Throughout many NFL players’ careers, the media and fans often critique them based on how many awards they have received and lump all-time success and awards into the same category. This has made players like Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, and Lamar Jackson seem untouchable in certain conversations, since awards often boost their status.
However, there is also the flip side for players like Randy Moss and Barry Sanders, who never won a Super Bowl or even an MVP award, which often stains their careers.
With the 2026 NFL season coming up soon, players have the opportunity to cement themselves as legends of the sport by winning one or more awards at the NFL Honors. Here are some predictions for those awards.
Most Valuable Player – Josh Allen
Josh Allen usually enters each season as a favorite for the MVP award; however, this upcoming season seems different for Allen and the Buffalo Bills.
Per usual, Allen and the Bills have something to prove after another disappointing playoff loss to the Denver Broncos in the AFC Divisional round in overtime.
Last season, Allen still showed he is a top quarterback, throwing for 3,668 yards, 25 touchdowns, ten interceptions, and rushing for 579 yards with 14 rushing touchdowns.
However, that still isn’t the best we’ve seen from him since he won MVP in the 2024-2025 NFL season.
Luckily for Allen, the Bills made several positive changes this offseason: a new Head Coach in Joe Brady, a brand-new wide receiver in D.J. Moore, and a new stadium for the Bills to play in.
Now that the Bills and their quarterback have a fresh start, will they take advantage of it? And if they do, it is almost inevitable that Josh Allen will win his second MVP in 2026.
Offensive Player of the Year – Ja’Marr Chase
Ja’Marr Chase has consistently ranked among the best wide receivers in the NFL ever since being drafted fifth overall in 2021.
For Chase, last season was no different, as he recorded a total of 125 receptions, 1,412 yards, and eight touchdowns while averaging 11.3 yards per reception.
He did it while his quarterback, Joe Burrow, missed nine games with a turf toe injury, making Jake Browning and Joe Flacco Chase’s primary quarterbacks last season.
However, if Chase gets a full season with Burrow, the sky is the limit for the Bengals and their superstar duo, as they have only had one full season together in 2024.
In that 2024 season, Chase had a career year, producing 127 receptions, 1,708 yards, and 17 touchdowns alongside Burrow, who also had a career year, throwing for 4,918 yards and 43 touchdowns.
The only thing holding back Chase from winning Offensive Player of the Year is simply staying healthy with his quarterback, and if they can manage to do that, then he should have another all-time year for Cincinnati.
Defensive Player of the Year – Aidan Hutchinson
Ever since the Lions drafted him second overall in the 2022 NFL Draft, Aidan Hutchinson has proved to be a big problem for offenses and is the superstar of the Detroit Lions’ defense. Last season showed he is going to be a superstar in this league for a long time, with 176 total tackles, 14.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, and one interception, all while playing every game.
In each fully healthy season Hutchinson has played, he keeps improving, especially with sacks, going from 9.5 to 11.5, and finishing last season with 14.5.
If Hutchinson keeps up this pace and can stay healthy through the full regular season, he may lead the NFL in sacks, which often leads to being the favorite for Defensive Player of the Year.
The only things stopping Aidan Hutchinson from winning this award are simply season-ending injuries, or someone else having an all-time defensive season like Miles Garrett did, breaking the sack record, which doesn’t happen every year.
Offensive Rookie of the Year – Jeremiyah Love
After becoming one of the highest-drafted running backs of all time, being selected third overall in the last NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals, Jeremiyah Love has a lot of pressure in his rookie year.
Love emerged as one of the most consistent and productive running backs coming out of college in perhaps the last decade, having back-to-back 1100 plus rushing yard seasons in 2024 and 2025 while having 17-plus touchdowns in both seasons as well.
He also excelled in terms of achievements, winning the 2025 Doak Walker Award (top running back in the nation), Unanimous All-American, Consensus All-American, a Maxwell Award finalist, and a Heisman Trophy finalist.
As of now, Love appears to be one of the Cardinals’ few lifelines for this offense and team as a whole. Besides Marvin Harrison Jr, Love is the only other offensive weapon they have, and many believe they will force-feed him the ball.
If that is going to be the case, Jeremiyah Love should have an easy path to winning Offensive Rookie of the Year, with his only real competition being Fernando Mendoza and Carnell Tate.
Defensive Rookie of the Year – Rueben Bain Jr.
During this year’s NFL Draft, many analysts considered Rueben Bain Jr. one of the best defensive players in the class; however, he somehow fell all the way to the 15th pick, where the Tampa Bay Buccaneers took him.
Bain Jr. proved to be a force to be reckoned with, being a big help in making Miami reach the National Championship, along with winning the ACC Defensive Player of the Year, the Ted Hendricks Award, and a 2025 Consensus All-American.
He also had the stats to prove it, putting up 54 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, and one interception in 2025.
The Bucs pair Bain with big-time defensive names in Tampa Bay like Vita Vea and Antonie Winfield Jr., making this one of the league’s better defensive units that isn’t getting the recognition it deserves.
If Bain Jr. can show that he can make a good duo with longtime Buccaneer Vita Vea, then there should be no reason why he can’t add the Defensive Rookie of the Year to his trophy case.
Comeback Player of the Year – Patrick Mahomes
During the 2025-2026 NFL season, Patrick Mahomes suffered a torn ACL on December 14th when facing the Los Angeles Chargers.
This kind of injury almost always puts everyone out for the season, and it was no different for Mahomes; it was also a huge reason the Kansas City Chiefs missed the playoffs last season.
Fortunately for the Chiefs, doctors fully cleared Mahomes for training camp, and he is expected to start Week 1 against the Denver Broncos on September 14th. He continues to wear a brace on his knee and says he “feels amazing.”
Now that the team has their superstar quarterback back in action, along with more help like Kenneth Walker III, the Chiefs are more than ready to go back to the dynasty that they once had.
And if the team even comes close to what they were like just a couple of years ago, Mahomes should have no problem taking the Comeback Player of the Year award.
Coach of the Year – John Harbaugh
For 18 straight years, John Harbaugh remains one of the most consistent coaches in the NFL, leading the Ravens to multiple playoff appearances.
Unfortunately for Harbaugh, Ravens kicker Tyler Loop missed the game-winning field goal to send Baltimore back to the playoffs, which ultimately contributed to the firing of Harbaugh, who was already on the hot seat anyway.
However, during the offseason, the New York Giants also fired Head Coach Brian Daboll; suddenly, a new opportunity emerged for Harbaugh, and he immediately became the favorite to land the job.
Now this young Giants team, featuring players like Jaxson Dart, Malik Nabers, Cam Skattebo, Abdul Carter, and Arvell Reese, has a longtime successful head coach in Harbaugh; finally, the team has high expectations.
If John Harbaugh continues his usual pattern of consistent, winning football, then he should have no problem being the favorite and ultimately winning yet another Coach of the Year award.
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