In a nail-biting conclusion to the 2025 NFL Most Valuable Player contest, Drake Maye narrowly missed out on the MVP award by a single vote to Matthew Stafford. The announcement came on January 4, 2026, at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, ending one of the closest and most debated MVP races in recent history. The fierce competition between Maye and Stafford captivated fans and analysts alike as they awaited the final tally.
Breakdown of the Final MVP Vote Count
According to the Associated Press, finished results revealed a razor-thin margin separating the two contenders. Matthew Stafford led with 366 points, including 24 first-place votes, while Drake Maye was just behind with 361 points and 23 first-place votes. Other notable finishers included Josh Allen with 91 points and 2 first-place votes, Christian McCaffrey with 71 points but no first-place votes, and Trevor Lawrence with 49 points, also without any first-place votes. One additional first-place vote was cast for Justin Herbert; however, his overall point total was insufficient to place him in the top five.
The scoring system used by voters assigned 10 points for a first-place ranking, 5 for second, 3 for third, 2 for fourth, and 1 for fifth. The closeness of the race suggested that even minor shifts in rankings on a few ballots could have changed the outcome, indicating Maye’s possible lower than second-place rankings on some votes cost him the award.
The Controversy Between ‘Best’ and ‘Most Valuable’
This MVP vote reignited the ongoing debate about what the award truly signifies—is it awarded to the player with the best individual statistics or to the player deemed most valuable to his team’s success? Stafford’s candidacy emphasized superior statistical output, having led the NFL in passing yards with 4,707 and throwing 46 touchdowns against only eight interceptions. His numbers in these categories outpaced those of any other player in the league that year.
Drake Maye’s campaign leaned on the concept of value. Coming off a dismal four-win season and with a roster initially seen as lacking, Maye led the New England Patriots to an impressive 14-win season and a division crown. Although his traditional passing statistics did not match Stafford’s, Maye topped the league with a 72% completion rate and contributed significant rushing yards, complemented by outstanding advanced metrics. His leadership and performance elevated the Patriots well beyond expectations.
Similar arguments were also made for Josh Allen and Justin Herbert, whose votes appeared to reflect the ‘value’ perspective more than pure statistical dominance. Voter Sam Monson publicly defended his sole first-place vote for Herbert, explaining:
“[Herbert] had the worst offensive line in the NFL all season and despite that he was working miracles in almost every single game,”
Monson wrote. He embodied ‘value.’ Sam Monson, Voter
Voting Dynamics and Historical Context
Maye’s loss by only five points—the slimmest margin since Peyton Manning and Steve McNair were named co-MVPs following a tie in 2003—highlighted how split votes on value versus best player likely influenced the outcome. Since three first-place votes went to players perceived more as value candidates (two for Allen and one for Herbert), Maye’s votes might have been diluted among voters with similar philosophies.
This year’s MVP voting system, conducted by the same Associated Press board that also voted on All-Pro honors, reflected an ongoing tension between rewarding numbers and rewarding overall contribution to team success. The All-Pro voting was less close, with Stafford receiving 31 votes to Maye’s 18.
Rob Maaddi, a senior NFL writer for the Associated Press, commented earlier in the season that for the first time in 2024, voters received official guidance clarifying that the MVP should honor the player with the most valuable impacts rather than purely the best statistics. He tweeted:
“Voters received guidance for the 8 NFL awards for the first time in 2024: The MVP award honors a player who had the most VALUABLE season. All-Pro honors the best players at each position, so it’s more a statistical recognition vs. value.”
Rob Maaddi, AP NFL Senior Writer
Whether that directive was reiterated this season is uncertain, but if it was, it might have supported Maye’s case more firmly. Without repeated guidance, Allen’s 2024 MVP win against Lamar Jackson—who had superior overall stats—remained an outlier, reflecting the complex views among voters on how to weigh ‘value’ in the MVP calculus.
Implications for Drake Maye and the Patriots Moving Forward
Though Maye did not secure the MVP title in only his second professional season, his narrow loss only underscores his rapid rise and potential future success in the league. Such close contention for this prestigious award speaks volumes about his impact on the Patriots and the NFL.
The New England Patriots also found other reasons to celebrate at NFL Honors: Coach Mike Vrabel earned Coach of the Year honors, Josh McDaniels was named Assistant Coach of the Year, and celebrated kicker Adam Vinatieri was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. These accolades reflect the franchise’s overall strength and success this season.
Looking ahead, Maye and the Patriots have set their sights on the ultimate achievement—a Super Bowl victory. They will compete in Super Bowl LX this Sunday, aiming for a championship that far outweighs individual awards. Maye has repeatedly expressed that the team’s goal is far bigger than any personal accolade.
Interestingly, the Super Bowl also awards an MVP title for the game’s top performer, which Maye’s leadership and skills could well secure. Although he narrowly missed out on the season-long MVP, winning the Super Bowl MVP would carry significance not only for him personally but also for the entire Patriots organization.
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
The AP first-team All-Pro quarterback won the NFL MVP award for 11 straight seasons until Lamar Jackson was the All-Pro QB and Josh Allen was the MVP last year.
Voters received guidance for the 8 NFL awards for the first time in 2024: The MVP award honors a player who had the…— Rob Maaddi (@RobMaaddi) January 10, 2026
