Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford edged New England Patriots counterpart Drake Maye to win the NFL Most Valuable Award on Thursday night, then made news in his acceptance speech by announcing he’ll return next season.
Stafford received 24 of 50 first-place votes while Maye got 23. It was the closest race since Peyton Manning and Steve McNair were co-winners in 2003.
In his 17th NFL season, the 37-year-old Stafford became the oldest player in NFL history at the time of his first MVP. He also became the third-oldest player to win MVP honors, behind Tom Brady (2017) and Aaron Rodgers (2021).
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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 when we’re out there kicking ass.”
It was Stafford’s way of announcing he will be back next season after contemplating retirement.
Over the last two months of the regular season, Stafford and Maye flip-flopped in the odds to win MVP multiple times, with Stafford emerging as the favorite after Week 18. He was also previously named AP First Team All-Pro for the first time in his career.
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen finished in third for MVP with two first-place votes, while San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey and Jacksonville Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence came in fourth and fifth, respectively. Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert got the other first-place vote.
