This NFL season’s MVP race between Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford and New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye has officially come to an end. Stafford, 37, remained the top MVP contender all season despite the Rams’ loss in the NFC Championship Game. At the same time, second-year quarterback Maye elevated his play, guided the Patriots to the Super Bowl, and firmly placed himself in the MVP conversation. When the final votes came in, however, the veteran QB edged out the rising star.

On February 5, Matthew Stafford claimed the MVP award at the NFL Honors ceremony in San Francisco, California. Between the end of the 2025 regular season and the start of the postseason, the Associated Press conducted MVP voting. According to journalist Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team, Drake Maye missed out on the award by just one vote as Stafford earned 24 of the 50 first-place votes, while Maye secured 23.

The Rams’ QB secured the honor after becoming the first quarterback since former Patriots star Tom Brady in 2007 to lead the NFL in passing touchdowns, passing yards, and touchdown-to-interception ratio in the same season. Brady recorded 4,806 yards, 50 touchdowns and 8 interceptions in 2007. Meanwhile, during his 2025 campaign, Stafford threw for 4,707 passing yards, 46 touchdowns, and eight interceptions, guiding his team to a 12–5 record.

But the 37-year-old did not slow down in the postseason either. Stafford finished the season with 52 touchdowns when including his tally in the playoff games. Still, it wasn’t Stafford’s stats that drew the loudest applause on the night that he accepted the MVP trophy; it was rather his award acceptance speech.

“You’re unbelievable cheerleaders for me,” Matthew Stafford said while looking at his four daughters, who joined him on stage. “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 a–. I’ll see you guys next year. Hopefully, we’re not at this event and getting ready for another game at SoFi.”

Throughout his big moment, Matthew Stafford made it clear that family remains his foundation. But Stafford’s words also provided a subtle confirmation that he plans to return and play in the 2026 NFL season, ending months of speculation about his possible retirement. And Stafford surely has a reason to come back a play his 18th NFL season. After spending more than a decade with the Detroit Lions and struggling to find postseason success, Stafford revitalized his career and legacy with the Rams.

Now, Stafford became only the 15th player in NFL history to hold both an MVP win and a Super Bowl ring as a starting quarterback. He also set a new record as the oldest quarterback to win his first MVP trophy. But, the razor-thin voting margin by which Stafford won highlighted just how exceptional both he and Drake Maye were in the 2025 season 2025. Still, after the result of the MVP race was announced, it sparked backlash from Patriots fans on social media. 

Patriots fans rally over Matthew Stafford beating Drake Maye in the MVP race

During the 2025 season, Drake Maye threw for 4,394 yards, 31 TDs, and eight INTs in the regular season. He further elevated his game in the postseason, adding 553 passing yards, 4 TDs, and two INTs. On the ground, Maye also rushed for 450 yards and 4 TDs in the regular season and followed it up with 141 yards and 1 TD in the playoffs. Given that production, when Maye failed to win the MVP award, Patriots fans flooded social media, voicing frustration and calling the decision a snub for their QB.

“Drake Maye robbed,” one fan commented.

“Highway robbery. Can’t wait to shove it down everyone’s throat when he wins the MVP that matters,” another fan wrote.

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While Matthew Stafford led in several counting stats, the context mattered. Stafford topped the league with 276.9 passing yards per game and finished with more yards and touchdowns than Maye, but he also attempted more than 100 additional passes than the Patriots’ QB. Maye, meanwhile, edged Stafford with a 109.2 passer rating. It was because of Maye’s efficiency and impact, many fans felt the MVP trophy should have gone his way.

“Picked the wrong guy,” one fan noted.

“Maye was better,” another suggested.

Maye also had a dramatic turnaround this season. After going 3–10 as a starter in 2024, he led New England to a 14-3 record in 2025. Stafford, on the other hand, just completed his 17th NFL season and had never won MVP before, fueling speculation that some people leaned toward a career-achievement narrative when voting for him.

“Elderly Man on super team pity award,” one fan commented.

“Pity MVP,” another added.

Strength of schedule became another major point when it came down to Stafford and Maye in the MVP conversation. In 2025, the Patriots faced one of their easiest schedules in the NFL since the 1999 Rams, while Stafford’s team navigated a tougher road to the playoffs through a solid NFC West division. But Stafford also benefited from elite targets like wide receivers Davante Adams and Puka Nacua. At the same time, Maye worked with fewer proven weapons on his offense and lower expectations since the start of the season. 

Ultimately, Matthew Stafford’s season has ended, but Drake Maye still has a chance to deliver the ultimate answer on the field. If he goes all out against the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX on February 8, Maye could become the player that matters the most for his team.