LAS VEGAS — The Seattle Seahawks weren’t in the room tonight. They were busy 500 miles away in Santa Clara, prepping for the biggest game of their lives. But their presence was felt the moment the envelope opened. In a stunning conclusion to the NFL Honors, Jaxon Smith-Njigba has been named the 2025 Associated Press Offensive Player of the Year, becoming the first Seahawk to capture the award since Shaun Alexander’s MVP campaign two decades ago.
The Breakout That Saved The Season
This wasn’t a landslide; it was a dogfight. Smith-Njigba secured 14 first-place votes, barely holding off San Francisco’s Christian McCaffrey (12) and the Rams’ Puka Nacua (8). The final tally saw “JSN” reach 272 points to McCaffrey’s 223, a margin that reflects just how split the voters were on this year’s offensive royalty.
But look at the numbers, and the logic crystallizes. In his third year, JSN didn’t just play; he erupted.
- 119 Receptions: A new Seahawks franchise record.
- 1,793 Receiving Yards: The NFL league leader.
- 1,829 Scrimmage Yards: First among all non-running backs.
What makes this hardware even heavier? The context. The Seahawks ranked 30th in the NFL in passing attempts per game. This wasn’t an Air Raid offense padding stats; this was Smith-Njigba dominating every time the ball came his way, carrying an efficient but low-volume passing attack all the way to the NFC Championship and beyond.
He also shared the FedEx Air & Ground Player of the Year honors with QB Drake Maye and McCaffrey, cementing his status as the undisputed king of the wide receiver position in 2025.
“We saw the news. We’re happy for Jax, he earned every yard. But nobody’s celebrating yet. That trophy is nice, but the one we want is sitting at Levi’s Stadium waiting for Sunday. We’ll celebrate everything at once.” — Mike Macdonald, Seattle Seahawks Head Coach (via pool report)
From Honors to the Super Bowl
While the rest of the league parties in Vegas, Smith-Njigba is in Santa Clara, locked in for Super Bowl LX. The timing adds a layer of beautiful irony—the man who just won the league’s top offensive individual honor has to prove it one last time against the AFC champions in less than 72 hours.
His postseason form suggests he’s ready. After torching the 49ers for a TD in the divisional round and dropping a 10-catch, 153-yard hammer on the Rams to win the NFC, JSN is peaking at the exact right moment. The hardware he picked up tonight is history; the hardware he wants next is legendary.
