Stafford beats Maye to MVP, confirms return for 2026 season

Matthew Stafford won the NFL Most Valuable Player award before declaring he is returning to Los Angeles Rams for another season.

Stafford edged Drake Maye for the MVP award on Thursday night in the closest race since Peyton Manning and Steve McNair were co-winners in 2003.

Stafford received 24 of 50 first-place votes while Maye, who will play for New England Patriots against Seattle Seahawks in the Super Bowl on Sunday, got 23.

Stafford, who turns 38 on Saturday, wants another opportunity to try and win his second Super Bowl ring with the Rams.

“Oh yeah, I’ll be back,” he said. “It was such an amazing season, and I play with such a great group of guys and great group of coaches that I was lucky enough to finish this season healthy, and I want to make sure that I go out there and see what happens next year.

Stafford brought his four daughters – all dressed in identical black-and-white dresses – to the stage to accept the award.

He thanked his team and saved his wife and daughters for last: “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.”

It was Stafford’s way of announcing he will be back next season after contemplating retirement.

Myles Garrett was a unanimous choice for the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award after setting a season record for sacks with 23.

All-Pro wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba beat Christian McCaffrey to the NFL Offensive Player of the Year award.

New England’s Mike Vrabel beat out Jacksonville’s Liam Coen for the NFL Coach of the Year award, becoming the seventh coach to win it with two different teams.

McCaffrey became the first running back to win the NFL Comeback Player of the Year award in 24 years.

Browns linebacker Carson Schwesinger was a runaway winner for the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award.

Panthers wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan ran away with the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award.

Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels won the NFL Assistant Coach of the Year award in the first season of his third stint with the team.

A nationwide panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the league completed voting before the playoffs began.

Voters selected a top five for the eight NFL awards. First-place votes were worth 10 points. Second through fifth-place votes were worth five, three, two and one points.

Josh Allen, the 2024 NFL MVP, received two first-place MVP votes, and Justin Herbert got the other one.

Stafford, who earned first-team All-Pro honours for the first time in his 17-year career, finished with 366 points to Maye’s 361. Allen placed third with 91 points, Christian McCaffrey (71) was fourth and Trevor Lawrence (49) came in fifth.

It’s McCaffrey’s second top-five finish in three years, more than any other non-quarterback since the weighted point system was implemented in 2022.

Stafford led the NFL with 4,707 yards passing and 46 TDs. He threw eight picks and finished second to Maye with a 109.2 passer rating. Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams lost to Seattle in the NFC championship game.

Maye had 4,394 yards passing, 31 TDs and eight picks. The second-year pro led the league in passer rating (113.5) and completion percentage (72).

Coach of the Year

Vrabel can get his first Super Bowl title as a head coach on Sunday if the Patriots beat the Seahawks, live on Sky Sports. He received 19 first-place votes to Coen’s 16 and finished with 302 points.

Vrabel, the 2021 Coach of the Year winner with the Titans, led the Patriots from worst to first in the AFC East, a 10-win turnaround in his first season in New England.

Coen had 239 points after leading the Jacksonville Jaguars to 13 wins and an AFC South title in his first season.

Seattle’s Mike Macdonald got eight first-place votes and finished third (191). Chicago’s Ben Johnson received one first-place vote and came in fourth (145). San Francisco’s Kyle Shanahan had six first-place votes to place fifth (140).

Defensive Player of the Year

Garrett received all 50 first-place votes to become the ninth player to win DPOY multiple times and second unanimous choice following JJ Watt, who did it in 2014. Cleveland’s edge rusher also was a unanimous All-Pro selection. Garrett previously won the award in 2023.

“It doesn’t just start with me,” he said. “It starts with great team-mates, a great organisation, great coaches being able to put us in position. I’m thankful for every single one of team-mates to help get me up here. It’s not possible without them.”

Texans edge rusher Will Anderson Jr finished second with 77 points, Packers edge rusher Micah Parsons came in third (63) followed by Broncos edge rusher Nik Bonitto (52) and Lions edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson (42).

Garrett surpassed both Michael Strahan (22.5) and TJ Watt (22.5) when he sacked Joe Burrow in the final game of the regular season.

Offensive Player of the Year

Smith-Njigba got 14 first-place votes to McCaffrey’s 12 and finished with 272 points. McCaffrey, who won the NFL Comeback Player of the Year award, had 223 points.

Smith-Njigba caught 119 passes and led the league with 1,793 yards receiving. He had 10 TDs.

Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua, a unanimous All-Pro like Smith-Njigba, finished third with eight first-place votes and 170 points. Falcons All-Pro running back Bijan Robinson was right behind him with six first-place votes and 168 points.

Comeback Player of the Year

McCaffrey, San Francisco’s All-Pro do-it-all back, received 31 first-place votes and 395 points, outgaining Aidan Hutchinson. Garrison Hearst was the last running back to win it in 2001.

Hutchinson got nine first-place votes and 221 points. Dak Prescott came in third with six first-place votes and 167 points. Lawrence got two first-place votes and finished fourth (130). Stefon Diggs came in fifth (40).

Philip Rivers and Chris Olave each received one first-place vote.

McCaffrey played in just four games in 2024 due to bilateral Achilles tendinitis followed by a season-ending PCL knee injury. He returned to play every game for the 49ers and had 2,126 yards from scrimmage and 17 TDs.

Defensive Rookie of the Year

Schwesinger received 40 first-place votes and had 441 points to become the sixth player in the last 45 seasons to win the award after not being picked in the first round. Shaq Leonard (2018) and DeMeco Ryans (2006) were the only others in the last 20 seasons. Cleveland selected Schwesinger in the second round at No 33 overall.

Versatile Seahawks defensive back Nick Emmanwori got seven first-place votes and finished second (199).

Offensive Rookie of the Year

McMillan earned 41 first-place votes after catching 70 passes for 1,014 yards and seven TDs.

Saints quarterback Tyler Shough got five first-place votes and finished second with 168 points, way behind McMillan’s 445.

Assistant Coach of the Year

McDaniels received 17 of 50 first-place votes and finished with 249 points. Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph placed second with 10 first-place votes and 176 points.

Watch the New England Patriots against the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl 60 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California on Sunday February 8, with coverage under way at 10pm live on Sky Spots NFL ahead of kick-off at approximately 11.30pm

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