Just days away from the NFL season opener, NFL.com analysts are predicting their end-of-the-year awards for the 2025-26 season. Nearly 30 NFL.com analysts cast their votes for the winners of eight of the league’s individual awards, and Detroit Lions players are projected to win two of them.
Lions edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson was predicted to win Comeback Player of the Year with a whopping 15 of the 30 votes, and All-Pro offensive tackle Penei Sewell was voted to win the new Protector of the Year award with nine votes.
Hutchinson, who is coming off a broken leg, has been sensational during training camp and also earned the fourth-highest number of votes for Defensive Player of the Year. It should come as little surprise that he’s in the mix for both awards, especially considering NFL fans voted Hutchinson the most likely to win DPOY in our most recent SB Nation fan survey.
As for Sewell, it also makes a lot of sense that he would be the frontrunner for the new POTY award, seeing as he was recently voted as the 13th best player in the NFL top 100, the highest ranking of any offensive lineman in the league this year.
Additionally, running back Jahmyr Gibbs also received the second-highest number of votes for Offensive Player of the Year, losing to Ja’Marr Chase, while Amon-Ra St. Brown was tied for sixth for the award.
Finally, Lions coach Dan Campbell received the fourth most votes for Coach of the Year, an award that the NFL.com analysts will go to rookie Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson. It wasn’t an overwhelming majority, but the former Lions offensive coordinator won eight votes for the title. The article doesn’t include explanations from the analysts behind their votes, but does reveal how many votes other candidates got for each award.
And onto the rest of your notes.
- The Lions’ social team dropped a cryptic post. Some are speculating that it could be a new episode of “Under the Helmet” featuring Aidan Hutchinson and his recovery.
- NFC North quarterbacks were named “biggest losers” in the Micah Parsons trade by NFL.com’s Kevin Patra. “Green Bay’s D already made life hard on QBs. It’ll be much more difficult with Parsons screaming off the edge in a cheese-colored helmet.” Same thing over at CBS Sports.
- I just know we’ll be re-watching this video in a decade or so when he signs with the Lions.
- “Jahmyr Gibbs is about to emerge as the best running back in football.” NFL.com’s Gennaro Filice ranked the quarterback, running back and pass catcher (wide receiver or tight end) from each team who will have the biggest impact on the season — the Lions came in second.
- The Lions literally lined up to express their love for their dogs as they celebrated National Dog Day at practice.
- The Detroit Lions and the American Heart Association partnered to host a CPR/AED Training event at Ford Field. (Why can’t I stop thinking about that episode of “The Office”…)
- The second episode of “Milk and Cookies” dropped!