Former Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford has continued his late-career resurgence since leaving Detroit, adding an MVP trophy to his Super Bowl ring.
The Los Angeles Rams quarterback barely edged out Drake Maye of the New England Patriots to take home the league’s top individual award, though it is not without controversy. Some fans and NFL reporters have pushed back on the stray votes that allowed Stafford to squeak out the narrow victory, with many suggesting it should have gone to Maye.
Odd Voting Patterns Attract Controversy
Stafford took home the MVP trophy with a total of 366 points, while Maye trailed with 361 points. The race had a bit of controversy, with Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen earning two first-place votes and Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert earning a single first-place vote — even though he wasn’t a finalist for the award.
Analyst Sam Monson of Pro Football Focus revealed that he was the lone Herbert vote, explaining in a post on X that he believed the Chargers quarterback deserved credit for overcoming a putrid offensive line.
“The guy had the worst offensive line in the NFL all season and despite that he was working miracles in almost every single game,” Monson said. “Stafford’s OL became 2/5ths as bad as Herbert’s for 5 minutes, and he became a turnover howitzer. He embodied ‘value’.”
While Monson’s vote would not have tipped the balance of the race — he revealed that he put Stafford second and Maye third — the votes for Allen also could have thrown off the balance.
Still, Monson attracted plenty of scorn for his vote. Barstool Sports founder and Boston fan Dave Portnoy took aim at the vote, saying it could have stolen a deserved award from Maye.
“Imagine thinking you outsmarted every other human who watched football,” he wrote.
“Only cost Maye the MVP. Luckily, we play for Lombardi’s in New England.”
Others said Monson should lose voting privileges after such an odd choice in a year when Stafford and Maye were considered the only serious candidates for the award. The two rose to the top of the MVP race early as Allen and other candidates dropped off, with the last several weeks of the season seeing a back-and-forth as each took the lead in odds at different points.
Matthew Stafford Undeterred by Controversy
Stafford didn’t seem to be bothered by the controversy, using the NFL Honors ceremony to end retirement speculation and officially announce his return to the Rams in 2026.
Stafford also shared love for his family, saying wife Kelly is a supportive force for their family.
“[Kelly Stafford’s] my rock. I want to let you know the sacrifices — I see you. I love you. I appreciate you very much,” Stafford said, via ABC News. “And to my four beautiful daughters, who I’m lucky enough to be sharing the stage with … Chandler, Sawyer, Hunter, Tyler, I’m so happy to be able to teach the blessings and those lessons of this game to you guys, through you guys. You’re unbelievable cheerleaders for me. I appreciate it.”
Ex-Lions QB Matthew Stafford Met With Controversy Over MVP Voting