The NFL has named Chicago Bears running back D’Andre Swift, Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Zack Baun and Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Simi Fehoko as the NFC Players of the Week following their performances during Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season.
Swift earned NFC Offensive Player of the Week, Baun was selected as NFC Defensive Player of the Week, and Fehoko took home NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors.
D’Andre Swift Powers Bears’ Record-Setting Offense
Swift opened the season with a huge performance in Chicago’s 59-37 victory over the Carolina Panthers, rushing for 124 yards and a career-high three touchdowns.
His performance helped fuel a Bears rushing attack that scored six touchdowns on the ground. That tied the 1920 Detroit Heralds, 1920 Rock Island Independents and 1922 Canton Bulldogs for the most rushing touchdowns in a season-opening game in NFL history.
The honor is the second Offensive Player of the Week award of Swift’s career. He previously earned the award in Week 2 of the 2023 season while playing for the Philadelphia Eagles.
Swift joins Hall of Famer Walter Payton, Neal Anderson, Jordan Howard, Matt Forte and Anthony Thomas as Bears running backs to earn the weekly honor.
The former Georgia standout also became the sixth Bulldogs running back to win multiple Offensive Player of the Week awards, joining Terrell Davis, Todd Gurley, James Cook, Garrison Hearst and Herschel Walker.
Zack Baun Leads Eagles Defense
Philadelphia linebacker Zack Baun was a major factor in the Eagles’ 24-22 victory over the Washington Commanders.
Baun finished with 12 tackles, two passes defensed and one tackle for loss.
According to Next Gen Stats, Baun was targeted six times in coverage and allowed only three receptions for minus-2 yards. He became one of only two defenders since the start of last season, along with Denzel Ward, to allow negative receiving yards when targeted at least five times in a game.
It marks the second Defensive Player of the Week honor of Baun’s career, following his Week 10 award in 2024.
Baun also became the third Eagles linebacker to win the award multiple times, joining Seth Joyner and William Thomas.
The former Wisconsin linebacker joins T.J. Watt, J.J. Watt and Nate Odomes as former Badgers who have earned multiple Defensive Player of the Week honors.
Simi Fehoko Delivers Game-Changing Special Teams Play
Arizona wide receiver Simi Fehoko earned the first Player of the Week award of his career after making a pivotal special teams play in the Cardinals’ 26-14 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers.
With 12:28 remaining in the fourth quarter, Fehoko blocked a punt that gave Arizona possession at the Chargers’ three-yard line.
The Cardinals turned the play into a touchdown, extending their lead to 23-14 on their way to the Week 1 victory.
Fehoko became the first Cardinals player other than a kicker or punter to earn Special Teams Player of the Week honors since David Johnson in Week 2 of the 2015 season.
The former Stanford player is also the first non-kicker or punter from the school to win the award since Doug Baldwin in Week 14 of 2011.
Swift, Baun and Fehoko now enter Week 2 with individual recognition after helping their respective teams make an impact during the opening weekend of the 2026 NFL season.
Source: NFL\
Photo: Wikipedia Commons
