Part one of the NFL Honors program is now live in Madden 26 Ultimate Team, bringing a wealth of new content including upgradeable players, a unique coach item, and a path to a free 94 overall customizable card. Whether you're grinding for rewards or looking to buy Madden nfl 26 coins to enhance your roster quickly, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know about the program, from obtaining your free player to maximizing the value of your rewards.

Getting Started: The Welcome Pack

When you first log in during the NFL Honors program, you'll receive a Welcome Pack containing several 86 overall players who received NFL honors recognition. These include Matthew Stafford as the MVP candidate, Myles Garrett, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Christian McCaffrey, Bobby Wagner, and several others.

It's important to note that CMC and Bobby Wagner are expected to receive champion-level cards and LTDs in part two of the release, so you may want to hold onto your resources if you're specifically targeting these players.

The Free 94 Overall Upgrade Path

How It Works

The Welcome Pack gives you a choice between two upgrade paths. You can upgrade any of the 86 overall players to a 94 overall for free, or you can upgrade the Mike Vrabel coach item instead. Both paths require Trophy Tokens, which are earned exclusively through solo challenges.

Current Token Availability

Right now, you can earn up to 4 Trophy Tokens from the available solo challenges. Based on the maximum requirement of 27 stars, the remaining 3 tokens will be released next week when part two arrives. This means you can't fully max out any player until next week, but you can definitely get a head start by earning your first four tokens now.

The Flexibility Factor

One of the best features of this program is that you can change your mind later without penalty. If you upgrade a player now and decide you want a different one down the road, you can simply downgrade your originally upgraded player, receive all your tokens back, and apply them to a different player or the coach item. This means no wasted resources, so feel free to experiment.

Option 1: Upgrading Players from 86 to 94 Overall

Player Examples and Attributes

Looking at Jaxon Smith-Njigba as an example, once fully upgraded with all seven tokens, his 94 overall card features 94 speed, an auto-activated X-Factor that doesn't cost any ability points, and unique ability discounts that make him more affordable to customize.

The X-Factor Advantage

All upgraded cards come with an auto-on X-Factor that starts activated automatically, takes up one of your three X-Factor slots, and costs zero AP to equip. This adds significant value to these cards since you're essentially getting a free X-Factor ability without sacrificing your precious ability points.

Best Player Abilities

Tetairoa McMillan gets Double Me as a 6'4" receiver with 94 speed, making him excellent for jump ball situations. JSN features Route Tech for 2 AP, Short In Elite for 0 AP, and Grab and Go. Myles Garrett comes with powerful pass-rushing abilities that can disrupt any offense.

Team Chemistry Limitations

Most upgraded players only receive their primary team chemistry. JSN gets only Seahawks chemistry, and Myles Garrett gets only Browns chemistry. However, there is one major exception. Matthew Stafford's upgradeable card, champion card, and LTD all receive Lions chemistry, Rams chemistry with a double boost, and all NFC North division teams. This makes Stafford uniquely valuable for theme team builders, especially fans of the 49ers, Cardinals, and even the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks.

Option 2: Upgrading Coach Mike Vrabel

Why This Might Be the Better Choice

The Mike Vrabel coach item is arguably the most valuable free reward in this program for several compelling reasons.

Team Chemistry Flexibility

Vrabel gets all 32 team chems available, meaning you can assign any team to the card. This counts toward your 20 or 50 theme team requirements for the coveted speed boost and helps you complete theme teams much more efficiently than traditional methods.

Unique Boosts

When you upgrade Vrabel, you get two different plus one boost buckets that apply to every player on your entire team, not just theme team members. You select one attribute bucket such as Finesse Move, then select a second attribute bucket like Awareness. If you assign Eagles chemistry to Vrabel and choose Finesse Move plus Awareness, every Eagles player in your lineup gets plus one to both attributes. This team-wide boost is incredibly powerful.

Token Efficiency

Vrabel only requires three tokens to fully upgrade, meaning you can max him out immediately rather than waiting for part two of the program. This immediate gratification combined with the team-wide boosts makes him an extremely attractive option.

Champion Cards at 93 Overall

Availability

All NFL Honors players also have 93 overall Hero level items available. These feature auto-on X-Factors just like the upgradeable versions, with slightly different attribute distributions and more accessible pricing than the LTDs.

How to Obtain Champion Cards

You have three ways to acquire champion cards. You can purchase them directly from the auction house, where they're generally reasonably priced compared to LTDs. You can complete the champion set, which requires three 93 overall Honors players plus two additional 93 to 94 overall players from any program. Trading all five into the set gives you a fantasy pack allowing you to choose Stafford, Myles Garrett, or JSN. When CMC and Bobby Wagner release in part two, they'll be added to this set as well. Alternatively, you can simply open packs and hope for lucky pulls.

LTD Cards at 96 and 97 Overall

Release Structure

The program features both 96 overall cards as standard high-end releases and 97 overall LTDs as limited-time, high-price variants that will be much more expensive but also more exclusive.

Stafford's Special Treatment

The MVP candidate Matthew Stafford receives exclusive chemistry treatment on his LTD and champion cards with all six team chem options available. This makes him significantly more valuable for theme team builders than other players in the program.

Ability Discounts

All LTDs feature tier one ability buckets that actually contain X-Factor options. They come with Unstoppable X-Factors that stay activated for the entire game once triggered. For example, Stafford's Gambit activates after five consecutive passes of five or more yards and never turns off for the remainder of the game. These cards also feature Season 6 zero AP buckets on most abilities and multiple discount tiers throughout their ability trees.

Conclusion

The NFL Honors program part one offers substantial free value through upgradeable players and the unique Mike Vrabel coach item. With flexible token usage, auto-on X-Factors that don't cost AP, and the ability to change your mind later without penalty, there's little risk in diving in now.

Whether you choose a 94 overall player with a free X-Factor or the team-boosting Vrabel coach, you're getting significant roster improvements at zero cost. If you're looking to further strengthen your lineup beyond the free rewards, you can always cheap Madden nfl 26 coins from trusted sellers to acquire additional players and upgrades. For the best rates and reliable service, we recommend MMOEXP to support your Ultimate Team journey. Complete your solos, earn your tokens, and decide which path best supports your Ultimate Team strategy.