​In 2025, the NFL began outfitting last year’s award-winning players with gold shields on their jerseys, and this year a pair of Rams will join the tradition. The gold shields honor the reigning NFL MVP, the offensive player of the year, the defensive player of the year, the offensive rookie of the year, and the defensive rookie of the year. This year’s award recipients are Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (MVP), Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (OPOY), then-Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (DPOY), Panthers wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan (OROY), and Browns linebacker Carson Schwesinger (DROY). With Garrett having been traded to the Rams, Los Angeles will feature both Stafford and Garrett with gold shields on their jerseys. (If Garrett hadn’t been traded, the five shield-wearers would have included two defensive players from the 5-12 Browns.) The gold shields are small and subtle, making them easy to miss, a detail that drew attention when the Seahawks shared an image of Smith-Njigba in his new jersey. And no, Smith-Njigba’s gold shield does not contain a typo.