It’s celebration time for the Super Bowl-champion Seattle Seahawks. A dominant 29-13 win over the New England Patriots was a fitting capstone on an excellent season, raising a second banner for the 12th man.
For wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, though, Super Bowl week wasn’t perfect. At the NFL Honors, his Offensive Player of the Year win was tainted when his last name was turned into a punchline by Druski. It became an unnecessary storyline before the biggest game of Smith-Njigba’s career, and his NFL brethren have publicly defended him in the days since.
Emmanuel Acho Defends Jaxon Smith-Njigba After Druski Joke
Among those criticizing Druski for his joke was former Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Emmanuel Acho.
The linebacker has become known for his hot takes and social media rants, but he took a poignant tone on “Speakeasy” to defend the Seahawks’ superstar.
“Stop playing with other people’s names,” Acho said. “Druski, you play a lot. And you’re really good at playing, and shoutout to what you’ve done and what you’ve built in your career. I believe you’re the best one doing it right now. But know the time and the place.
“And when it’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s time, and it’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s place, then just say his name right, fix your face, and keep it moving. Understand when it’s about you, and when it’s not about you.”
🗣️ “[DRUSKI] QUIT PLAYING WITH OTHER PEOPLE’S NAME…KNOW THE TIME AND THE PLACE.”
– @EmmanuelAcho goes OFF about acclaimed comedian, Druski, intentionally butchering Jackson Smith-Njigba’s name for OPOY
WE ARE LIVE DISCUSSING BROWNS QB FUTURE ➡️ https://t.co/f4H3dQB55c pic.twitter.com/awKCRMQBs5
— Speakeasy (@speakeasytlkshw) February 10, 2026
Smith-Njigba broke out in 2025 to the tune of 119 catches and a league-leading 1,793 yards and 10 scores. He earned first-team All-Pro honors and his second Pro Bowl nomination. In the playoffs, his excellence pushed Seattle past the Los Angeles Rams, racking up 10 receptions for 153 yards and a touchdown.
In the Super Bowl, he was a relative non-factor, but his presence played a role in dictating New England’s ill-fated defensive plans.
“Also, names carry weight,” Acho continued. “Names are significant, especially family names. Names are powerful. And you want to take the time at the Super Bowl to now decide, you know what, I’m going to get a joke off. I’m going to have a viral moment. We spent so much more time talking about Druski mispronouncing his name than we spent talking about the actual player who dominated the game. That makes no sense to me.”
Smith-Njigba was the second-ranked receiver by PFSN’s NFL WR Impact Metric, behind only Rams star Puka Nacua. Winning Offensive Player of the Year days before a Super Bowl championship should have made him the man of the hour, not the butt of a nationally-televised joke.
“This is not a time for a skit,” he concluded. “If you want to do an NFL Honors skit, go do like you did the church skit. But right now, it’s the NFL Honors, not the Druski Honors, not the Comedian Honors. It’s not time for all that.”
If it wasn’t immediately clear when JSN said to “put respect” on his name with a cigar in hand, he’s heard all the noise. Thrust into the mainstream after his excellent season, Smith-Njigba is becoming a household name and leaving the jokes in the dust.
