Jaxon Smith-Njigba was named the NFL Offensive Player of the Year for the 2025 season after setting Seattle Seahawks franchise records with 119 receptions and 1,793 receiving yards [1, 2, 3]. The 24-year-old wide receiver also helped the Seahawks go 3-0 in the playoffs and win Super Bowl LX [2, 3].
At the NFL Honors ceremony in February 2026, comedian Druski announced Smith-Njigba as Offensive Player of the Year but mispronounced his name in a way that resembled a racial slur, drawing backlash. Druski later apologized for the incident [2].
On May 19, 2026, Smith-Njigba posted a video showing his trophy had been engraved incorrectly as "Defensive Player of Theyear"—with a typo and missing space [1, 2, 3]. Smith-Njigba publicly expressed frustration over the error, calling it disrespectful and considering returning the trophy. He said, "I really want to expose them. It’s getting disrespectful, guys," and added, "Defense? Come on, bro. One word? Man." He later said, "Just keep the award at this point. Leave it in the history books tho" [1, 2, 3].
The NFL, not the Associated Press responsible for voting, handles production of the trophies [2].
During the 2026 offseason, Smith-Njigba signed a four-year contract extension worth $168.6 million, the largest ever for an NFL wide receiver [1, 3].
Smith-Njigba’s 119 receptions and 1,793 yards led the NFL in receiving yards for the 2025 season, a breakout year that made him a key figure for Seattle’s first Super Bowl win in decades [1, 2, 3]. The team and player now look ahead to the next season with Smith-Njigba under contract through 2030.
