The Seattle Seahawks are making serious noise this awards season, with four key figures earning finalist nods for some of the NFL’s most prestigious honors. It's a testament to just how far this team has come-and how many pieces are clicking at once.
Let’s start with wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who’s in the running for AP Offensive Player of the Year. And frankly, he didn’t just earn a seat at the table-he kicked the door down.
The 23-year-old led the league with 1,793 receiving yards, caught 119 passes, and found the end zone 10 times. Those aren’t just big numbers-they’re franchise records for Seattle, and his yardage total ranks eighth all-time for a single season in NFL history.
Smith-Njigba’s breakout year wasn’t just prolific, it was historic. No surprise he was already named Offensive Player of the Year by the Pro Football Writers of America and earned a first-team All-Pro nod from the AP.
He’s joined on the finalist list by some heavy hitters-Drake Maye, Christian McCaffrey, Puka Nacua, and Bijan Robinson-but Smith-Njigba’s production speaks for itself.
On the other side of the ball, rookie safety Nick Emmanwori is making his own case for AP Rookie of the Year. A second-round pick out of South Carolina, Emmanwori didn’t just contribute-he stood out.
He finished third on the team with 81 tackles, broke up 11 passes, added 9 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, and snagged an interception across 14 games. And when it comes to pressuring the quarterback?
He led all rookie defensive backs with 18 total pressures-nearly double the next guy, according to Pro Football Focus. That kind of versatility and impact is rare for a rookie, especially in a complex defensive system.
Speaking of that system, head coach Mike Macdonald is a finalist for AP Coach of the Year-and rightfully so. In just his second season at the helm, Macdonald led Seattle to a 14-3 record, their first NFC West crown since 2020, and locked up the No. 1 seed in the NFC.
That’s a four-win improvement over last year, and his defense? Best in the league in scoring.
Macdonald’s fingerprints are all over this team’s identity-tough, disciplined, and opportunistic. He’s up against some strong candidates like Kyle Shanahan and Mike Vrabel, but Macdonald’s case is as compelling as any.
And don’t overlook offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, who’s a finalist for AP Assistant Coach of the Year after just one season in Seattle. Kubiak’s offense finished third in scoring, eighth in total yards, and cracked the top 10 in both passing and rushing.
The ground game, in particular, saw a massive leap-jumping from 28th in the league last year to 10th, with an average of 123.3 rushing yards per game. That kind of turnaround doesn’t happen by accident.
Kubiak brought balance, creativity, and consistency to a unit that had struggled to find all three.
The NFL Honors ceremony is set for February 5, and with four finalists in the mix, the Seahawks could be walking away with more than just playoff momentum. Whether it’s Smith-Njigba’s record-breaking season, Emmanwori’s all-around defensive impact, Macdonald’s leadership, or Kubiak’s offensive transformation, Seattle’s rise this season has been powered by more than just talent-it’s been about execution, development, and vision.
And now, the league is taking notice.