The most prestigious award given out in the NFL is the MVP award. Given to the most valuable player from the past season, every NFL player has the dream of winning this award.
Throughout history, the MVP award has often been referred to as a “quarterback award” due to the quarterback’s significant responsibility and importance to a successful football team. Quarterbacks can get the most stats on the statsheet, and can stand out more than other positions.
The award is presented every year at the NFL Honors event. This is where all the awards are given out to the respective players. The most recent non-QB MVP was in 2012 when Vikings running back Adrian Peterson won the award. Most recently in 2025, Bills quarterback Josh Allen took home the award.
The award has only been presented twice to a defensive player: Once in 1971 to defensive tackle Alan Page and another in 1986 to linebacker Lawrence Taylor. Ironically, in 1982, kicker Mark Moseley won the award due to a shortened season.
This season, it is no different. There are two main candidates for the award, who are both quarterbacks.
Starting with the first candidate, Drake Maye. Maye is in the second season of his career with the New England Patriots after getting drafted in the first round out of the University of North Carolina. This season, Maye led the Patriots to a 14-3 record and the 2 seed in the AFC. This is just one season after the Patriots went 4-13. Maye threw for 4,394 yards, 31 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions. He also ran for 450 yards and 4 touchdowns.
The other candidate is Matthew Stafford. Stafford is currently in his seventeenth season, and his fifth season with the Los Angeles Rams. Stafford led the Rams to a 12-5 record and the 5 seed in the NFC. This season, Stafford threw for 4,707 yards, 46 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions.
Both candidates are equally deserving of the award, as they both had successful seasons this year. Green Level students have mixed opinions on who they believe is the most deserving.
Sophomore Atharv Sharma believes Maye should get the award due to one quality that stands out over Stafford.
“Maye. He had a better record, and he’s more accurate. He is more likely to hit a pass than Stafford,” Sharma explained.
On the other hand, Junior Kenny Rudolph believes the other way, as Stafford has had more production.
“I like Maye a lot, but Stafford got way more touchdowns and the same amount of interceptions,” Rudolph said.
Overall, it is up to the 50 voters to decide who gets the prestigious award. The award ceremony will take place on Thursday, February 5th, in San Francisco, California. Each person has their own opinions on who should win, and we will see who does one month from now.
