NFL Honors Night Arrives: Full Finalist List, Viewing Details Before Super Bowl LX

NFL Honors takes center stage tonight in San Francisco with MVP, Coach of the Year, Rookie awards, and the inaugural Protector of the Year honor set to be announced ahead of Super Bowl LX.

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With Super Bowl LX four days away, the league shifts focus Thursday night to its annual awards showcase as NFL Honors airs from the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco. The prime-time ceremony will reveal the season’s top individual performers across major categories, including Most Valuable Player, Coach of the Year, and both Rookie of the Year honors.

The program begins at 9 p.m. ET on NBC and NFL Network, with streaming available on Peacock and NFL+. The NFL Honors Red Carpet Show presented by Invisalign leads coverage at 8 p.m. ET on NFL Network. Broadcast availability may vary by time zone. Actor Jon Hamm is scheduled to host the ceremony.

Watch Info

• Location: Palace of Fine Arts — San Francisco, California

• Time: 9:00 p.m. ET

• Red Carpet: 8:00 p.m. ET — NFL Network

• TV: NBC, NFL Network

• Streaming: Peacock, NFL+

• Host: Jon Hamm

• Not live in all time zones — blackout restrictions may apply

Finalists for the AP Most Valuable Player and AP Defensive Player of the Year awards represent the league’s top overall performers and most disruptive defensive forces from the 2025–26 season. The MVP honor recognizes the player with the greatest total impact on team success, most often quarterbacks but open to any position, while Defensive Player of the Year focuses on elite production, consistency, and game-changing influence on the defensive side of the ball, particularly among edge rushers and linebackers.

The AP Offensive Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year (offense and defense), Coach of the Year, and Assistant Coach of the Year awards highlight excellence across production, first-year impact, and sideline leadership. Offensive Player of the Year emphasizes the most productive skill-position seasons, Rookie awards recognize the top first-year contributors on each side of the ball, and the coaching honors distinguish the head coach and coordinator who delivered the strongest schematic and leadership results over the season.

AP Most Valuable Player

• Josh Allen — Bills

• Trevor Lawrence — Jaguars

• Drake Maye — Patriots

• Christian McCaffrey — 49ers

• Matthew Stafford — Rams

AP Defensive Player of the Year

• Will Anderson Jr. — Texans

• Nik Bonitto — Broncos

• Myles Garrett — Browns

• Aidan Hutchinson — Lions

• Micah Parsons — Packers

AP Offensive Player of the Year

• Drake Maye — Patriots

• Christian McCaffrey — 49ers

• Puka Nacua — Rams

• Bijan Robinson — Falcons

• Jaxon Smith-Njigba — Seahawks

AP Offensive Rookie of the Year

• Jaxson Dart — Giants

• Emeka Egbuka — Buccaneers

• TreVeyon Henderson — Patriots

• Tetairoa McMillan — Panthers

• Tyler Shough — Saints

AP Defensive Rookie of the Year

• Abdul Carter — Giants

• Nick Emmanwori — Seahawks

• James Pearce Jr. — Falcons

• Carson Schwesinger — Browns

• Xavier Watts — Falcons

AP Comeback Player of the Year

• Stefon Diggs — Patriots

• Aidan Hutchinson — Lions

• Trevor Lawrence — Jaguars

• Christian McCaffrey — 49ers

• Dak Prescott — Cowboys

AP Coach of the Year

• Liam Coen — Jaguars

• Ben Johnson — Bears

• Mike Macdonald — Seahawks

• Kyle Shanahan — 49ers

• Mike Vrabel — Patriots

AP Assistant Coach of the Year

• Vic Fangio — Eagles

• Brian Flores — Vikings

• Vance Joseph — Broncos

• Klint Kubiak — Seahawks

• Josh McDaniels — Patriots

This year’s ceremony also features two honors that spotlight impact beyond traditional stat production. The new Protector of the Year award recognizes the NFL’s top offensive lineman, focusing on pass protection, run blocking efficiency, and overall trench performance across the season, while the Walter Payton Man of the Year award highlights a player’s combined excellence on the field and sustained community and philanthropic leadership off the field.

Protector of the Year — Offensive Line

• Garett Bolles — Broncos

• Aaron Brewer — Dolphins

• Creed Humphrey — Chiefs

• Quinn Meinerz — Broncos

• Penei Sewell — Lions

• Joe Thuney — Bears

Several of this year’s finalists are connected to major statistical jumps, turnaround seasons, and team-level impact that directly influenced playoff races and division outcomes, which adds extra weight to tonight’s results. With multiple MVP-level quarterback campaigns, elite defensive production, and breakout rookie performances on the board, the voting outcomes will shape how the 2025–26 season is ultimately remembered.

Which award result will carry the most long-term significance, which race feels closest, and which finalist do you believe clearly separated from the field based on production and value? Let’s Talk About It!