Last night, the annual NFL Honors show took place, and Vance Joseph was second in Assistant Coach of the Year.

Meanwhile, his star edge rusher Nik Bonitto came in fourth in Defensive Player of the Year voting.

Neither Denver Broncos representatives took home an award, but it’s still good recognition for Sean Payton’s team that they were finalists.

Vance Joseph comes in 2nd in Assistant Coach voting

Joseph has been a great defensive coordinator for the Broncos since rejoining the team in 2023. And this year’s defense was his best work yet.

Denver led the league in total sacks, with 68.0, which was a new team-record that took the place of last year’s 62.0 sacks. Not only that, but the 2025 Denver Broncos were:

  • 3rd in points allowed (18.3 PPG)
  • 2nd in 3rd down percentage (33.8%)
  • 1st in red zone defense (42.6%)
  • 1st in pressures (213)
  • 1st in QB knockdowns (80)

Joseph lost out on Assistant Coach of the Year, which went to another former Denver Broncos head coach, Josh McDaniels of the New England Patriots. McDaniels was a big reason why the Patriots are in Super Bowl LX and he helped elevate Drake Maye to an MVP finalist.

McDaniels won with 17 first-place votes and 249 total points. Joseph came in second with 10 first-place votes and 176 points.

Nik Bonitto 4th in Defensive Player of the Year

Bonitto is a rising star in the NFL, and was a Defensive Player of the Year finalist this season.

He recorded a career-high 14.0 sacks, and his 28 QB hits were also a career-high. Bonitto also forced two fumbles, which tied last year’s high. One other stat was his single pass breakup on the season. It may seem insignificant, but that breakup won the Broncos their overtime thriller against the Commanders.

Unfortunately for Bonitto, he was going up against Miles Garrett.

Garrett was just the second ever player to be named Defensive Player of the Year unanimously joining J.J. Watt in 2014, earning all 50 first-place votes. Garrett set the NFL record with 22.5 sacks this year. It was his second Defensive Player of the Year, with the first coming in 2023.

Behind Garrett in DPOY voting was:

  • Texans Will Anderson (77 points)
  • Packers Micah Parsons (63)
  • Broncos Nik Bonitto (52)
  • Lions Aiden Hutchinson (42)

Last year, Denver Broncos superstar Patrick Surtain II won Defensive Player of the Year. Bonitto was in the mix that season, too, coming in 9th in voting.

All to say, Bonitto is on the national stage now, and if he keeps balling out, he could eventually win DPOY.

Matt Stafford wins MVP, Mike Vrabel as Coach of the Year

Matt Stafford won the NFL’s Most Valuable Player award by the narrowest of margins. He earned 24 first-place votes, and Drake Maye of the Patriots had 23. Stafford won by a mere 5 total voting points.

Stafford also announced he’s returning for the 2026 season.

Meanwhile, Mike Vrabel of the Patriots took home Coach of the Year.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba won Offensive Player of the Year, and will be facing Maye and Vrabel in Super Bowl LX on Sunday evening.

Offensive Rookie of the Year went to Carolina Panthers receiver Tetaiora McMillan, and Defensive Rookie of the Year was Carson Schwesinger of Garrett’s Browns.

Finally, Comeback Player of the year was Christian McCaffrey of the San Francisco 49ers.