Matthew Stafford was named the NFL’s Most Valuable Player on Thursday night in a razor-thin vote that came down to a five-point margin. The Los Angeles Rams quarterback received 24 of 50 first-place votes and finished with 366 points, edging New England rookie Drake Maye, who tallied 23 first-place votes and 361 points. At 37 and in his 17th season, Stafford also used his acceptance speech to confirm he will return for another season after considering retirement. The announcement capped a campaign in which Stafford led the league in passing yards and posted career highs while guiding the Rams to a 12-5 regular-season mark and a fifth seed in the NFC.
Key Takeaways
- Stafford won the MVP with 24 first-place votes and 366 total points; Drake Maye finished five points behind with 23 first-place votes and 361 points.
- This was the tightest MVP ballot since the 2003 tie between Peyton Manning and Steve McNair, decided by a nationwide 50-member media panel.
- Stafford, 37, led the NFL with 4,707 passing yards and set a career high with 46 touchdown passes against eight interceptions.
- He became an AP first-team All-Pro for the first time in his career and is the fourth Rams player to earn MVP recognition.
- Josh Allen received two first-place votes and finished third; Justin Herbert received one first-place vote. Christian McCaffrey and Trevor Lawrence rounded out the top five in voting.
- The Rams finished 12-5, secured the NFC’s fifth seed, and fell to the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship Game.
- Stafford announced on stage that he will play next season, ending months of retirement speculation.
Background
The MVP voting was conducted by a panel of 50 media members who submit their ballots before the playoffs, with first-place votes worth 10 points and descending values for lower places. Over the final two months of the regular season, betting odds and media narratives swung repeatedly between Stafford and Maye as both quarterbacks posted compelling campaigns.
Stafford’s 17th NFL season marked a late-career statistical resurgence: he paced the league in passing yards and posted a career-high 46 touchdown passes while intercepting just eight. Maye, in his sophomore year, led the NFL in passer rating (113.5), completion percentage (72.0) and yards per attempt (8.9), and finished the regular season with 4,394 passing yards, 31 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
The Rams’ playoff seeding and postseason run — culminating in a loss in the NFC title game — put Stafford’s future under close scrutiny. With Los Angeles slated to host the Super Bowl at SoFi Stadium in 2027, Stafford’s decision to return carries both on-field and franchise ramifications.
Main Event
The MVP announcement came at the NFL Honors show, where Stafford accepted the award with his family at his side. He brought his four daughters — noted by onstage observers in matching black-and-white dresses — and directed much of his gratitude toward them, teammates and the organization during his remarks.
Stafford told the audience he had weighed retirement during the offseason but confirmed onstage that he plans to play an 18th season. His candid acceptance included a personal line to his family: he called them “unbelievable cheerleaders” and said he looks forward to having them at games next year.
Voting results reflected a split panel: Stafford captured 24 first-place votes, Maye 23, with Josh Allen and Justin Herbert taking the remaining first-place ballots. The point totals — 366 to 361 — made this the narrowest margin since the 2003 co-MVP outcome.
Statistically, Stafford led the NFL in passing yards (4,707) and posted a career-best 46 passing touchdowns with only eight interceptions, numbers that helped him secure his first AP first-team All-Pro selection. The Rams’ 12-5 record and fifth-seed playoff berth were central to debate over team context versus individual achievement.
Analysis & Implications
Stafford’s win highlights a late-career peak that runs counter to the common narrative of decline for aging quarterbacks. Posting league-leading yards and a career-high in touchdowns at 37 underlines his durability and the Rams’ offensive construction. The award also spotlights how voter preferences weigh individual production even when a player’s team is not a top-two seed.
For the Rams, Stafford’s commitment to return reduces immediate offseason uncertainty for coaching and roster planning. It preserves continuity at the most consequential position and shapes the franchise’s short-term window for contention — particularly with SoFi Stadium on track to host the 2027 Super Bowl.
Maye’s near-miss reinforces the rapid trajectory of the young Patriots quarterback; his league-leading efficiency metrics and a 14-3 record show an elite profile early in his career. The tight vote could heighten expectations for Maye entering next season and intensify scrutiny of his performance in high-stakes postseason stages.
On a league-wide level, the vote underscores the competitive parity among top quarterbacks and the subjectivity of MVP criteria. The narrow margin may prompt future discussion about voting timing (pre-playoffs) and whether postseason outcomes should factor into season awards.
Comparison & Data
| Player | 1st-place votes | Points | Key regular-season stat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matthew Stafford | 24 | 366 | 4,707 passing yards, 46 TDs |
| Drake Maye | 23 | 361 | 4,394 passing yards, 31 TDs |
| Josh Allen | 2 | (3rd place) | 2024 MVP; finished 3rd in voting |
| Justin Herbert | 1 | (top-five) | Top QB for Chargers |
The table above summarizes first-place votes and point totals for the top contenders. Voting used a 10-5-3-2-1 point scale for first through fifth place and was completed prior to the playoffs by a 50-member national media panel. Comparing Stafford and Maye, the two quarterbacks traded momentum throughout the season, with Stafford overtaking Maye after Week 18 and securing the narrow lead in final tabulation.
Reactions & Quotes
“You’re unbelievable cheerleaders for me. I appreciate it. I am so happy to have you at the games on the sideline with me, and I can’t wait for you to cheer me on next year when we’re out there kicking ass.”
Matthew Stafford
“It was the closest race since Peyton Manning and Steve McNair were co-winners in 2003.”
Associated Press (news wire)
Stafford’s onstage remarks functioned as both gratitude and a public confirmation of his return, drawing immediate attention across social and traditional media. The historical comparison to the 2003 tie came from reporting that aggregated the voting results and contextualized how unusually tight this year’s outcome was.
Unconfirmed
- Any internal Rams discussions that influenced Stafford’s decision to return have not been publicly disclosed and remain unverified.
- The long-term contract or roster moves contingent on Stafford’s return have not been confirmed by the team at the time of this report.
Bottom Line
Matthew Stafford’s MVP captures a late-career statistical peak and resolves months of speculation about his future with a public commitment to play again. The five-point margin underscores how subjective MVP voting can be — especially when the leading candidates offer contrasting narratives of veteran resurgence and youthful breakout.
For the Rams, Stafford’s return stabilizes the franchise’s immediate outlook and keeps their championship window intact; for Drake Maye and the Patriots, the near miss elevates expectations heading into next season. League observers should expect renewed debate about award timing and criteria if similarly tight races recur.
Sources
- ESPN (news media report)
- The Associated Press (news wire)