The road to Super Bowl LX took a detour through Columbus, Ohio on Thursday night, as two former Buckeyes stole the spotlight at the NFL Honors ceremony in San Francisco. Mike Vrabel and Jaxon Smith-Njigba-both Ohio State alums-walked away with some of the league’s most coveted hardware, setting the stage for a Buckeye-on-Buckeye showdown in Sunday’s championship game.
Vrabel, in his first year as head coach of the New England Patriots, was named the 2025 AP NFL Coach of the Year. Not long after, Smith-Njigba, now a star wideout for the Seattle Seahawks, took home Offensive Player of the Year honors after a season that was nothing short of electric. It’s the kind of one-two punch that would make any college program proud-but for Ohio State, it’s also a reminder of just how deep their NFL pipeline runs.
For Vrabel, this marks the second time he’s earned Coach of the Year-he previously won the award in 2021 with the Tennessee Titans. That puts him in rare company, becoming just the seventh head coach in NFL history to win the honor with two different franchises. But what he’s done in New England this season might be even more impressive than his earlier work in Tennessee.
Taking over a Patriots team that limped to a 4-13 finish the year before, Vrabel didn’t just steady the ship-he turned it into a juggernaut. New England went 14-3 in the regular season, reclaimed the AFC East title, and powered through the playoffs to earn a spot in Sunday’s Super Bowl.
Vrabel’s fingerprints are all over this turnaround. He brought life back to a defense that had lost its edge and helped mold rookie quarterback Drake Maye into a confident, capable leader of the offense.
It's been a masterclass in culture-building and player development.
On the other sideline, Smith-Njigba’s rise has been just as compelling. In his third NFL season, the former Buckeye finally delivered on the sky-high potential he flashed in college.
He led the league with 1,793 receiving yards, hauled in 119 catches, and found the end zone 10 times. That kind of production doesn’t just happen-it’s the result of route-running precision, elite hands, and a knack for making big plays in big moments.
Smith-Njigba edged out finalists Puka Nacua and Christian McCaffrey for the Offensive Player of the Year award, and it’s hard to argue with the outcome. His chemistry with quarterback Sam Darnold fueled one of the most explosive offenses in the league.
And the highlight reel? Let’s just say it’s already legendary.
His one-handed grab in the NFC Championship Game wasn’t just a catch-it was a defining moment of the 2025 season.
It’s been nearly two decades since a Seahawk last won this award-Shaun Alexander in 2005-and Smith-Njigba’s breakout campaign has injected new energy into the franchise. He’s not just a star in Seattle; he’s become one of the league’s most feared offensive weapons.
Now, with the awards in hand, the focus shifts to Sunday’s Super Bowl. Vrabel’s Patriots will square off against Smith-Njigba’s Seahawks in what feels like a script straight out of a football movie-two elite talents, both shaped by the same college program, now facing off on the biggest stage in the sport.
They shared the spotlight Thursday night. On Sunday, only one of them will hoist the Lombardi Trophy.