Matthew Stafford has captured his first NFL Most Valuable Player award in his 17th season, adding the honor to his resume that already includes a Super Bowl title with the Los Angeles Rams. The former Detroit Lions quarterback now joins the record books as the oldest first-time MVP in league history and the third-oldest overall to earn the accolade.
The 37-year-old also used his acceptance speech to quietly settle any offseason speculation about his future, closing with a simple, “See you guys next year.”
The MVP race was extremely close, coming down to a two-quarterback showdown. Stafford narrowly edged New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye in the closest vote since 2003, when Peyton Manning and Steve McNair battled. Stafford earned 24 of the 50 first-place votes to Maye’s 23 and finished with 366 points to Maye’s 361, according to the Associated Press.
This past season, Stafford had a career year with the Rams, throwing a league-high 46 touchdowns while limiting himself to just eight interceptions. He also led the league with 4,707 passing yards. Stafford’s stellar season earned him his third Pro Bowl selection, his first First-Team All-Pro nod, and now, the ultimate individual recognition with the MVP.
He finished the season with 12 more touchdown passes than anyone else, with former Lions teammate Jared Goff ranking second at 34. Notably, Stafford and the Lions faced off in December, with the Rams edging Detroit 41–34 as Stafford threw for 368 yards and two touchdowns.
Stafford spent the first 12 years of his NFL career in Detroit, where he was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 draft. He helped transform a struggling franchise, leading the team to the playoffs three times after a 0–16 start, but never captured a division title or playoff victory. Despite that, Stafford remains the Lions’ all-time leader in passing yards, touchdowns, fourth-quarter comebacks, and game-winning drives.
The Rams, meanwhile, fell just short of a Super Bowl return, losing to the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship after defeating the Carolina Panthers and Chicago Bears in the first two playoff rounds. Stafford will return for another season in Los Angeles, aiming to build on what has been his best year in the league.
Detroit, meanwhile, came away empty-handed at Thursday’s NFL Honors. Aidan Hutchinson finished fifth in Defensive Player of the Year voting and second in Comeback Player of the Year, Penei Sewell did not win the inaugural Protector of the Year award, and DJ Reader was not named Walter Payton Man of the Year.
