One first-place vote.
That’s all that separated 2025 NFL MVP Matthew Stafford of the Los Angeles Rams from his closest competitor, New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye.
While Stafford’s career year landed him the league’s top individual award Feb. 5 during the NFL Honors ceremony, it’s Maye who will be playing in Super Bowl 60 on Feb. 8, so there really are no losers here.
Stafford may have won the MVP award by the thinnest of margins, winning 366-361 in total points, but it’s not the closest race in league history. Here’s a look at this year’s vote and where it ranks among the closest MVP races in league history.
2026 NFL MVP voting results
Matthew Stafford: 24 first place votes, 366 points
Drake Maye: 23, 361
Josh Allen: 2, 91
Christian McCaffrey: 0, 71
Trevor Lawrence: 0, 49
(Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert received the remaining first-place vote but did not finish among the top five.)
Closest MVP races in NFL history
1997: 1. (tie) Green Bay Packers QB Brett Favre, 18 votes; Detroit Lions RB Barry Sanders, 18 votes
2023: 1. (tie) Indianapolis Colts QB Peyton Manning, 16 votes; Tennessee Titans QB Steve McNair, 16 votes
2025: 1. Los Angeles Rams QB Matthew Stafford, 24 votes; 2. New England Patriots QB Drake Maye, 23 votes
1982: 1. Washington K Mark Moseley, 35 votes; 2. San Diego Chargers QB Dan Fouts, 33 votes
1978: 1. Pittsburgh Steelers QB Terry Bradshaw, 36 votes; 2. Houston Oilers RB Earl Campbell, 33 votes