NFL Embarrasses Itself With Trophy Engraving Blunder for Smith-Njigba
The NFL mistakenly engraved Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba's Offensive Player of the Year trophy as "Defensive Player of the Year," sparking social media backlash and a promised replacement.
The NFL botched the most basic task associated with honoring its 2025 Offensive Player of the Year: spelling out what the award actually is.
Seahawks star wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba received his trophy engraved as "2025 Defensive Player of the Year"—a categorical failure that prompted the receiver to call out the league on social media.
"It's getting disrespectful, guys," Smith-Njigba said in a video posted to Instagram about the trophy.
NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy acknowledged the error and promised a replacement. "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," McCarthy told The Athletic. "Of course, like the teams he played against this year, we know how great an offensive player he is. We just had a problem spelling it."
The gaffe compounds months of name-mangling surrounding Smith-Njigba's breakout season. Comedian Druski mispronounced his name when announcing the award at the NFL Honors in February and later attempted to apologize without receiving a response.
A Historic Offensive Season
Smith-Njigba's 2025 campaign demands accurate recognition. The Pro Bowler hauled in 119 receptions for 1,793 yards—both single-season franchises records for Seattle—while adding 10 touchdowns. His receiving yards led the entire NFL, and his yardage total ranked fourth among all receivers.
Outside, he dominated: 1,378 receiving yards when lined up as an outside receiver, according to Next Gen Stats.
In the postseason, Smith-Njigba went into overdrive. He logged 17 receptions for 199 yards and two touchdowns, including a 153-yard eruption against the Rams in the NFC Championship Game as Seattle won Super Bowl LX.
Record-Setting Contract, Historic Trajectory
In March, Smith-Njigba signed a four-year, $168.6 million extension worth $42.15 million annually—an NFL record for a wide receiver. The Ohio State product, selected No. 20 overall in the 2023 draft, has never missed a game in his three-year career.
His 282 career receptions already rank 10th in Seahawks history. His 3,551 receiving yards place him 11th on the franchise's all-time list—extraordinary depth considering he's only in his third season.
