Seahawks star JSN will get gold jersey patch for OPOY award

As the reigning Offensive Player of the Year, Seattle Seahawks star wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba is one of five Associated Press award winners across the league whose jersey collar this fall will feature a gold NFL shield patch.

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The gold shield replaces the traditional NFL shield that’s featured on the collar of every player’s jersey. The NFL started the tradition last season.

The other award winners who receive gold shields for this season are Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (MVP), Rams defensive end Myles Garrett (Defensive Player of the Year), Carolina Panthers wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan (Offensive Rookie of the Year) and Cleveland Browns linebacker Carson Schwesinger (Defensive Rookie of the Year).

JSN is one of five players to earn a Gold Shield for the 2026 season after being named Offensive Player of the Year. 🏆 @jaxon_smith1 pic.twitter.com/EUCQ4OEGuC

— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) June 28, 2026

Smith-Njigba led the NFL with a franchise-record 1,793 receiving yards last season, which was the eighth-most in a single season in league history. He became just the third NFL player to eclipse 1,700 receiving yards in a season at age 23 or younger,  and he also tallied a franchise-record 119 receptions and 10 touchdown catches.

Smith-Njigba finished with 1,992 receiving yards across both the regular season and postseason, which is the third-highest mark in NFL history. He had a massive performance in the NFC Championship game, hauling in 10 catches for 153 yards and a TD to propel the Seahawks past the archrival Rams 31-27 en route to their franchise’s second Super Bowl title.

After his record-setting campaign, Smith-Njigba signed a four-year, $168.6 million contract extension with Seattle in March that made him the highest-paid wide receiver in NFL history.

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