1 of 5 | Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett arrives on the red carpet at the 2026 NFL Honors on Thursday at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 5 (UPI) — Matthew Stafford captured his first NFL MVP Award, while Myles Garrett won his second Defensive Player of the Year Award at the 2026 NFL Honors on Thursday in San Francisco.
Jon Hamm hosted the event, which honored the NFL’s top players, featured the newest edition of Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees and included performances from Bay Area legends E-40 and Too Short.
Stafford, 37, accepted the top honor of the night alongside his four daughters, Chandler, Sawyer, Hunter and Tyler on the stage at the Palace of Fine Arts
“I just want to start by saying thank you,” Stafford said on the NBC and NFL Network broadcast. “I’m so humbled to be in front of so many great people, great players and coaches that make this league so special. Just to be in the same breath with you guys is amazing for me.”
Stafford, who led the league with 4,707 passing yards and a career-high 46 touchdowns, also threw just eight interceptions, matching the second lowest-total of his career.
The 17-year veteran earned 24 first-place votes, just one more than New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, who finished as the runner-up for the honor.
Stafford, who recently declined to speculate when asked if he planned to return in 2026-27, also announced that he would play next season.
Garrett, who logged five sacks through his first six games, finished the season with an NFL-record 23 quarterback takedowns for the Cleveland Browns. He was a unanimous selection for the top defensive honor.
“This doesn’t start with me,” Garrett said. “It starts with great teammates, a great organization and great coaches, being able to put us in position.
“I’m thankful for every single one of my teammates that helped get me up here. It’s not possible without them.”
Mike Vrabel, who will lead the Patriots against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday in Super Bowl LX, was named the NFL Coach of the Year.
“It’s an honor to be recognized amongst the great coaches in our league, especially Kyle Shanahan, Liam Coen, Ben Johnson and of course Mike Macdonald,” Vrabel said. “Ultimately, my name will go on this award, but this award belongs to a building, it belongs to a staff and ultimately it belongs to the men in the locker room who believed when they couldn’t always see it and also bought in when it wasn’t easy.
“I appreciate that and everything they do. We did this together and I’ll always be thankful and grateful to be your coach.”
Wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan, who set a Carolina Panthers record with 1,014 receiving yards,