The NFL Honors ceremony on Thursday night concluded with a surprising announcement as Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford narrowly edged out New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye for the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award. The final vote tally revealed a razor-thin margin, igniting debate about the decision and how the votes were cast.
Maye secured 23 of the 50 first-place votes, while Stafford received 24, resulting in a close 366 to 361 victory in total points for Stafford. However, the controversy arose after it was disclosed that three voters cast unconventional ballots—two choosing Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, and one allocating a first-place vote to Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert, which surprised many.
Who Cast the Justin Herbert MVP Vote?
The voter behind Herbert’s unexpected MVP vote revealed himself as Sam Monson, an Irish podcast host. In his explanation, Monson defended his choice by emphasizing Herbert’s performance despite significant obstacles. According to Monson, the Chargers quarterback was hampered all season by the league’s worst offensive line yet still managed to achieve near-miraculous feats in multiple games.
“I was the Justin Herbert vote,”
Monson admitted.
“The guy had the worst offensive line in the NFL all season and despite that he was working miracles in almost every single game. Stafford’s OL became 2/5ths as bad as Herbert’s for 5 minutes and he became a turnover howitzer. He embodied ‘value’.”
Monson’s rationale focused on Herbert’s value amid adversity rather than conventional statistics or team success.
Statistical Realities Clash With Value-Based Arguments
Despite Monson’s defense, Herbert’s season statistics were less impressive compared to his competitors. He recorded the fourth most interceptions in the league and threw for about 1,000 fewer yards than Stafford. While Herbert’s offensive support included a Hall of Fame wide receiver, top-35 draft pick receivers, and a first-round running back, Maye’s supporting cast was generally perceived as less talented, adding complexity to the value assessment in the MVP race.
Monson addressed the inherent difficulty in selecting an MVP, noting that the award is the toughest to award correctly due to the subjective nature of measuring “value” among many interdependent variables.
“MVP is the single hardest award to ‘correctly’ determine, because the focus is on ‘value’, which is basically impossible to objectively evaluate with so many dependencies,”
he explained.
“But the idea that one vote altered a guy’s legacy is stupid. More people than not thought each candidate did NOT deserve to win MVP this year, according to the votes. There was not one clear MVP who was robbed of the award. Most people were torn between 2 deserving candidates. I thought a third deserved it as well, because the value he brought to his situation was immense.”
Fan Frustration Over Voting Logic
Among fans and analysts, Monson’s choice to vote for Herbert stirred frustration, with many deeming it a bizarre decision. Critics argue that favoring a player with high turnover rates on a modestly seeded team simply because his offensive line faced difficulties is hard to justify. The comparison between Herbert, a six-year veteran, and Maye, a 23-year-old who nearly carried a struggling Patriots team from back-to-back 4-13 seasons to a Super Bowl appearance, intensified the debate.
Herbert’s contribution, while notable under his circumstances, was often viewed as less impactful than Maye’s transformative effect on his team’s success. The contentious vote has generated ongoing discussions about the criteria for MVP and whether factors such as team composition and offensive line strength should weigh more heavily in the decision.
Implications and What Lies Ahead
The narrow margin in the MVP voting and the unusual ballots cast highlight the challenges in defining “value” within a team sport so dependent on multiple factors. As debates continue, the controversy surrounding Herbert’s vote underscores the subjective nature of individual awards in the NFL, especially when contrasting performances and contexts complicate straightforward comparisons.
Moving forward, discussions about refining MVP criteria or the voting process may arise to ensure greater clarity and fairness. Meanwhile, the debate fuels fan engagement as fans and analysts alike revisit what makes a player the most valuable in such a competitive league.
I was the Justin Herbert vote.
The guy had the worst offensive line in the NFL all season and despite that he was working miracles in almost every single game.
Stafford's OL became 2/5ths as bad as Herbert's for 5 minutes and he became a turnover howitzer.
He embodied 'value'.
— Sam Monson (@SamMonsonNFL) February 6, 2026
