The MVP award in the NFL has increasingly come to symbolize the dominance of quarterbacks, as evidenced by the 12 consecutive winners all being from that position. This trend has shifted the focus of accolades, with the Offensive Player of the Year now serving as a recognized honor for the top skill position player outside of the quarterback spot. This season, Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba has earned that distinction.
At the NFL Honors ceremony held on Thursday night, Smith-Njigba was named the league’s Offensive Player of the Year after receiving a robust 14 out of 50 first-place votes for a total of 272 points. Closely trailing him in the voting was San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey who garnered 223 points and 12 first-place votes. Other noteworthy finalists included Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (170 points), Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson (168 points), and New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (58 points), with a few other players receiving scattered first-place votes.
Smith-Njigba’s achievement is underscored by an extraordinary season, marking one of the most productive receiving performances in NFL history as he helped lead the Seahawks to an impressive 14-3 record. He topped the league with 1,793 receiving yards—the eighth-highest total in a single season ever—and earned a unanimous selection to the First Team All-Pro.
This accolade also places Smith-Njigba in elite company, making him only the second player in Seahawks history to lead the NFL in receiving yards, a feat previously accomplished by Hall of Famer Steve Largent. Across the season, Smith-Njigba displayed remarkable prowess, contributing to 44.1 percent of Seattle’s receiving yards and 36.6 percent of the team’s total receptions, tallying an impressive 119 catches and 10 touchdowns.
As recognition for his impressive capabilities and contributions, Smith-Njigba’s achievements provide optimism for the Seahawks’ future, underscoring the evolving talent and competitiveness of skill position players in the league.