Vrabel, Smith-Njigba Take Home Hardware at NFL Honors
2/6/2026 10:23:00 AM | Football
Vrabel is the AP Coach of the Year, Smith-Njigba is the AP Offensive Player of the Year
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Two Ohio State Buckeyes took center stage at Thursday evening's NFL Honors, as Seattle wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba was the recipient of the AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year award and New England's Mike Vrabel was named the AP NFL Coach of the Year.
Smith-Njigba led the NFL in receiving yards during the regular season with 1,793, which is the eighth-highest in single-season league history, and was also a unanimous AP NFL All-Pro. Smith-Njigba is the second former Ohio State receiver to win AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year, joining Michael Thomas, who earned the award in 2019.
Vrabel has orchestrated a remarkable turnaround in New England. He took over a team that was 8-26 over the past two seasons and finished 14-3 in 2025 heading into Sunday's Super Bowl against Seattle. He became the seventh coach in NFL history to win the award multiple times.
Vrabel and Smith-Njigba will be two of three Buckeyes who take center stage in Sunday's Super Bowl at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. In addition to Vrabel, the Patriots also feature rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson, who had 911 yards on 180 carries this season and nine touchdowns.
