Full Breakdown
Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s Misengraved Offensive Player of the Year Trophy Sparks Controversy
5/19/2026, 11:46:27 PM
The Trophy Mix-up: What Happened
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the 2025 Associated Press (AP) NFL Offensive Player of the Year, posted an Instagram story on May 18 showing his award plaque reading “2025 Defensive Player of theyear.” He called the error “disrespectful” and demanded the league correct it. The NFL confirmed the engraving mistake and said a new trophy would be shipped.
Season That Earned the Honor
Smith-Njigba’s 2025 campaign produced a league-leading 1,793 receiving yards on 119 catches, ten touchdowns, and a 54.4 % vote share for the AP award. His performance helped Seattle secure the No. 1 NFC seed, win Super Bowl LX, and earn a four-year, $168.6 million extension, making him the highest-paid wide receiver in NFL history.
Timeline of the Incident
- Feb 2025: NFL Honors announces Smith-Njigba as Offensive Player; Druski mispronounces his name.
- May 18 2025: Smith-Njigba shares the misengraved trophy on Instagram.
- May 19 2025: NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy apologizes and promises a replacement trophy.
Data & Statistics
Receptions: 119 – Receiving yards: 1,793 – Touchdowns: 10 – Vote share for AP award: 54.4 % – Contract: 4 years, $168.6 million (average $42.15 million per year, >$120 million guaranteed).
Official Statements & Responses
The NFL clarified that while the AP conducts award voting, the league manufactures the trophies. Spokesperson Brian McCarthy said the league “made the mistake,” apologized to Smith-Njigba, and confirmed a new trophy is being produced. The AP reiterated that Smith-Njigba’s award remains valid despite the engraving error.
Criticism & Opposition
Smith-Njigba labeled the mistake “disrespectful,” noting the plaque’s “Defensive” label and the concatenated “theyear” as evidence of careless quality control. Commentators highlighted the incident as a second slight after Druski’s mispronunciation, suggesting a pattern of disrespect toward the player.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the exact wording of the error: most describe “Defensive Player of the Year,” while The Athletic reports the engraving reads “Oefensive Player of the Year.” All agree the words “The” and “Year” appear merged. No public confirmation exists regarding whether the Defensive Player of the Year winner, Myles Garrett, received a correctly labeled trophy.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I really want to expose them. It’s getting disrespectful, guys.” — Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Instagram story
- “Defense? Come on, bro.” — Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Instagram story
- “One word? Man.” — Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Instagram story
- “The league made the mistake. We sincerely apologize to Jaxon for the error and are in the process of creating and shipping him a new trophy,” — Brian McCarthy, NFL spokesperson
What’s Next
A corrected trophy is expected to arrive before the start of the 2026 season. Smith-Njigba will begin his contract year with Seattle, with the Seahawks slated to open the season against the New England Patriots on September 9. The incident has prompted calls for tighter quality-control procedures for league-issued awards.
