Updated on: February 6, 2026 / 12:02 AM EST / CBS LA
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford was named the 2025 NFL MVP on Thursday night, narrowly edging New England’s Drake Maye and Buffalo’s Josh Allen, last year’s winner.
Stafford received 366 points to Maye’s 361, picking up 24 first-place votes to Maye’s 23. The 37-year-old led the Rams to a 12-5 record and a spot in the NFC Championship Game, where Los Angeles lost to the Seattle Seahawks in the final seconds of regulation.
This is Stafford’s first MVP award after 17 NFL seasons, bolstering his Hall of Fame resume. With receivers Puka Nacua and Davante Adams, Stafford led the league with 4,704 passing yards and 46 passing touchdowns, posted a career-high passer rating of 109.2, and threw just eight interceptions for a second straight season. He set an NFL record by throwing 28 consecutive touchdown passes without an interception.
“My name’s going to be on this trophy but there’s so many guys, a lot of you are here today, and I appreciate the heck out of you,” Stafford said after accepting the award. “Your names should be on there, too, with me. This team is really special. It didn’t end the way we wanted it to, but you guys mean the world to me.”
Ahead of Super Bowl LX, Stafford led all postseason players in completions (66), passing touchdowns (6) and passing yards (936). He was named a First-Team All-Pro for the first time in his career and was selected to his third Pro Bowl. After the Rams’ loss on Jan. 27, Stafford said he would take “some time” to decide about his future, but at the MVP ceremony he added, “I’ll see you guys next year. Hopefully, I’m not at this event, and we’re getting ready for another game at SoFi (Stadium). I appreciate you guys. Thank you very much.”
Stafford is now tied with Peyton Manning and Rich Gannon as the third-oldest player to win NFL MVP, behind Tom Brady (40 in 2017) and Aaron Rodgers (38 in 2021). Over his 17-year career he has 423 touchdowns, 5,562 completions and 64,516 passing yards, each ranking among the top 10 all-time.
Runners-up and finalists included:
– Drake Maye (New England): The 23-year-old second-year QB finished with 4,394 passing yards, 31 passing touchdowns and a league-leading 113.5 passer rating, plus 450 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns. Maye is the lone MVP finalist to reach the Super Bowl this season.
– Josh Allen (Buffalo): Last year’s MVP helped the Bills to a 12-5 mark, throwing for 3,668 yards, 25 touchdowns and 10 interceptions while adding 579 rushing yards and 14 rushing touchdowns.
– Trevor Lawrence (Jacksonville): Lawrence steered the Jaguars from a 4-13 season a year ago to a 13-4 finish and an AFC South title, throwing for 4,007 yards and 29 touchdowns and rushing for 247 yards and nine touchdowns.
– Christian McCaffrey (San Francisco): The only non-quarterback finalist, McCaffrey compiled 2,126 all-purpose yards and 17 total touchdowns, leading an injury-hit 49ers squad back into the playoffs. He was also a finalist for Offensive Player of the Year and Comeback Player of the Year.
Rams receiver Puka Nacua was also named a finalist for Offensive Player of the Year.