Some of the Windy City Gridiron staff made their picks for several 2026 individual season awards, and we capped the predictions off by picking Super Bowl LXI. We’ll run through all our picks in the coming days, and next up is Offensive Player of the Year.
MVP
Offensive Player of the Year
Defensive Player of the Year
Offensive Rookie of the Year
Defensive Rookie of the Year
Coach of the Year
Protector of the Year
Super Bowl LXI
Bryan Orenchuk: I’m going with Jahmyr Gibbs. Detroit Lions head coach Dan
Campbell has made it clear Detroit’s offense will go through Gibbs. With David Montgomery off to Houston and Detroit’s backup RB in flux, I’m expecting a record-breaking year for the dynamic back.
Josh Sunderbruch: Minnesota Vikings wideout Justin Jefferson is a menace without an actual quarterback to throw to him, and now he’s got a former #1 overall pick who will be looking for a safety valve.
Sam Householder: Bijan Robinson is an absolute stud. The Atlanta Falcons are going to rely on him heavily, and while the team may not be outstanding, he’ll be good enough to get the non-QB award.
Donald Gooch: Yes, Josh Allen will notch him for MVP, but I expect Caleb to destroy the 4K mark this season while he posts a 4-1 TD-to-interception ratio and maintains his elusiveness in the pocket.
TJ Starman: Jahmyr Gibbs is my choice for OPOY. With David Montgomery moving on from Detroit, the Lions’ backfield belongs to Gibbs, and he’ll step up into a larger role than he had last season (which was already huge).
Mongo Peanut: Justin Jefferson. Another guy that I think has been forgotten about. All he did was have another 1k receiving season in a down year with one of the worst QBs in history. I’m all in on JJettas to prove he is the best WR in the sport.
Gary Baugher Jr.: Jahmyr Gibbs is primed to be the focal point in Detroit with David Montgomery in Houston now. Gibbs had a comparable offensive season to Bijan Robinson, who finished 4th in OPOTY voting in 2025 but received no votes himself; that changes this year.
Erik Duerrwaechter: A.J. Brown. I still question how much improvement we will see from the Patriots heading into year two for their new regime. The one indisputable fact is they have a legit star in A.J. Brown. And he’s primed to feast as Drake Maye’s top target.
Lester A. Wiltfong Jr.: Jahmyr Gibbs is such a dynamic player, and if his usage increases as expected, he should win Detroit’s first OPOTY award since 1997.
Jeff Berckes: I think the Bengals offense could be primed for a monster season, and JaMarr Chase has a shot to do some insane things with a healthy Joe Burrow. Big-time player on a team looking to do some damage; I think he’ll put up his best season to date (and I have no shares in fantasy…).
Superfans: Can Caleb Williams pull the daily double and win MVP and Offensive Player of the Year? The last time it happened in the NFL was 2018, when Pat Mahomes went over five thousand passing yards and threw for 50 touchdowns. So with a bar that low, there’s no doubt the Iceman shall take all the hardware.
Who is your pick for 2026 Offensive Player of the Year?
