Matthew Stafford's MVP, return announcement highlights NFL Honors

Matthew Stafford played it coy minutes before the NFL Honors event kicked off Thursday night by saying he still had to figure out if he would return for an 18th season.

Less than two hours later, Stafford was narrowly named NFL Most Valuable Player and was on the stage in San Francisco, surrounded by his four daughters.

It was time to reveal the secret he was keeping as he addressed his daughters.

"You are unbelievable cheerleaders for me and I appreciate it," Stafford said to the girls. "I am so happy to have you at the games on the sideline with me and I can't wait for you to cheer me on next year when we're out there kicking ass."

Stafford then looked toward the audience as Rams coach Sean McVay jumped out of his chair in celebration.

"I will see you guys next year," said Stafford, "and hopefully I'm not at this event and we're getting ready for another game (Super Bowl LXI) at SoFi."

Stafford edged New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye in the MVP balloting and was the biggest winner at the annual awards showcase that leads up to Sunday's Super Bowl LX between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif.

Defensive end Myles Garrett of the Cleveland Browns was the unanimous Defensive Player of the Year after his record 23-sack season.

Mike Vrabel of the New England Patriots was named Coach of the Year after guiding the club to a 14-3 regular-season record and a Super Bowl berth in his first season with the team.

Washington Commanders veteran linebacker Bobby Wagner was named the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year.

San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey was named Comeback Player of the Year.

Carolina Panthers receiver Tetairoa McMillan won Offensive Rookie of the Year honors and Cleveland Browns linebacker Carson Schwesinger took Defensive Rookie of the Year honors.

Guard Joe Thuney of the Chicago Bears won the inaugural Protector of the Year award.

Stafford received 24 of 50 first-place MVP votes and 366 total points to beat out Maye, who had 23 and 361, respectively. Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, the 2024 MVP, received two first-place votes and Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert had one.

Allen was third in the balloting with 91 points. McCaffrey (71) was fourth and Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (49) was fifth.

It marks the first time Stafford has won the award in 17 NFL seasons, the first 12 with the Detroit Lions and the last five with the Rams.

Stafford, who turns 38 on Saturday, hadn't previously committed to return for 2026.

Stafford led the NFL with 4,707 yards and 46 touchdowns in 2025 despite playing through back issues. He didn't miss a game and was intercepted eight times in 597 attempts.

The big disappointment was the Rams falling to the Seahawks in the NFC Championship Game.

"This team was really special and it didn't end the way we wanted it to but I will never forget it," Stafford said.

To the surprise of nobody, Garrett was a runaway winner of the Defensive Player of the Year award. His record-breaking season allowed him to win the top defensive player honor for the second time in the past three seasons.

"It doesn't start with me," Garrett said. "It starts with great teammates, a great organization, great coaches and I'm thankful for every one of my teammates who got me up here. It's not possible without them and their blood, their sweat, their tears."

The other finalists were defensive end Will Anderson Jr. of the Houston Texans, linebacker Nik Bonitto of the Denver Broncos, defensive end Aidan Hutchinson of the Detroit Lions and defensive end Micah Parsons of the Green Bay Packers.

Vrabel earned the top coach honor over a stellar group of finalists that included Liam Coen (Jacksonville Jaguars), Ben Johnson (Chicago Bears), Mike Macdonald (Seattle Seahawks) and Kyle Shanahan (San Francisco).

"It's an honor to be recognized amongst the great coaches of our league," Vrabel said in a video. "Ultimately, my name will go on this award, but this award belongs to a building and a staff and ultimately it belongs to the men in the locker room who believed even when they couldn't see it."

Wagner earned the Man of the Year award for his charitable work, specifically his work toward helping identify signs of a stroke. His mother died in 2009 from complications of a stroke.

"She is and will forever be my rock," Wagner said. "She's the reason why I'm standing here. She's a person that had confidence in me when I didn't even have confidence in myself."

McCaffrey was limited to four games in 2024 due to Achilles and knee injuries. He was injury free in 2025 and rushed for 1,202 yards and 10 touchdowns and caught 102 passes for 924 yards and seven scores.

"This is huge honor," McCaffrey said. "Anytime you have to come back from injuries it's extremely tough physically, emotionally and mentally."

The other comeback candidates were Hutchison, Lawrence, New England Patriots receiver Stefon Diggs and Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott.

Smith-Njigba wasn't in attendance with his focus on Sunday's game. He led the NFL with 1,793 receiving yards while catching 119 passes, including 10 for scores, in his third season with the Seahawks.

The others finalists were Maye, McCaffrey, Los Angeles Rams receiver Puka Nacua and Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson.

McMillan had a strong rookie season with 70 catches for 1,014 yards and seven touchdowns. He was the No. 8 overall pick out of Arizona.

Scheswinger racked up 156 tackles -- sixth most in the NFL -- and had 2.5 sacks and two interceptions. He was a second-round draft pick out of UCLA.

The Protector the Year was a first-time award. Buffalo Bills star left tackle Dion Dawkins pushed hard to get it added to the list of accolades. Thuney took the honor in his first season with Chicago and 10th NFL campaign overall.

"I'm not a one-man operation," Thuney said. "... I really appreciate all the former O-linemen who played in this league, the unsung heroes of the past who laid the foundation for those of us to play the game we love."

NFL Honors award winners

Most Valuable Player

--Matthew Stafford, QB, Los Angeles Rams

Offensive Player of the Year

--Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Seattle

Defensive Player of the Year

--Myles Garrett, DE, Cleveland

Offensive Rookie of the Year

--Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Carolina

Defensive Rookie of the Year

--Carson Schwesinger, LB, Cleveland

Comeback Player of the Year

--Christian McCaffrey, RB, San Francisco

Coach of the Year

--Mike Vrabel, New England

Assistant Coach of the Year

--Josh McDaniels, New England

Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year

--Bobby Wagner, LB, Washington

--Field Level Media