Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s third season in the NFL was certainly one to remember, as he earned Offensive Player of the Year honors and the Super Bowl ring he secured while helping the Seahawks win a title. However, the wide receiver is not thrilled with the trophy he received after being awarded that first honor, which features multiple errors that somehow managed to slip through the cracks.
In 2023, the Seahawks selected Jaxon Smith-Njigba with the 20th overall pick in the NFL Draft after he wrapped up his time at Ohio State. They eased the wideout into the offense during a rookie season where he only started three games while recording 628 passing yards and hauling in four touchdowns.
He cracked the 1,000-yard mark during his sophomore campaign while surpassing his touchdown total by two and starting all but one of the 17 games he appeared in, which set the table for the breakout season he had in 2025. Smith-Njigba led the league in receiving yards with 1,793 while snagging 10 touchdown passes, and he was a key weapon for a Seattle team that got a win over the Patriots in Super Bowl LX.
He was named Offensive Player of the Year for his performance, but the trophy he got for winning it left a lot to be desired due to some questionable quality control.
The NFL botched the Offensive Player of the Year trophy that was sent to Jaxon Smith-Njigba
Smith-Njigba learned he’d won that award when the NFL Honors ceremony was held a few days before the Super Bowl, but it appears it took the league a few months to send him the trophy immortalizing that achievement.
On Tuesday, the wide receiver hopped on Instagram to air some grievances after taking a closer look at the “disrespectful” piece of hardware, which boasted multiple spelling mistakes.
This is INSANE: #Seahawks WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba just received his Offensive Player of the Year trophy, but there’s one GIANT problem: the plaque actually says “Defensive Player of the Year.” 🤷🏻♂️🤷🏻♂️
JSN’s response: “It’s getting disrespectful at this point.”
(🎥 @jaxon_smith1) pic.twitter.com/GNdNGIGLwW
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) May 19, 2026
At first glance, it looked like Smith-Njigba received a trophy for winning “Defensive Player of the Year,” although closer examination suggests it might actually be “Oefensive” player when you consider the first letter resembles the “O” in “Of.” That wasn’t the only oversight, as there was also no space between “The” and “Year.”
It’s safe to assume the NFL will offer him a replacement, but if I were him, I’d do everything in my power to hang onto what is an instant collector’s item.