Seahawks slam Druski for 'lame' butchering of Jaxon Smith-Njigba's name at NFL Honors
The Seattle Seahawks took issue with comedian Drew Desbordes, known as Druski, for his mispronunciation of Jaxon Smith-Njigba's surname during the NFL Honors ceremony. Druski, who co-presented the Offensive Player of the Year award with Barry Sanders, attempted to mispronounce Smith-Njigba's name for comedic effect, which was met with criticism.
On February 6, 2026, Druski's attempt to turn Jaxon Smith-Njigba's last name into a punchline went viral. The comedian, who is a sports fan and aspired to be a sportscaster, seemingly knew how to pronounce Smith-Njigba's name but chose to mispronounce it for comedic effect. This move was seen as a 'lame' attempt at humor by the Seahawks and others.
Despite the controversy, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who did not attend the ceremony, won the Offensive Player of the Year award. The Seahawks' star player will now focus on the upcoming Super Bowl against the New England Patriots, whose head coach, Mike Verbal, was named Coach of the Year. The ceremony's other notable moments included a 'wrong cue on the teleprompter' gag and a recorded award speech by Smith-Njigba.
The Seahawks' PR team and Uchenna Nwosu criticized Druski's mispronunciation, sparking a debate about the appropriateness of comedic mispronunciations in professional settings. The incident highlights the fine line between humor and insensitivity, leaving viewers to ponder the boundaries of comedic expression.
