The NFL Honors awards ceremony took place on Thursday, 5 February 2026, serving as the league’s official celebration of individual excellence from the 2025 NFL season. Staged during Super Bowl LX week, the event was held in the San Francisco Bay Area, aligning with the Super Bowl host region ahead of the championship game at Levi’s Stadium.
Organised by the National Football League (NFL), NFL Honors is the league’s most prestigious off-field event, recognising standout players, coaches, and contributors based on regular-season performances.
Purpose and Structure of NFL Honors
NFL Honors is designed to formally present the league’s top individual and coaching awards, all voted on by a national panel of media members prior to the start of the postseason. The ceremony does not take playoff results into account, ensuring that awards strictly reflect regular-season achievement.
Major honours presented during the 5 February ceremony included:
- NFL Most Valuable Player (MVP)
- Offensive Player of the Year
- Defensive Player of the Year
- Offensive Rookie of the Year
- Defensive Rookie of the Year
- Comeback Player of the Year
- Coach of the Year
- Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award
In addition to these awards, the ceremony also recognised standout performances across the league through additional honours and tributes.
Season Context and Award Significance
The 2025 NFL regular season featured 17 games per team, with performances across those weeks forming the basis for all NFL Honors voting. Statistical production, consistency, leadership, and on-field impact were central criteria for award consideration.
Quarterbacks traditionally dominate the MVP conversation due to their influence on offensive output, while Defensive Player of the Year candidates are typically selected from edge rushers, linebackers, and defensive backs who demonstrate game-altering impact. Rookie awards highlight first-year players who transition successfully to professional football, while Coach of the Year recognises leadership, tactical excellence, and team improvement.
The Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award remains one of the night’s most respected honours, celebrating excellence on the field combined with sustained community service and philanthropy.
Ceremony Atmosphere and Presentation
Held as a primetime televised event, NFL Honors blends sport and entertainment, featuring player appearances, presenter segments, and retrospectives on the season’s defining moments. Nominees from across the league were in attendance on 5 February, many of whom were also preparing for Super Bowl-related commitments later in the week.
The ceremony’s timing—three days before Super Bowl LX—places it at the emotional peak of the NFL calendar, allowing individual achievements to be recognised before attention shifts fully to the championship game.
For finalists competing in the Super Bowl, NFL Honors represents a moment of personal recognition amid the intensity of game preparation.
Role Within Super Bowl Week
NFL Honors is a cornerstone event of Super Bowl week, complementing media days, fan festivals, and league meetings. It provides a league-wide narrative checkpoint, summarising the season’s standout performances and framing the historical context of the year before the final game is played.
Award outcomes announced on 5 February also contribute to long-term legacy discussions, Hall of Fame consideration, and contract valuation across the league.
Closing Significance
As the NFL Honors ceremony concluded on 5 February 2026, the league formally closed the chapter on the 2025 regular season’s individual achievements. With trophies presented and careers celebrated, attention turned toward the ultimate team prize still to be decided—Super Bowl LX—but NFL Honors once again ensured that excellence across the season received its moment on the sport’s biggest stage.