NEW YORK — Oct. 7, 2026 — New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Foyesade Oluokun and Kansas City Chiefs punter Matt Araiza are the AFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for games played in Week 4 (October 1, 4-5).
OFFENSE: QB DRAKE MAYE, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
- Maye passed for 269 yards and three touchdowns, including the game-winning touchdown pass with 1:50 remaining, and rushed for 54 yards in New England’s 29-26 win at Buffalo. In Week 4, his 54 rushing yards were the most among AFC quarterbacks and he was the only AFC quarterback to record three touchdown passes in a win.
- This is Maye’s second career Offensive Player of the Week Award (Week 13, 2025). He becomes the fifth Patriots quarterback to earn the honor multiple times, joining Tom Brady (30-time winner), Drew Bledsoe (six), Matt Cassel (two) and Tony Eason (two).
- Maye becomes the third former North Carolina player to win Offensive Player of the Week twice, joining Alge Crumpler and Willie Parker.
DEFENSE: LB FOYESADE OLUOKUN, JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
- Oluokun recorded seven tackles, an interception and a forced fumble in Jacksonville’s 22-17 win at Cincinnati. He is one of two players this season to record at least seven tackles, an interception and a forced fumble in a single game.
- This is Oluokun’s fourth Defensive Player of the Week award and second with Jacksonville. He becomes the fifth Jaguar to earn the honor multiple times, joining Josh Hines-Allen (three-time winner), Telvin Smith (three), Calais Campbell (two) and Rashean Mathis (two).
- 2020: Week 9 (Falcons)
- 2021: Week 16 (Falcons)
- 2025: Week 1 (Jaguars)
- 2026: Week 4 (Jaguars)
- Oluokun joins Ryan Fitzpatrick (eight-time winner, Harvard) as the only former Ivy League players to win a Player of the Week award four-or-more times.
SPECIAL TEAMS: P MATT ARAIZA, KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
- Araiza punted five times for 238 yards (47.6 yards per punt) and landed all five of his punts inside the 20-yard line in Kansas City’s 30-27 win at Las Vegas. Araiza’s five punts inside the 20-yard line are the most in a single game this season. Holding a three-point lead with under 90 seconds to play, Araiza pinned the Raiders at their own one-yard line, helping Kansas City improve to 4-0 on the season. He also rushed for 12 yards on a successful fake punt in the first quarter.
- This is Araiza’s first career Player of the Week award. He becomes the fourth Chiefs punter to earn the honor and the first since Tommy Townsend (Week 15, 2022).
- Araiza becomes the second former San Diego State punter to win a Special Teams Player of the Week award, joining Mike Saxon (Week 6, 1993).
