Four Seahawks named finalists for top NFL awards

Four members of the Seattle Seahawks are finalists for top end-of-season awards, the NFL announced Thursday.

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Wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba is a finalist for the Associated Press Offensive Player of the Year. Safety Nick Emmanwori is up for AP Defensive Rookie of the Year. Head coach Mike Macdonald is a finalist for AP Coach of the Year. And offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak is up for AP Assistant Coach of the Year.

The winners of the awards will be announced during the NFL Honors ceremony on Feb. 5. The event will air live at 6 p.m. on NBC and the NFL Network. It will also be streamed on Peacock and NFL+.

Smith-Njigba, a third-year pro, is a finalist alongside New England quarterback Drake Maye, San Francisco running back Christian McCaffrey, Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua and Atlanta running back Bijan Robinson.

The finalists for AP Offensive Player of the Year presented by @Copilot! #NFLHonors pic.twitter.com/ApQQOThZX1

— NFL (@NFL) January 22, 2026

The 23-year-old Smith-Njigba led the NFL with 1,793 receiving yards and hauled in 119 receptions, including 10 TD catches. The Ohio State product set Seahawks franchise records for receiving yards and receptions, and he produced the eighth-most receiving yards in a single season in NFL history. He was named the Offensive Player of the Year by the Pro Football Writers of America and was a first-team All-Pro selection by the AP.

Emmanwori, a second-round pick, is up against New York Giants outside linebacker Abdul Carter, Cleveland linebacker Carson Schwesinger and Atlanta outside linebacker James Pearce Jr. and safety Xavier Watts.

The finalists for AP Offensive Rookie of the Year and Defensive Rookie of the Year presented by @EAMaddenNFL! #NFLHonors pic.twitter.com/vHXnJXguen

— NFL (@NFL) January 22, 2026

A South Carolina product, Emmanwori stuffed the stat sheet while being a versatile piece for Seattle’s defense. He was third on the Seahawks with 81 tackles and had 11 passes defended, nine tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and an interception in 14 games. His 18 total quarterback pressures were nearly double the 10 posted by the next-highest rookie defensive back, per Pro Football Focus.

Macdonald is up against Jacksonville’s Liam Coen, Chicago’s Ben Johnson, San Francisco’s Kyle Shanahan and New England’s Mike Vrabel.

The second-year head coach guided the Seahawks to a 14-3 record, their first NFC West title since 2020 and the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs. Seattle improved by four wins over last season, and Macdonald led the league’s top-ranked scoring defense.

Kubiak is among a group of finalists that includes Philadelphia defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, Minnesota defensive coordinator Brian Flores, Denver defensive coordinator Vance Joseph and New England offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.

The finalists for AP Coach of the Year and Assistant Coach of the Year! #NFLHonors pic.twitter.com/LHoxHUddFm

— NFL (@NFL) January 22, 2026

In his first season with the Seahawks, Kubiak’s offense finished third in scoring, eighth in total yards, eighth in passing yards and 10th in rushing yards. Seattle saw its biggest improvement in the run game, averaging 123.3 yards per game after finishing 28th at 95.7 yards per game last season.

Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen, Jacksonville quarterback Trevor Lawrence, Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, Maye and McCaffrey are the five finalists for MVP.

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