2026 NFL Honors live updates: AP NFL award winners, MVP, start time

Offensive Coordinator Josh McDaniels celebrates the win post game against the Denver Broncos during the AFC Championship NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026 in Denver. (AP Photo/Bart Young)

Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels won the AP NFL Assistant Coach of the Year award in the first season of his third stint with the team.

McDaniels received 17 of 50 first-place votes and finished with 249 points. Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph was second with 10 first-place votes and 176 points.

Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores got eight first-place votes, finishing third (130). Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio received four and came in fifth place (78) behind Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, who had three first-place votes and 102 points.

Texans defensive coordinator Matt Burke (three), former 49ers defensive coordinator and now Titans coach Robert Saleh (two), Jaguars defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile (two) and Bills offensive line coach Aaron Kromer (one) also got first-place votes.

Miss USA Audrey Eckert waves to the crowd during the second quarter of an NCAA college basketball game between Nebraska and UCLA, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in Lincoln, Neb. (AP Photo/Bonnie Ryan)

Miss USA Audrey Eckert is rooting for the underdog New England Patriots in the Super Bowl. Being from Nebraska, she insists she can relate to never being the favorite.

Eckert began competing in pageants at age 9. The 23-year-old is a former cheerleader who enjoys seeing athletes in every sport.

“I love watching everyone compete at the highest level, I love football,” she said. “I’m kind of rooting for the underdog. I was the underdog being from Nebraska.”

The Seattle Seahawks are favored by 4 1/2 points over New England in Sunday’s game at Levi’s Stadium.

1 of 2 |

San Francisco 49ers’ Kendrick Bourne arrives for football’s NFL Honors award show in San Francisco, Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

2 of 2 |

San Francisco 49ers’ Kendrick Bourne arrives for football’s NFL Honors award show in San Francisco, Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

1 of 2 |

San Francisco 49ers’ Kendrick Bourne arrives for football’s NFL Honors award show in San Francisco, Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

1 of 2

San Francisco 49ers’ Kendrick Bourne arrives for football’s NFL Honors award show in San Francisco, Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

2 of 2 |

San Francisco 49ers’ Kendrick Bourne arrives for football’s NFL Honors award show in San Francisco, Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

2 of 2

San Francisco 49ers’ Kendrick Bourne arrives for football’s NFL Honors award show in San Francisco, Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Kendrick Bourne wanted to make a statement on the red carpet, so the San Francisco 49ers wide receiver came dressed in a bright yellow suit and plenty of bling.

“I haven’t seen yellow yet,” Bourne said. “Just being different, standing out, a different color. Just having confidence and having swag.”

He almost picked pink — but “not bright pink” — for the second red carpet appearance of his nine-year NFL career.

“I’ve been enjoying it so I try to come every year now while I’m getting closer to the end,” he said.

Bourne believes the Niners are close to a Super Bowl run after losing to the Seattle Seahawks in the divisional round of the NFC playoffs.

“It’s real close, man, if everybody gets back healthy next year, maybe, and we’ll have a great shot,” he said. “A lot of adversity but no excuses. We’ve got a good chance next year. Hopefully I’ll come back home, home is here for me, so we’ll see what happens. I definitely want to be a part of it because I know they’ve got a good shot.”

Bad Bunny accepts the award for album of the year for “Debí Tirar Más Fotos” during the 68th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Beyond football, Jon Hamm said Super Bowl week reflects a larger cultural moment, including the rise of global music stars such as Bad Bunny, who is set to headline the Super Bowl halftime show.

Bad Bunny is coming off a major Grammys night, where his “Debí Tirar Más Fotos” won album of year. It’s the first time an all Spanish-language album has taken home the top prize.

“I was happy to see his success at the Grammys,” said Hamm, who attended Bad Bunny’s historic residency in 2025. He and the Puerto Rican superstar have become friends and even share a birthday.

