Matthew Stafford Wins NFL MVP at 37, Hints at Return

At 37 years old, Matthew Stafford just proved that peak performance has no expiration date.

The Los Angeles Rams quarterback was named the NFL's most valuable player Thursday night at NFL Honors in San Francisco, capping off a career season that saw him throw 46 touchdowns and rack up 4,707 passing yards. Both numbers led the entire league.

Stafford beat out 23-year-old New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye in voting by 50 NFL journalists. The win marks the first MVP honor in Stafford's 17-year career.

But the biggest moment came during his acceptance speech. After thanking his wife Kelly and daughters, Stafford pointed to teammates in the audience and said he looked forward to playing with them again next season, hinting at his return despite questions about retirement at his age.

The timing matters. Stafford turns 38 this Saturday, making him one of the oldest MVP winners in NFL history.

His stellar season helped the Rams achieve a 12-5 record and field the league's top offense in both scoring and total yards. He earned first-team All-Pro honors and guided his team through two playoff victories before falling to the Seahawks in the NFC championship game.

"He's the epitome of an igniter," Rams coach Sean McVay said earlier this week. "He's just this incredibly humble superstar that has the ability to make everybody feel better when you're around him."

Why This Inspires

Stafford's journey to this moment spans nearly two decades. He spent 12 seasons with the Detroit Lions, enduring losing seasons and criticism before being traded to Los Angeles in 2021.

That first year with the Rams, he led them to a Super Bowl LVI victory at home in SoFi Stadium. Now, four years later, he's reached another peak that seemed unlikely just months ago when retirement speculation swirled.

His career statistics tell the story of sustained excellence: sixth all-time in completions and passing yards, seventh in touchdown passes. This MVP award cements his legacy as one of the game's greats.

The contrast with runner-up Maye also tells a hopeful story. While the young Patriots quarterback led his team to the Super Bowl with a franchise-record 72% completion rate, voters recognized Stafford's complete body of work and leadership.

For athletes wondering if their best days are behind them, Stafford just wrote a new playbook.