (14 wins to 12).
To determine who is truly more valuable, though, the quarterbacks’ top two targets need
to be removed, and then their stats looked at again. Removing Puka Nacua and Davante
Adams from the Rams, Stafford’s completion percentage drops to 62.8% for 129.6
yards per game, and 23 touchdowns.
Removing Stefon Diggs and Hunter Henry from the New England Patriots would drop
Maye’s completion percentage to 69% (still not bad), and he would average 153.7 yards
per game with 20 touchdowns. Overt he course of a 17-game season, Maye would have
400 yards more than Stafford. So, if Stafford’s teammates carried him more than Maye’s
did, and Maye’s team had a better record despite him having fewer weapons, which
player is truly more valuable?
