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
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Bryan Orenchuk: I’m going with Myles Garrett in a repeat. It’s truly unfair what the Los Angeles Rams have done this offseason when it comes to adding elite talent at every level. With an underrated back 7, the addition of Trent McDuffie, and the return of Aaron Donald, I expect Garrett to once again reach 20 sacks and solidify himself as arguably THE best pass rusher. Ever ever.
Josh Sunderbruch: Motivated and ready to prove the Baltimore Ravens wrong, I can see the Las Vegas Raiders’ Maxx Crosby putting together a campaign that appeals to sympathetic voters.
Sam Householder: Hard to go against Myles Garrett. Dude is in his prime, is going to be on an incredibly talented team, and is going to get sacks.
Donald Gooch: The best defender in football is finally on a quality team, and he’ll have Aaron Donald on the line with him this season. While I think regression will keep him from beating his NFL sack record, he will easily post enough sack and pressure tallies to earn him the award.
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TJ Starman: The Houston Texans’ Will Anderson Jr. is my choice. The Houston defense as a whole has remained strong in recent years, and Anderson has continued to develop into an elite edge defender that can take over any game.
Mongo Peanut: Denver Broncos, CB, Patrick Surtain. I think he’s going to be the best player on the best defense in the league. I’m expecting a massive season from him – thinking vintage Revis.
Gary Baugher Jr.: Myles Garrett seems to be the obvious choice to me now that he also has Aaron Donald on the same DL as him; he may very well break his own sack record this season.
Erik Duerrwaechter: Myles Garrett. Setting the single-season record for most sacks in a season two years in a row might not be the greatest achievement Myles Garrett is capable of reaching this year in Los Angeles.
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Jeff Berckes: The Texans defense might be the scariest thing going this year, and Will Anderson Jr. is in a great position to put up some silly sack numbers. If the Texans can get just a little help from their offense, they could run away with their division and set up Anderson to take home some hardware.
Lester A. Wiltfong Jr.: Imagine how many more pass-rushing chances Myles Garrett will have now that he’s on a team with a good offense. Will Anderson Jr. will push him all season, but I see another 20-sack season coming for Garrett.
Superfans: Jaylon Johnson is healthy, and he’ll be back to his All-Pro way of life. The Bears lost Kevin Byard, who had 7 interceptions, and Nahshon Wright, who had 5 picks, in free agency, so JJ will make up for that takeaway loss himself with 12 interceptions. Now say it with us: Da Bears.
Who is your pick for 2026 Defensive Player of the Year?
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