SAN FRANCISCO — Matthew Stafford walked away with the AP NFL Most Valuable Player award and a declaration that he's returning to the Los Angeles Rams for another season.
Stafford edged Drake Maye for the MVP award on Thursday night in the closest race since Peyton Manning and Steve McNair were co-winners in 2003.
Stafford received 24 of 50 first-place votes while Maye got 23. But Maye has a chance to go home this week with a Vince Lombardi Trophy. He leads the New England Patriots against the Seattle Seahawks in the Super Bowl on Sunday.
Stafford, who turns 38 on Saturday, wants another opportunity to try to win his second Super Bowl ring with the Rams.
Los Angeles Rams' Matthew Stafford arrives for football's NFL Honors award show in San Francisco on Thursday.
"Oh yeah, I'll be back. It was such an amazing season and I play with such a great group of guys and great group of coaches that I was lucky enough to finish this season healthy, and I wanna make sure that I go out there and see what happens next year," Stafford told the AP.
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Stafford brought his four daughters — all dressed in identical black-and-white dresses — to the stage to accept the award.
Los Angeles Rams' Matthew Stafford, top left, and his wife, Kelly Stafford, arrive with their family for football's NFL Honors award show in San Francisco on Thursday.
He thanked his team and saved his wife and daughters for last: "You're unbelievable cheerleaders for me. I appreciate it. I am so happy to have you at the games on the sideline with me, and I can't wait for you to cheer me on next year when we're out there kicking (butt)."
It was Stafford's way of announcing he will be back next season after contemplating retirement.
Myles Garrett was a unanimous choice for the AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year award after setting a season record for sacks with 23.
Cleveland Browns' Myles Garrett accepts the AP Defensive Player of the Year award during the NFL Honors award show on Thursday in San Francisco.
All-Pro wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba beat out Christian McCaffrey for the AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year award.
New England's Mike Vrabel beat out Jacksonville's Liam Coen for the AP NFL Coach of the Year award, becoming the seventh coach to win it with two different teams.
McCaffrey became the first running back to win the AP NFL Comeback Player of the Year award in 24 years.
Browns linebacker Carson Schwesinger was a runaway winner for the AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award.
Panthers wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan ran away with the AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award.
Carolina Panthers' Tetairoa McMillan accepts the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year award during the NFL Honors award show on Thursday in San Francisco.
Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels won the AP NFL Assistant Coach of the Year award in the first season of his third stint with the team.
A nationwide panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the league completed voting before the playoffs began. Votes were tabulated by the accounting firm Lutz and Carr.
Voters selected a top 5 for the eight AP NFL awards. First-place votes were worth 10 points. Second- through fifth-place votes were worth 5, 3, 2 and 1 points.
Josh Allen, the 2024 NFL MVP, received two first-place MVP votes, and Justin Herbert got the other one.
Stafford, who earned first-team All-Pro honors for the first time in his 17-year career, finished with 366 points to Maye's 361. Allen placed third with 91 points, Christian McCaffrey (71) was fourth and Trevor Lawrence (49) came in fifth.
It's McCaffrey's second top-five finish in three years, more than any other non-quarterback since the weighted point system was implemented in 2022.
Stafford led the NFL with 4,707 yards passing and 46 TDs. He threw eight picks and finished second to Maye with a 109.2 passer rating. Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams lost to Seattle in the NFC championship game.
Maye had 4,394 yards passing, 31 TDs and eight picks. The second-year pro led the league in passer rating (113.5) and completion percentage (72).
Coach of the Year
Vrabel can get his first Super Bowl title as a head coach Sunday if the Patriots beat the Seahawks. He received 19 first-place votes to Coen's 16 and finished with 302 points.
Vrabel, the 2021 Coach of the Year winner with the Titans, led the Patriots from worst to first in the AFC East, a 10-win turnaround in his first season in New England.
New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel talks to the media during a news conference on Wednesday in Santa Clara, Calif., ahead of the Super Bowl 60 game between the Seattle Seahawks and the Patriots.
Coen had 239 points after leading the Jacksonville Jaguars to 13 wins and an AFC South title in his first season.
Seattle's Mike Macdonald got eight first-place votes and finished third (191). Chicago's Ben Johnson received one first-place vote and came in fourth (145). San Francisco's Kyle Shanahan had six first-place votes to place fifth (140).
Defensive Player of the Year
Garrett received all 50 first-place votes to become the ninth player to win DPOY multiple times and second unanimous choice following J.J. Watt, who did it in 2014. Cleveland's edge rusher also was a unanimous All-Pro selection. Garrett previously won the award in 2023.
"It doesn't just start with me," he said. "It starts with great teammates, a great organization, great coaches being able to put us in position. I'm thankful for every single one of teammates to help get me up here. It's not possible without them."
Texans edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. finished second with 77 points, Packers edge rusher Micah Parsons came in third (63) followed by Broncos edge rusher Nik Bonitto (52) and Lions edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson (42).
