Eric Boggs
Ohio State’s influence on the NFL has rarely been more evident than it was Thursday night, as two former Buckeyes claimed the league’s most prestigious individual awards while guiding their teams to the Super Bowl. From the sideline to the huddle, Mike Vrabel and Jaxon Smith-Njigba showcased what Buckeye fans have long known: Ohio State develops elite leaders and elite talent at the highest level of football.
Vrabel was officially named the AP NFL Coach of the Year for the 2025 season after engineering one of the greatest turnarounds in league history during his first year with the New England Patriots. Taking over a team that finished 4–13 just one season earlier, the former Ohio State defensive end led the Patriots to a stunning 14–3 regular-season record and a dominant run through the AFC playoffs, earning a Super Bowl berth against Seattle. It marked the second time Vrabel has won the award, having previously earned the honor in 2021 with the Tennessee Titans, making him just the seventh coach in NFL history to win Coach of the Year with two different franchises.
For Buckeye fans, Vrabel’s success carries even more weight. He remains the only former Ohio State player to win AP NFL Coach of the Year and now becomes just the second former Buckeye to coach in a Super Bowl as a head coach, joining Don McCafferty, who led the Baltimore Colts to victory in Super Bowl V. Already a three-time Super Bowl champion as a player with the Patriots, Vrabel has now firmly cemented his legacy as one of the most accomplished Ohio State alumni in professional football.
Vrabel was not the only Buckeye celebrated at NFL Honors. Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba was named the 2025 AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year after delivering one of the most dominant seasons ever by a former Ohio State skill player. Smith-Njigba led the NFL with 1,793 receiving yards during the regular season, the eighth-highest total in league history, while serving as the centerpiece of a Seahawks offense that powered its way to the Super Bowl.
In a taped acceptance speech, Smith-Njigba reflected on the winding path that led him to this moment, dedicating the award to his father for helping him stay grounded after a hamstring injury cut short his final season at Ohio State. Once projected as a potential Heisman candidate and top-five draft pick, Smith-Njigba instead learned patience and perspective before being selected 20th overall by Seattle. That journey has now culminated in one of the greatest seasons the NFL has ever seen from a former Buckeye.
Smith-Njigba becomes just the second Ohio State wide receiver to win AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year, joining Michael Thomas, who earned the honor in 2019. He was also named a unanimous AP NFL All-Pro, further underscoring his dominance throughout the season. Including Seattle’s first two playoff games, Smith-Njigba has totaled 132 receptions for 1,965 yards and 12 touchdowns in 19 games, numbers that place his 2025 campaign among the very best in NFL history.
As the Patriots and Seahawks prepare to meet on football’s biggest stage, Ohio State will be front and center. One former Buckeye will patrol the sideline as the league’s top coach, while another will line up as the game’s most dangerous offensive weapon. For Buckeye fans, Super Bowl Sunday isn’t just about a championship — it’s another reminder that the standard built in Columbus continues to shape the NFL at its highest level.
