NEW YORK — The debate is officially set. The NFL dropped the mic Thursday morning, unveiling the five finalists for the 2025 Associated Press NFL Most Valuable Player award. The list features a collision of eras: the veteran resurgence of Matthew Stafford, the sophomore explosion of Drake Maye, and the perennial dominance of Josh Allen, Christian McCaffrey, and Trevor Lawrence.
The winner will be crowned at the NFL Honors ceremony on February 5 in New Orleans, but the narrative battle starts now. Here is the breakdown of the five names etched on the ballot.
Matthew Stafford (Los Angeles Rams)
If this is the swan song, what a high note. The 37-year-old gunslinger turned back the clock, leading the league with a staggering 4,707 passing yards and 46 touchdowns. Stafford didn’t just manage games; he dictated them. His connection with Puka Nacua and the Rams’ receiving corps shredded defenses, earning him First-Team All-Pro honors and the PFWA MVP nod earlier this week—a strong predictor for the AP hardware.
Drake Maye (New England Patriots)
The “Drake ‘Drake Maye’ Maye” meme isn’t just internet lore anymore; it’s MVP rhetoric. In just his second season, the Patriots’ signal-caller led the NFL with a 113.5 passer rating and a 72.0% completion rate. Maye threw 31 touchdowns against just eight interceptions, guiding New England to an AFC East title and an upcoming AFC Championship berth. He is the efficiency king of this group, playing with a poise decades beyond his years.
Josh Allen (Buffalo Bills)
Death, taxes, and Josh Allen in the MVP conversation. The Bills quarterback redefined the dual-threat role this season, rushing for 14 touchdowns (an NFL record for QBs) and throwing for 25 more. While the Bills bowed out in the Divisional Round, Allen’s ability to carry an offense entirely on his back remains unmatched.
Christian McCaffrey (San Francisco 49ers)
CMC is making history simply by being here. He is the first player ever named a finalist for MVP, Offensive Player of the Year, and Comeback Player of the Year in the same season. With 2,126 scrimmage yards and 18 total touchdowns, he was the heartbeat of the 49ers’ offense.
Trevor Lawrence (Jacksonville Jaguars)
The Prince finally ascended. Lawrence secured the Jaguars’ first-ever MVP finalist spot after leading Jacksonville to 13 wins and an AFC South crown. He posted 4,007 passing yards and 29 touchdowns, proving he has officially arrived as a tier-one quarterback.
“I’ve been in that spot a lot in my life—and I love that spot. You can make it stressful or you can make it calm and collected. I think the latter is what we were today.” — Matthew Stafford, on his clutch playoff performance
While the hardware is nice, two of these finalists have bigger fish to fry this Sunday. Drake Maye leads the Patriots into the AFC Championship, looking to cement his legacy before the trophy is even handed out. Meanwhile, the historical trend heavily favors Stafford. Since 2003, the PFWA MVP winner has almost always swept the AP award. Unless Maye’s efficiency sways the voters, the veteran Ram is the man to beat on February 5.
