The 2025 NFL playoffs are underway, and the real talk, heated debates about the MVP award are taking center stage.
The end of January will decide who will be fighting for this year’s Lombardi Trophy. Still, before the Super Bowl takes place, the National Football League will determine who will be the most valuable player of the 2025 NFL season. Let’s dive deep into the details of when the league will announce the MVP, the timing of the announcement, how to watch it, and more.
When Will the League Announce the NFL MVP 2026?
The NFL Honors will announce the NFL MVP of the 2025-26 season on Thursday, Feb. 5, 2025. The venue of the league’s most decorated award show is the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco.
As of now, two quarterbacks in the league are leading the MVP odds this season. One is the veteran QB in the league and Los Angeles Rams superstar, Matthew Stafford. The other is the New England Patriots’ sophomore star and franchise quarterback, Drake Maye.
According to BetMGM Sportsbook, both quarterbacks have the best odds. As the awards are based on performance in the regular season, their playoff stats will not affect or influence the statistics needed to win the award.
Last year, the Baltimore Ravens’ Lamar Jackson and the Buffalo Bills’ Josh Allen were above all the other MVP contenders. Eventually, Allen won his first NFL MVP award last year. But this year’s battle is also unique. So, the next question is, how can you watch the NFL Honors awards of the 2025 season? But here is the answer.
How To Watch NFL Honors 2026?
The awards show will air live at 9 p.m. ET (8 p.m. CT) and will be broadcast nationally on NBC and NFL Network, ensuring wide accessibility for fans.
For cord-cutters, the ceremony will also be available to stream on Peacock and NFL+, allowing viewers to watch across multiple platforms.
Adding to the spectacle, the red carpet show will begin one hour earlier. And early reactions from players, coaches, and league personalities ahead of the MVP announcement and other significant awards.
Who Is Hosting 2026 NFL Honors?
Jon Hamm, the actor known for “Your Friends & Neighbors,” will host the 15th annual NFL Honors 2026.
Reacting to the opportunity to host one of the league’s most exciting awards shows, Jon Hamm said, “Week after week, the NFL delivers performances that remind you why this game means so much to so many people.”
He also said in a statement, “I’m honored to host an evening that celebrates the players, their immense talents and the unforgettable moments that defined this season.”
Last year’s awards show was hosted by superstar Snoop Dogg, with the Buffalo Bills quarterback winning the MVP award. Now, as the date and time are set and the regular season is also done and dusted, let’s see how the National Football League will decide the MVP winner.
How the NFL Will Decide the MVP Award Winner for 2026?
The NFL MVP award is determined by 50 media members from across the country, selected to represent a diverse range of voices. This group is assembled by the Associated Press, which refers to it as a “nationwide panel of media.”
Each voter doesn’t just pick one player anymore. Instead, they rank their top five players. Points are handed out based on where a player lands on that list. A first-place vote carries the most weight at 10 points, followed by five points for second place, three for third, two for fourth, and one for fifth.
This ranking system is relatively new. It was introduced after the 2022 season. Before that, voters only picked a single MVP. The first year using the new format was 2023, when Lamar Jackson dominated the voting with 49 first-place votes and easily won the award.
Only two players in NFL history have ever been unanimous MVP picks: Jackson and Tom Brady.
Overall, the award has been heavily tilted toward offense. A total of 54 offensive players have won MVP honors, including 50 quarterbacks and four running backs.
The voting process will close before the playoffs begin. So, the league will have a winner almost a month before the announcement of the awards on Feb. 5, 2026.