“He was beautifully eloquent. … He’s a very intelligent guy. He’s a wonderful artist, number one streamed artist in the world for a reason,” he said. “He’s smart enough to realize that engagement is the key. So I applaud him as an artist and as a fellow Pisces and a fellow March 10 birthday man. He’s a good dude.”

New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel talks to the media during a news conference Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026, in Santa Clara, Calif., ahead of the Super Bowl 60 NFL football game between the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel took his team from worst to first in a 10-win turnaround during his first season. He was the 2021 AP NFL Coach of the Year with the Tennessee Titans.

Now he’s a finalist to win the award again.

Vrabel is the eighth man to play in a Super Bowl and then reach one as a head coach. With a win over the Seahawks on Sunday, he can make history as the first person to win a Super Bowl as both a player and a head coach for the same franchise.

“I just try to be me, and sometimes that’s good enough, sometimes it’s not,” Vrabel said. “But I just try to learn from every person, every great coach that I’ve been around, and try to make it my own style.”

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan reacts during the first half of an NFL football divisional playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)

Coach Kyle Shanahan guided the San Francisco 49ers to 12 wins despite several injuries to key players, including defensive stars Nick Bosa and Fred Warner.

Considered one of the NFL’s best coaches over the past decade, Shanahan is one of five finalists for The Associated Press Coach of the Year award.

The 49ers knocked off the Eagles in the wild-card round before falling to the Seahawks, ending their season. Still, it was hard to be too disappointed after all the adversity they faced.

“They’ve been resilient all year. We’ve overcome a lot,” Shanahan said. “They believe in each other a ton.”

Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen on the sideline during the second half of an NFL wild card playoff football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Liam Coen led the Jacksonville Jaguars to a 13-4 record and a division title in his first season, a nine-win improvement for the franchise.

That made him one of five finalists for The Associated Press NFL Coach of the Year award.

Coen directed Trevor Lawrence to the best season of his career and the 26-year-old quarterback is one of the five finalists for MVP.

“As you’re building, you just have to make sure you’re doing right by the whole place and putting the best 11 out there,” Coen said. “Individual success is extremely important to us. You want every player to get what they truly deserve and earn.

“But it has to come back to the team first. Ultimately, everything we’re trying to do is for that.”

New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye talks to the media during a news conference Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026, in Santa Clara, Calif., ahead of the Super Bowl 60 NFL football game between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Drake Maye’s name has become so synonymous with success that it earned him a nickname: Drake “Drake Maye” Maye.

The second-year quarterback had 4,394 yards passing this season, with 31 touchdowns and eight interceptions, to lead the New England Patriots to an AFC East title and an appearance in the Super Bowl on Sunday.

Maye led the NFL in passer rating (113.5) and completion rate (72%). He’s one of five finalists for the AP MVP award.

The 23-year-old helped the Patriots beat the Broncos 10-7 in the AFC title game. Even though the franchise won six Super Bowls with Tom Brady and Bill Belichick, New England had never won a playoff game at Denver.

“The history and everything about it, it’s a new team, it’s a new era,” Maye said. “I respect and appreciate what the Patriots dynasty did, and unfortunately, they didn’t come out with some wins here, but we changed that narrative and look forward to bringing our best football to Santa Clara. That’ll be pretty special.”

Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald speaks during a news conference on Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026, in San Jose, Calif., ahead of Super Bowl 60 between the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Mike Macdonald led the Seattle Seahawks to a 14-3 record and the NFC’s No. 1 seed. The Seahawks beat the Rams in the NFC championship game and will play in the Super Bowl against the New England Patriots on Sunday.

The second-year coach is a finalist for Coach of the Year.

Macdonald is a former defensive coordinator and has built a formidable group on that side of the ball. But he’s also been able to get a lot out of the offense, particularly Sam Darnold.

Darnold threw for 346 yards and three touchdowns in the Seahawks’ win over the Rams.

“You can’t talk about the game without talking about our quarterback,” Macdonald said after the game. “He shut a lot of people up tonight, so I’m happy for him.”

Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson talks to media at a news conference in Lake Forest, Ill., Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Ben Johnson took the Chicago Bears to heights that reflected his motto for the season: “Good, better, best!”

The first-year coach guided the Bears to an 11-6 record and their first NFC North championship in seven seasons. That made him one of five finalists for The Associated Press NFL Coach of the Year award.

The 39-year-old further endeared himself to Bears fans by beating the Green Bay Packers during the postseason. For good measure, he repeatedly yelled a profanity directed at the Packers to start his postgame pep talk.

“There’s a rivalry that exists between these two teams, something that I fully recognize and I’m a part of. And, yeah, I just, I don’t like that team,” Johnson said.

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) attends a news conference at the team’s training facility Friday, Jan. 23, 2026, in Los Angeles, ahead of the NFL football NFC Championship game against the Seattle Seahawks. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)

After more than a decade and a half as one of the most prolific passers in the NFL, Matthew Stafford is an MVP finalist.

The Los Angeles Rams quarterback led the league with 4,707 yards passing and 46 touchdowns this season.

He threw eight picks and finished second to Drake Maye with a 109.2 passer rating.

Stafford was first-team All-Pro for the first time in his 17-year career. The Rams fell just shy of the Super Bowl, losing to the Seattle Seahawks 31-27 in the NFC title game last week.

San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (23), right, plays during the 2026 NFL Pro Bowl Games on Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, in San Francisco. (Vera Nieuwenhuis/AP Content Services for the NFL)

San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (23) catches the ball for a touchdown thrown by wide receiver Jauan Jennings, not pictured, during the second half of an NFL wild card playoff football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)

San Francisco 49ers star Christian McCaffrey ran for 1,202 yards and 10 touchdowns this season while catching 102 passes for 924 yards and seven TDs. He was vital in helping the injury-ravaged 49ers win 12 games.

One of five finalists for the The Associated Press NFL MVP award, McCaffrey called this season an “emotional roller coaster.”

“What I will say is this is, in all my years playing, the proudest I’ve ever been to be a part of a team,” McCaffrey said. “It’s this team; I love everybody in that locker room.”

He’s a finalist for three awards this year, a feat last accomplished by Joe Burrow.

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence talks to reporters following an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Buffalo Bills Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence had a breakout season for himself and the franchise, helping the team win 13 games and an AFC South title.

That made him an MVP finalist for the first time.

Lawrence threw for 4,007 yards, 29 touchdowns and 12 interceptions this season. The Jaguars were eliminated by the Bills in the wild-card round of the playoffs.

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) scrambles for yardage against the Buffalo Bills during the second half of an NFL wild card playoff football game, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

The 26-year-old Lawrence said his hope is that the Jaguars are just getting started with success. First-year coach Liam Coen is one of the finalists for AP NFL Coach of the Year.

“I have so much confidence in this group and the staff and the direction we’re heading,” Lawrence said. “I do feel like it’s sustainable. But you have to earn it every year. It’s not just going to happen.”

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen speaks at a NFL news conference in Orchard Park, N.Y., Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen — the reigning MVP — returns as one of the five finalists for the award.

Allen threw for 3,668 yards, 25 touchdowns and 10 interceptions this season, posting a 102.2 passer rating while leading Buffalo to its seventh straight playoff appearance. He also ran for 14 TDs.

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) calls a play against the Denver Broncos in an NFL divisional playoff football game, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026 in Denver. (AP Photo/Bart Young)

The Bills were knocked out of the playoffs by Denver in the divisional round and fired coach Sean McDermott in the aftermath. Buffalo promoted offensive coordinator Joe Brady to the top job.

Allen was still trying to process the disappointing ending to the season last week.

“There’s just so many elements that come into play. Just trying to take it one day at a time,” Allen said. “But I’d be lying to you if I didn’t say I’m still sick to my stomach about how the season ended.”

Click here to read article