After 17 seasons in the NFL, Matthew Stafford has officially claimed his first AP NFL MVP award, edging out Drake Maye by a single first-place vote in one of the closest races in recent memory.

Stafford, whose career has spanned both the Detroit Lions and the Los Angeles Rams, now adds the long-sought MVP trophy to his collection. The 2025 award came down to a razor-thin margin between Stafford and Maye, with the Associated Press reporting that Stafford secured 24 first-place votes to Maye’s 23, giving him a final point total of 366 to Maye’s 361. The rest of the top contenders included Josh Allen with 91 points, Christian McCaffrey with 71, and Trevor Lawrence with 49, while Justin Herbert claimed the remaining first-place vote.

A standout quarterback from the University of Georgia in 2009, Stafford has endured a long journey to reach this milestone. During his time with Detroit, he started every game he played, led the league in passing attempts twice, and completions once, yet was only named to a single Pro Bowl. Those years without significant postseason or divisional success contributed to his decision to leave the Lions in pursuit of a Super Bowl opportunity in Los Angeles.

Despite the limited recognition in terms of Pro Bowl and All-Pro selections early in his career, Stafford’s consistent performance and the respect he earned from fans and fellow players over nearly two decades cemented his reputation as one of the league’s most accomplished and admired veteran quarterbacks. That long-standing respect undoubtedly played a role in securing his narrow victory for the 2025 MVP.