LOS ANGELES — The debate is over. The Gold Jacket is getting fitted. On a night dedicated to the NFL’s elite, 37-year-old Matthew Stafford finally grabbed the one piece of hardware that has eluded him for 17 seasons.
Stafford was named the 2025 NFL Most Valuable Player Thursday night, edging out New England Patriots sensation Drake Maye in a razor-thin vote (24-23) that mirrored the drama of the postseason. While Stafford won’t be suiting up for Super Bowl LX this Sunday, he walks away with a consolation prize that historically guarantees football immortality: he is now the 15th quarterback in history to pair a Super Bowl ring with an MVP trophy.
In a league obsessed with the “next big thing,” Stafford reminded everyone that the old guard isn’t done yet. He didn’t just manage games; he torched defenses.
Stafford became the oldest player to lead the league in touchdown passes for the first time, throwing for a staggering 46 touchdowns against just 8 interceptions. His 4,707 passing yards led the NFL, making him the first QB since Tom Brady in 2007 to capture the triple crown of passing yards, touchdowns, and TD-INT ratio. Not bad for a guy critics wrote off as a “compiler” five years ago.
“It was such an amazing season… I play with such a great group of guys. 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.” — Matthew Stafford, addressing his family and the Rams faithful
Let’s look at the cold, hard facts. Before last night, Stafford was often lumped into the “Hall of Very Good” with contemporaries like Matt Ryan and Philip Rivers. That argument is now dead.
With this MVP win, Stafford separates himself from the pack. He joins a list of 14 other quarterbacks with both a ring and an MVP. Ten are already in Canton. The others? Brady, Rodgers, and Mahomes. The only outlier is Joe Theismann, whose career was tragically cut short. Stafford isn’t just knocking on the door of the Hall of Fame; he just kicked it down.
Compare him to the other 2000s “bubble” QBs, and the difference is stark. While Rivers and Ryan posted gaudy numbers, neither combined that volume with the ultimate individual and team success Stafford now boasts.
While Stafford celebrates, the man he edged out—Drake Maye—has bigger fish to fry. Maye led the Patriots to a stunning turnaround and will face the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX this Sunday. For the Rams, the window remains wide open. Stafford confirmed he’s returning for the 2026 season, and with Puka Nacua and Kyren Williams entering their primes, the “Rams House” will be rocking again next fall.
