The NFL released their awards finalists, but they may have tipped their hand for giving Matthew Stafford the MVP
The NFL released their finalists for the Most Valuable Player and Offensive Player of the Year awards, and former Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford was expected to be in contention for at least one, if not both. However, the NFL might've tipped their hand that Stafford will win the MVP while someone else wins OPOY.
Stafford is one of five finalists for MVP, alongside quarterbacks Drake Maye, Josh Allen, Trevor Lawrence, and running back Christian McCaffrey. However, he is not listed as a finalist for OPOY, as Maye, McCaffrey, running back Bijan Robinson, and wide receivers Puka Nacua and Jaxon Smith-Njigba are considered finalists for that position.
The OPOY is a great award, but to quarterbacks, it is often considered a consolation prize for not winning MVP. With Stafford leading the league in passing yards (4,707) and passing touchdowns (46) while having just eight interceptions, it's unlikely that Stafford doesn't win MVP or OPOY, so with that logic, it should be a done deal that Stafford wins MVP.
No player has won both OPOY and MVP since Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes in 2018. Mahomes is also the last quarterback to win OPOY (2018).
The 37-year old gunslinger played Georgia football nearly two decades ago. He was a five-star prospect in the class of 2006, ranked as the No. 1 quarterback and No. 6 prospect in the nation. In his three seasons with the Bulldogs (2006-08), Stafford had 7,731 yards, 51 touchdowns to 33 interceptions. He earned a first-team All-American and second-team All-SEC nod in 2008, and his talent ended up getting him drafted first overall to the 0-16 Detroit Lions in 2008.
His tenure with the Lions was frustrating, with just one Pro Bowl selection and no playoff wins, but once he was traded to the Los Angeles Rams, his career got a second life. He won Super Bowl LVI with the Rams and could win another Super Bowl in 2026. He was also selected to the 2021 and 2025 Pro Bowl. His Hall-of-Fame candidacy will be heavily debated, but there will be many Georgia Bulldogs fans knocking on the door for him to be selected.
NFL MVP finalists
- Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford
- New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye
- Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence
- Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen
- San Francisco 49ers running back Christen McCaffrey
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This article originally appeared on UGA Wire: Why Matthew Stafford might have already won the MVP award
Category: General Sports
