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Matthew Stafford Edges Drake Maye for AP NFL MVP by One First-Place Vote

With individual ballots kept private, three nonconforming first-place votes sharpened focus on voter discretion.

Overview

  • The AP tally showed Stafford with 24 first-place votes and 366 points to Maye’s 23 and 361, with two first-place votes going to Josh Allen and one to Justin Herbert in the closest race since 2003.
  • Analyst Sam Monson publicly identified himself as the lone Herbert first-place voter and defended the choice on social media by arguing Herbert best embodied “value.”
  • The Associated Press released the 50-person voting panel but did not publish individual ballots, though several voters voluntarily disclosed parts of their selections.
  • At 37 years and 331 days, Stafford became the oldest player to win his first MVP, thanked his wife Kelly and their four daughters onstage, and said he will return next season.
  • Maye, the runner-up, now prepares to start Super Bowl LX for the Patriots against the Seahawks on Sunday.