NFL Honors 2026 winners: MVP, major awards, time, and how to watch

NFL Honors 2026 delivered the league’s biggest individual awards Thursday night, Feb. 5, in San Francisco, headlined by Matthew Stafford winning NFL MVP and Bobby Wagner receiving the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award. The ceremony doubled as a Super Bowl-week showcase, with a prime-time broadcast start at 9:00 p.m. ET and a steady stream of moments aimed at both football fans and a broader TV audience.

NFL Honors 2026: time, host, and the show format

The 15th annual NFL Honors ceremony began at 9:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026. Actor Jon Hamm hosted, and the event leaned into the usual mix of awards, highlight packages, comedy beats, and musical interludes. Olivia Culpo was among notable attendees as Super Bowl week brought players’ families and partners into the spotlight alongside the nominees.

Beyond the trophies, the show’s practical purpose is to put a formal stamp on the season—especially the MVP—before Sunday’s Super Bowl.

NFL Honors winners 2026: MVP and the full headline list

Stafford’s MVP win was the night’s centerpiece, punctuated by an on-stage moment with his family as he also confirmed he intends to return for another season. Several other awards followed predictable storylines—dominant production for the top defensive honor, a turnaround season for comeback, and standout first-year performances in the rookie categories.

Here’s a snapshot of the key winners announced Thursday night:

Who won Walter Payton Man of the Year 2026?

Bobby Wagner won the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award during NFL Honors 2026. The honor recognizes a player’s impact off the field alongside excellence on it, and Wagner’s work has been closely tied to stroke awareness and support, shaped in part by personal family experience.

The award is widely viewed inside the league as the highest recognition for community work, and it tends to be one of the evening’s most emotional moments—especially because it reflects long-running efforts rather than a single season’s stat line.

When is NFL MVP announced?

The NFL MVP announcement happens during NFL Honors, which this year took place Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026. If you’re tracking “when is MVP announced” in future seasons, the pattern is typically the same: MVP and most major individual awards are revealed at NFL Honors in the days leading into the Super Bowl.

Where to watch NFL Honors and how to watch NFL games

For NFL Honors, the event is carried on the league’s main U.S. broadcast partner and also simulcast on a league-affiliated cable channel, with official streaming options available through the broadcaster’s subscription service and the league’s own streaming product (availability varies by device and market).

For where to watch NFL games, the simplest rule of thumb is:

• Sunday afternoon games are primarily split between the two major over-the-air sports broadcasters (with local market rules).

• Prime-time games rotate across a broadcast prime-time partner and a cable sports partner.

• Some games are streaming-exclusive, depending on the week and package.

• Out-of-market Sunday packages remain the most comprehensive option for watching teams outside your local region.

If you’re trying to watch a specific team, the most reliable approach is to check your local listings on game day (or the league’s official schedule tools) because kickoff windows and local carriage can change week to week.

What to watch next on Super Bowl weekend

With NFL Honors complete, attention shifts immediately to Sunday’s game. The awards can influence the week’s narratives—especially MVP, Coach of the Year, and the Walter Payton honor—but the league’s calendar turns fast. The next big scheduled tentpole is kickoff on Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026, with all the usual pregame pageantry, halftime production, and postgame trophy ceremony.

Sources consulted: Reuters, The Associated Press, NFL, NBC Sports