Travis Kelce’s Man of the Year dreams denied again as Matt Stafford claims MVP at glittering NFL Honors

In a career defined by record-breaking stats and Super Bowl rings, Travis Kelce just missed out on the most prestigious award in the NFL again.

Under the iconic rotunda of the Palace of Fine Arts, the Kansas City Chiefs’ star tight end watched as Bobby Wagner was officially named the 2025 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year during Thursday night’s NFL Honors.

Wagner was honored primarily for his work through his FAST54 initiative and the Phenia Mae Fund, which he established in memory of his mother to support stroke education and pediatric stroke programs at Children’s National Hospital.

Whether he was privately paying off student lunch debts, volunteering at homeless shelters, or mentoring young athletes, Wagner’s ‘lead by example’ philosophy made him a standout in a field of 32 elite nominees.

While the “Man of the Year” patch is usually reserved for the league’s most selfless community leaders, a win for Kelce in the heart of San Francisco would have felt like the culmination of a decade-long love affair between a player and his adopted hometown of Kansas City.

Even without the title, Kelce’s tireless work with his 87 & Running Foundation has become a cornerstone of the Kansas City metropolitan area.

His most significant achievement to date remains the Ignition Lab at Operation Breakthrough—a 6,000-square-foot co-working space that provides underserved teens with access to STEM education, automotive training, and digital media production.

Since its inception, the lab has served over 1,000 students, many of whom have transitioned into high-paying careers directly from the programs Kelce funded.

Kelce has shown a unique ability to leverage his massive global platform for good. In addition to his local work, he was a three-time winner of the Nationwide Charity Challenge, a fan-voted contest that brought in hundreds of thousands of dollars for Operation Breakthrough.

Even in his 13th season, amid an uncharacteristically down year for the Chiefs, Kelce still delivered on the field.

The 36-year-old veteran officially claimed the title of all-time touchdown leader in Kansas City Chiefs history by hauling in his 84th career regular-season score in Week 11 against the Broncos.

Overall, he recorded 76 receptions for 851 yards and 5 touchdowns.

Getty

Getty

In the season finale against the Raiders, he became only the third tight end in league history to surpass 13,000 career receiving yards, joining Tony Gonzalez and Jason Witten. He also extended his own record by securing his 10th consecutive season with at least 75 catches.

While the red carpet at the Palace of Fine Arts was buzzing with anticipation for Kelce, the night ended without the star hoisting the league’s ultimate humanitarian trophy.

The loss, however, is purely a matter of hardware.

Even without the trophy, Kelce’s 2025 off-season remains historic as the first three-time winner of the Charity Challenge.

Powered by a relentless Chiefs Kingdom vote, Kelce secured an additional $35,000 donation for the Ignition Lab, proving that his influence is measured more in fan devotion and direct community funding than in award show ballots.

If Kelce decides to return next season, he will continue to play for a community that already views him as its champion. The missing patch on his jersey is a small detail compared to the permanent mark he has left on the hearts of the city he serves.

As for the rest of the awards, Matthew Stafford claimed his first ever MVP for a stellar season with the Los Angeles Rams.

Amid emotional scenes, that included his daughters up on stage with him, Stafford confirmed he will be playing on for another year.

And just a couple of days out from Super Bowl 60, there were winners from both the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks.

Mike Vrabel claimed the Coach of the Year award following his first year as head coach in Foxboro, and Seattle’s brilliant playmaker Jaxson Smith-Njiba was named Offensive Player of the Year

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