Stafford, Garrett, Vrabel Shine At 2025 NFL Honors

The NFL Honors ceremony for the 2025 season delivered a dazzling night of recognition, celebration, and a few jaw-dropping records at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco on Thursday, February 5, 2026. With the Super Bowl just days away, the league paused to acknowledge the standout players, coaches, and moments that shaped an unforgettable year. Hosted by Emmy-winning actor Jon Hamm and broadcast across NBC, NFL Network, Peacock, and NFL+, the event was a star-studded affair, setting the stage for Sunday’s Super Bowl LX showdown between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks.

Let’s start with the headline act: Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford took home the coveted Most Valuable Player award. At 37, Stafford put together a season for the ages, leading the league in passing yards (4,707), touchdowns (46), and boasting a sparkling 5.8 touchdown-to-interception ratio. According to ESPN Research, Stafford’s 2025 campaign marked just the eighth time in NFL history a quarterback has thrown for at least 4,500 yards and 45 touchdowns in a single season. Of the previous seven, six walked away with MVP honors as well. Stafford’s mid-season stretch—eight games without a single interception while tossing 28 straight touchdown passes—set a new NFL benchmark for consecutive touchdown throws without a pick, a record tracked since 1978. For a player in his 17th season, that’s nothing short of remarkable!

Stafford’s closest competition came from Patriots rookie sensation Drake Maye, who finished as runner-up. Maye’s meteoric rise was fueled in part by the guidance of New England’s offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, who returned to Foxborough for his third stint and promptly earned Assistant Coach of the Year honors. McDaniels’ influence was felt immediately, helping Maye top the league in completion percentage (72%), QBR (77.1), and yards per attempt (8.93). Backup quarterback Joshua Dobbs summed it up best: “You have an experienced coach who has done it at the highest level... and you have a curious and wide-eyed young player who’s very talented at football... I think that’s a good combination.”

Head coach Mike Vrabel, also of the Patriots, was named Coach of the Year after orchestrating one of the most dramatic turnarounds in recent NFL memory. Taking over a team that had won just four games in each of the previous two seasons, Vrabel led New England to a 14-3 regular season record and a Super Bowl berth. The 10-game improvement tied the 1999 Colts and 2008 Dolphins for the best single-season turnaround in NFL history. Vrabel’s leadership style, centered on the “4 Hs”—history, hero, heartbreak, and hope—helped foster a culture of connection and accountability. Wide receiver Stefon Diggs raved, “Probably the best coach I’ve ever had. I don’t know how he does it. He got me to buy in, I’ll tell you that.”

On the defensive side, Cleveland Browns edge rusher Myles Garrett cemented his status as the league’s premier pass rusher, capturing his second Defensive Player of the Year award. Garrett shattered the single-season sack record with 23, surpassing legends Michael Strahan and T.J. Watt, and did so while being double-teamed or chipped on nearly 40% of his pass rushes. His 33 tackles for loss were the second highest since 2000. Browns defensive line coach Jacques Cesaire put it simply: “When you got that much attention for you every week and you’re still putting up the numbers that he’s putting up, that’s pretty special.”

Another Cleveland defender, rookie linebacker Carson Schwesinger, took home Defensive Rookie of the Year after leading all first-year players with 146 tackles and 11 tackles for loss. Schwesinger, a former UCLA walk-on, wore the green dot as the defense’s on-field signal-caller. Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz praised his leadership and football IQ: “He’s our playcaller, very rarely makes a mistake. When he does make a mistake, it doesn’t repeat, and he’s very productive on the field.”

On offense, Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba was named Offensive Player of the Year. Smith-Njigba’s 1,793 receiving yards set a new franchise record and led the NFL, while his 10 touchdowns and 10.9 yards per target underscored his efficiency—even in the league’s most run-heavy offense. His playoff heroics, including 10 catches for 153 yards in the NFC Championship Game, helped propel the Seahawks to the Super Bowl stage.

The Offensive Rookie of the Year honor went to Carolina Panthers wideout Tetairoa McMillan. The eighth overall pick in the 2025 draft, McMillan hauled in 70 passes for 1,014 yards and seven touchdowns, leading all rookies in receiving yards and setting a new Carolina rookie record. Quarterback Bryce Young credited his new favorite target: “He was elite. He’s a special player.” McMillan, ever humble, called his rookie campaign “average,” but his numbers tell a different story.

San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey’s comeback from a brutal 2024 season was recognized with the Comeback Player of the Year award. After being limited to just four games the previous year due to bilateral Achilles tendinitis and a knee injury, McCaffrey returned to post 2,126 scrimmage yards (second in the NFL) and 17 total touchdowns (third), starting all 19 games including playoffs. 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan was effusive: “I think this was one of the most impressive seasons by an individual player ever... He commits himself 24 hours a day, seven days a week to get his body ready to go out there and compete. I’ve never been around anything like that.”

Chicago Bears guard Joe Thuney made history as the first-ever winner of the Protector of the Year award. Thuney, acquired from Kansas City in March 2025, didn’t allow a single sack and played 99.57% of Chicago’s offensive snaps. His presence helped the Bears reduce their sack total dramatically and contributed to the team’s jump from five to 11 wins and a division title. Thuney’s versatility was on display in the playoffs, shifting to left tackle after a teammate’s injury.

As the NFL Honors wrapped up, anticipation for Super Bowl LX between the Patriots and Seahawks reached a fever pitch. With so many stars recognized and historic feats celebrated, the league’s best will now turn their attention to the ultimate prize. One thing’s for certain: the 2025 NFL season will be remembered for its remarkable comebacks, record-breaking performances, and the enduring spirit of competition that keeps fans coming back for more.