Has Matthew Stafford won MVP? History of how close Rams QB has come to winning prestigious award

The Los Angeles Rams made another playoff run in 2025, and it was due largely to the high-caliber play from their starting quarterback. 

Matthew Stafford, despite being 37 years old, led the NFL in passing yards (4,707) and passing touchdowns (46) during the 2025 regular season. He became a front-runner for the 2025 NFL MVP Award alongside New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, who also turned in an impressive quarterback campaign. 

Stafford was drafted to the NFL with the first pick in the 2009 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions. Detroit went fully defeated (0-16) in the 2008 season, and Stafford was slow to right the ship. The Lions went 2-14 in his second season, but then started to pick things up over the years as the quarterback developed.

Stafford was traded to the Los Angeles Rams ahead of the 2021 season and is now one of the most experienced quarterbacks in the NFL and has thrown for 64,516 yards and 423 career touchdowns over 17 years. 

Here is more on whether Stafford has won an MVP Award in his career. 

MORE: Inside Matthew Stafford's net worth, career earnings and more

Has Matthew Stafford won MVP?

As of February 2026, Matthew Stafford has claimed an MVP award thanks to a dominant 2025 regular season. Stafford led the league in both passing yards (4,707) and passing touchdowns (46). This is the first time in his career that he led the league in either of those categories. 

At 37, he became the oldest first-time MVP winners in NFL history.

MORE: Meet Matthew Stafford's family tree, including wife Kelly and four daughters

Matthew Stafford MVP voting history

Stafford has been in the NFL for 17 years. Despite his career longevity, he played during a time when quarterbacks struggled to stand out and when 5,000-yard seasons were more common, as were 50-touchdown seasons — so he wasn't able to win an MVP until 2025.

The NFL releases the players with the most votes for the MVP Award. Some years it has been one player and unanimous, others have been a race of up to 10 players. In 2023, the NFL released the top-10 voting results, and Stafford finished eighth. In 15 games that year, the quarterback threw for 3,965 yards with 24 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Prior to 2025, it was the lone time since he has entered the league that he appeared in the voting results breakdown. 

MORE: Most career passing yards in NFL history

Matthew Stafford best NFL seasons

Here is a look at Stafford's best NFL seasons. 

Overall

By team record

• 12-5 (2021)
• 12-5 (2025)
• 11-5 (2014)
• 10-6 (2011)
• 10-6 (2024)

By passing yards

• 5,038 (2011)
• 4,967 (2012)
• 4,886 (2021)
• 4,707 (2025)
• 4,650 (2013)

By passing touchdowns

• 46 (2025)
• 41 (2011)
• 41 (2021)
• 32 (2015)
• 29 (2013)

MORE: What to know about Matthew Stafford's four daughters