The NFL’s major season awards are announced during the NFL Honors show, which takes place the Thursday night before the Super Bowl, in prime time (typically around 9 p.m. ET).

When Do NFL Awards Get Announced? (Quick Scoop)

🕒 The Core Answer

  • The big NFL awards (MVP, Coach of the Year, Offensive/Defensive Player and Rookie of the Year, Comeback Player, etc.) are revealed at the NFL Honors ceremony.
  • Timing: The show is held on the Thursday before the Super Bowl , usually starting at 9 p.m. ET and running for about two hours.
  • In 2026, for example, NFL Honors is scheduled for Thursday, February 5, 2026, at 9 p.m. ET , from the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco.

So if you’re wondering “when do NFL awards get announced?” in any given season, the rule of thumb is: Super Bowl week Thursday night, during NFL Honors.

🏆 What Gets Announced That Night?

The NFL Honors show is the league’s big awards night, with a mix of serious recognition and showbiz polish.

Typical awards announced include:

  • AP Most Valuable Player (MVP)
  • AP Coach of the Year
  • AP Comeback Player of the Year
  • AP Offensive Player of the Year
  • AP Defensive Player of the Year
  • AP Offensive Rookie of the Year
  • AP Defensive Rookie of the Year
  • Walter Payton Man of the Year
  • Various special or fan‑friendly awards (like celebration awards, “moment of the year,” etc., depending on the year).

In recent years, the Pro Football Hall of Fame class for that year is also revealed during the show.

⏰ Live Show vs. Social Media “Spoilers”

Here’s where things get a bit more “forum-discussion” worthy.

  • The NFL Honors show is presented as a polished TV event, but portions may be pre‑recorded or presented to the live audience slightly ahead of the televised broadcast.
  • That means media members and NFL accounts sometimes post the winners on social media in real time , so fans can see MVP and other awards on Twitter/X or Instagram before (or as) TV-only viewers reach that segment.

On fan forums, people often complain that:

“It defeats the purpose of having the show if the winners are already on social before it airs.”

So practically speaking, awards are “announced” in two layers:

  1. Officially : During the NFL Honors program on TV/streaming.
  1. Instantly online : Via league and media social accounts as the results are known or recorded.

If you hate spoilers, your safest move is to watch NFL Honors live at start time and avoid social feeds for an hour or two.

📺 How It Usually Works Each Year

While dates change season to season, the pattern stays very consistent:

  1. Regular season ends in early January.
  2. Voting for awards closes before the playoffs , so winners are set weeks before they’re revealed.
  1. Super Bowl week :
    • Thursday night = NFL Honors → awards announced.
 * Sunday = Super Bowl.

In 2026, for example:

  • NFL Honors: Thursday, February 5, 2026, 9 p.m. ET
  • Location: Palace of Fine Arts, San Francisco
  • Broadcast: NBC and NFL Network, with streaming on Peacock and NFL+

You can expect similar timing in future seasons: the evening before the Super Bowl, around 9 p.m. ET.

🧾 Mini FAQ

Q: Is there a set “clock time” every year?
A: It can vary slightly, but prime time in the U.S. (about 9 p.m. ET) is the common slot.

Q: Are all awards announced on that same night?
A: Yes, the major individual player awards and several special honors are bundled into the NFL Honors show.

Q: Do leaks or “insider” tweets mean the awards are decided earlier?
A: The winners are voted on well before the show , often weeks earlier; the show is the public reveal, even if social media sometimes beats TV viewers by a few minutes.

TL;DR:
NFL awards get announced during the NFL Honors show, held the Thursday night before the Super Bowl at about 9 p.m. ET , with winners often hitting social media in real time as the show unfolds.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.