Former Buckeyes Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Mike Vrabel Earn PFWA Honors

Ohio State alumni Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Mike Vrabel were recognized by the Pro Football Writers Association for standout seasons in the 2025-26. Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Smith-Njigba was named offensive player of the year on Wednesday, while Vrabel of the New England Patriots took home coach of the year honors the following day.

In his first season with New England, Vrabel led the Patriots to a season in which they tied for the league-best record at 14-3, winning 10 straight games from Weeks 4-13.

New England boasted both an elite offense and defense, ranking second in the NFL with 490 points scored (28.8 per game) and fourth defensively with just 320 points allowed (18.8 per game). Former Ohio State and New England rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson was selected to the PFWA’s All-Rookie Team after taking 180 carries for 911 yards and nine touchdowns this season.

Vrabel has now won the PFWA Coach of the Year award twice, having previously won it in 2021 with the Tennessee Titans.

Vrabel spent three seasons as a linebacker for Ohio State from 1993-96, ranking first all-time among Buckeyes with 36 sacks. He returned to Ohio State in 2011 as linebackers coach and served as the Buckeyes’ defensive line coach from 2012 to 2013.

The third-year pro Smith-Njigba became just the second Seahawks player and third wide receiver overall to win PFWA Offensive Player of the Year. 

The 23-year-old wideout started all 17 games for Seattle, hauling in 119 passes for 1,793 yards and 10 touchdowns. Smith-Nijigba totaled nine 100-yard games and 13 games with 90-plus receiving yards this year, while his 1,793 yards rank eighth in NFL single-season history. 

Smith-Njigba, who played at Ohio State from 2020 to 2022 before being selected 20th overall by the Seattle Seahawks in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, set both Ohio State and Big Ten records with 1,606 receiving yards during his sophomore season in 2021. He also totaled 95 receptions that year, ranking 10th in conference history.