Josh Allen Finishes Third in Closest MVP Race in Decades, Stafford Takes Home the Honor
In a season where the MVP race came down to the wire, Josh Allen once again found himself in the thick of the conversation-but this time, he came up just short. The Buffalo Bills quarterback finished third in the 2025 AP NFL Most Valuable Player voting, earning two of the 50 available first-place votes. It was the tightest MVP race the league has seen since 2003.
Matthew Stafford, in his 15th NFL season, finally captured the elusive MVP award, edging out New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye by a single first-place vote-24 to 23. Allen rounded out the top three, marking the fourth time in six seasons he’s landed among the top three in MVP voting. And for the fourth straight year, he finished in the top five-an impressive level of consistency that puts him in rare company among modern quarterbacks.
Allen’s 2025 campaign was another testament to his dual-threat dominance. He posted a career-best 69.3% completion rate, throwing for 3,668 yards and 25 touchdowns against 10 interceptions.
His passer rating climbed to 102.2-just a tick above his MVP-winning 2024 season. But it wasn’t just his arm doing the damage.
Allen added 579 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns on the ground, continuing to be one of the most dangerous red-zone weapons in the league, regardless of position.
That kind of production earned him not only MVP votes but also a first-place nod for Offensive Player of the Year. Still, the top honors in that category went to Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who edged out 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey.
Stafford’s MVP season was nothing short of spectacular. The veteran led the league with 4,707 passing yards and 46 touchdown passes-both career highs.
He threw just eight interceptions and posted a 109.2 passer rating, second only to Maye. Though Stafford’s Rams fell short in the NFC Championship Game against Seattle, his regular-season performance was enough to finally earn him the league’s top individual honor.
Maye, meanwhile, isn’t walking away empty-handed. The second-year quarterback led the NFL in passer rating (113.5) and completion percentage (72%) while throwing for 4,394 yards and 31 touchdowns with just eight interceptions.
And while he narrowly missed out on the MVP trophy, he has a shot at something even bigger: a Super Bowl ring. Maye and the Patriots will take on the Seahawks this Sunday in the big game.
On the defensive side, Myles Garrett was the clear-cut choice for Defensive Player of the Year. The Browns’ star edge rusher set a new single-season sack record with 23, earning unanimous support from the voting panel.
Other award winners included:
- Offensive Player of the Year: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who continues to emerge as one of the league’s premier playmakers.
- Coach of the Year: Mike Vrabel, who led the Patriots back to prominence and became just the seventh coach to win the award with two different franchises.
- Comeback Player of the Year: Christian McCaffrey, who became the first running back in 24 years to take home the honor.
- Defensive Rookie of the Year: Carson Schwesinger, a force for the Browns’ defense from day one.
- Offensive Rookie of the Year: Tetairoa McMillan, who gave the Panthers a dynamic new weapon on the outside.
- Assistant Coach of the Year: Josh McDaniels, who helped guide Maye’s development in his return to New England as offensive coordinator.
The voting was conducted by a panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the league, with ballots submitted before the playoffs began. First-place votes were worth 10 points, followed by 5, 3, 2, and 1 for second through fifth.
In a year filled with standout performances, the 2025 awards season highlighted both the emergence of new stars and the enduring excellence of veterans like Allen and Stafford. And while Allen didn’t repeat as MVP, his place among the league’s elite remains unquestioned.