Seahawks Rally Around Jaxson Smith-Njigba After NFL Honors Name Controversy
What should’ve been a celebratory night for one of the NFL’s breakout stars turned awkward fast-and the Seattle Seahawks weren’t about to let it slide.
During Thursday night’s NFL Honors ceremony in San Francisco, wide receiver Jaxson Smith-Njigba was awarded Offensive Player of the Year after a stellar season. But instead of the spotlight staying on his accomplishments, it shifted to a misstep on stage when comedian Druski repeatedly mispronounced Smith-Njigba’s name while presenting the award alongside Hall of Famer Barry Sanders.
The moment, which was meant to highlight the young receiver’s rise to stardom, quickly became a flashpoint on social media. Fans and players alike reacted swiftly-many expressing frustration that such a special moment was overshadowed.
Seattle linebacker Uchenna Nwosu didn’t mince words, posting “Druski lame” on X (formerly Twitter). Jamal Adams, now a safety with the Las Vegas Raiders but still clearly invested in his former teammates, echoed the sentiment.
“Facts. Just say ‘JSN’ and move around,” Adams wrote in a retweet of Nwosu’s post.
The Seahawks organization also responded publicly. Their official PR account addressed the incident directly, calling out the lack of care during what should have been a proud moment for Smith-Njigba. Seattle’s gameday host, Gee Scott Sr., went even further, tagging the NFL and calling for Druski to be barred from future award presentations.
“Hey @NFL, you better NEVER have @druski present an award ever again,” Scott tweeted. “That’s that young man’s name!
YOU NEVER PLAY WITH SOMEONE’S NAME! Especially in a moment like that.”
It wasn’t just a one-off flub, either. Druski’s repeated attempts at the name veered into uncomfortable territory, with one version sounding close to a slur-something that drew immediate backlash online. Barry Sanders, who stood beside Druski during the segment, looked visibly uncomfortable as the moment unfolded.
And it wasn’t an isolated issue. Later in the night, presenter Tiffany Haddish mispronounced Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel’s name, calling him “VER-BEL” instead of “VRAY-BL.” While that gaffe didn’t spark the same level of outrage, it added to a growing sense that the night’s presenters weren’t giving the honorees the respect they deserved.
Smith-Njigba, for his part, wasn’t at the ceremony in person. He accepted the award via a pre-recorded video, likely already focused on the task ahead-playing in Super Bowl LX against the New England Patriots on Sunday.
And make no mistake: he earned that spotlight. With 119 receptions, 1,793 yards, and 10 touchdowns this season, the second-year wideout turned heads across the league and helped lead Seattle to the biggest stage in football.
The name mispronunciation may have stolen a moment, but it didn’t steal the season. Smith-Njigba’s play spoke louder than any award show slip-up. And with his teammates, former teammates, and organization standing firmly behind him, it’s clear the Seahawks are making sure their guy gets the respect he’s earned.
Now, with a Super Bowl on deck, Smith-Njigba has a chance to finish his breakout year the best way possible-by bringing a title back to Seattle.