Which players (and coaches) are going to be taking home hardware at the end of the 2026 NFL season?
The 2026 season is finally (mercifully) here. It's been a long offseason of evaluating rosters, team situations, and trying to imagine what the upcoming season could hold. The time for making bold predictions about what could be is almost over.
Almost. We're going to try and predict who will win NFL MVP during the 2026 season as well as all of the other major awards: Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year; Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year; Coach of the Year; And of course, Comeback Player of the Year.
2026 NFL Predictions: Predicting MVP and every major award winner this season
Comeback Player of the Year: Patrick Mahomes, QB, Kansas City Chiefs
We can all see this one coming, right?
Even though there might be other contenders coming off of injuries like Daniel Jones or Jayden Daniels, nobody stands out for this award more than Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. He's simply one of the most beloved professional athletes, and the moment he steps foot onto the field again, he's going to be the leading candidate for this award.
The one true contender with Mahomes might end up being Los Angeles Rams defensive lineman Aaron Donald. Donald is coming out of retirement this season to join the Los Angeles Rams' star-studded roster, and because of the fact that he hasn't been in the league since the 2023 season, it's possible he steals a lot of votes from Mahomes if he comes back and plays at a high level.
But the safe bet, for now, is definitely Mahomes.
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Rueben Bain, EDGE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Rueben Bain wasn't the first defensive player drafted in 2026, but he might have gone to the best possible situation to take home some hardware. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers already had a really talented defense before Bain got there, but they definitely had a need for some help off the edge.
Bain can provide that, and he isn't going to be the only guy to focus on. The Bucs' defensive front is still talented, and after bringing back Vita Vea for another season, it could open up a lot of opportunities for Bain to really shine in one-on-one situations.
Bain fell in the 1st round of the 2026 NFL Draft due to concerns about his length and potentially even where he will settle position-wise at the next level. The fact of the matter is, this guy can flat-out get after the quarterback. It wouldn't be shocking to see him reach double-digit sacks as a rookie.
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Jadarian Price, RB, Seattle Seahawks
Once again, even if Jadarian Price wasn't the first offensive player selected, or even the first running back (not even the 1st Notre Dame running back off the board) -- situation matters.
Price is joining the reigning Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks, who let starting running back Kenneth Walker leave for the Kansas City Chiefs in free agency. The opportunity for Price to be the bell-cow back in Seattle is there for the taking, especially as Zach Charbonnet continues to recover from a knee injury he suffered in the playoffs.
Price is the new "Plan A" for the Seahawks at the running back position.
Typically, you would think a quarterback would be the first one in line for this award, but nobody knows when we're going to see Fernando Mendoza playing for the Raiders this year.
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