Garrett surpassed both Michael Strahan (22.5) and T.J. Watt (22.5) when he sacked Joe Burrow in the final game of the regular season.
Offensive Player of the Year
Smith-Njigba got 14 first-place votes to McCaffrey's 12 and finished with 272 points. McCaffrey, who won the AP NFL Comeback Player of the Year award, had 223 points.
Smith-Njigba caught 119 passes and led the league with 1,793 yards receiving. He had 10 TDs.
Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua, a unanimous All-Pro like Smith-Njigba, finished third with eight first-place votes and 170 points. Falcons All-Pro running back Bijan Robinson was right behind him with six first-place votes and 168 points.
Comeback Player of the Year
McCaffrey, San Francisco's All-Pro do-it-all back, received 31 first-place votes and 395 points, outgaining Aidan Hutchinson. Garrison Hearst was the last running back to win it in 2001.
Hutchinson got nine first-place votes and 221 points. Dak Prescott came in third with six first-place votes and 167 points. Lawrence got two first-place votes and finished fourth (130). Stefon Diggs came in fifth (40).
Philip Rivers and Chris Olave each received one first-place vote.
McCaffrey played in just four games in 2024 due to bilateral Achilles tendinitis followed by a season-ending PCL knee injury. He returned to play every game for the 49ers and had 2,126 yards from scrimmage and 17 TDs.
Defensive Rookie of the Year
Schwesinger received 40 first-place votes and had 441 points to become the sixth player in the last 45 seasons to win the award after not being picked in the first round. Shaq Leonard (2018) and DeMeco Ryans (2006) were the only others in the last 20 seasons. Cleveland selected Schwesinger in the second round at No. 33 overall.
Versatile Seahawks defensive back Nick Emmanwori got seven first-place votes and finished second (199).
Offensive Rookie of the Year
McMillan earned 41 first-place votes after catching 70 passes for 1,014 yards and seven TDs.
Saints quarterback Tyler Shough got five first-place votes and finished second with 168 points, way behind McMillan's 445.
Assistant Coach of the Year
McDaniels received 17 of 50 first-place votes and finished with 249 points. Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph placed second with 10 first-place votes and 176 points.
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AP Pro Football Writers Josh Dubow and Mark Long contributed.
A year in sports: AP photographers’ best images of 2025
Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, reacts after winning in a playoff against Justin Rose after the final round at the Masters golf tournament, April 13, 2025, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File)
Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown (30) hurdles Chicago Bears defensive back Kevin Byard III (31) on a run during an NFL football game, Nov. 2, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Kareem Elgazzar, File)
Philadelphia Eagles players celebrate with the Vince Lombardi Trophy after the Eagles won the NFL Super Bowl 59 football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Feb. 9, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File)
England's Lucy Bronze celebrates after scoring a penalty during a shootout at the end of the Women's Euro 2025 quarterfinal soccer match between Sweden and England at Stadion Letzigrund in Zurich, Switzerland, July 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File)
St. Louis Cardinals' Victor Scott II, bottom, scores against the San Francisco Giants on Brendan Donovan's double during the ninth inning of a baseball game, Sept. 23, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez, File)
Canada's Erik Read competes in an alpine ski, men's World Cup Giant Slalom, in Hafjell, Norway, March 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti, File)
Pakistan's Sahibzada Farhan looses grip on his bat while playing a shot during the Asia Cup cricket match between India and Pakistan at Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Sept. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri, File)
Cameron Crazies student section try to distract Stanford's Oziyah Sellers's as he in-bounds the ball during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Duke in Durham, N.C., Feb. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown, File)
Golden State Valkyries center Temi Fagbenle (14) loses the ball against Seattle Storm forward Ezi Magbegor (13) and guard Erica Wheeler, right, during the first half of a WNBA basketball game, July 16, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson, File)
Kazakhstan's Daisy Jepkemei competes in a heat of the women's 3,000 meters steeplechase after losing a shoe at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Sept. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, File)
A rain droplet falls on a Masters logo cut out during a practice round at the Masters golf tournament, April 7, 2025, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File)
Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts sits in the dugout during a spring training baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Feb. 20, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, File)
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt enters the field before an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Nov. 30, 2025, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed, File)
FILE - Washington Commanders wide receiver Treylon Burks (13) catches a touchdown pass as Denver Broncos cornerback Riley Moss, left, defends during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough, File)
Baylor guard Jalen Celestine (32) is fouled by Mississippi State forward RJ Melendez, left, during the first half in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, March 21, 2025, in Raleigh, N.C. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough, File)
Green Bay Packers fan Jeff Kahlow watches before an NFL football game between the Green Bay Packers and the Philadelphia Eagles, Nov. 10, 2025, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer, File)
Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani watches his RBI-Double against the Toronto Blue Jays during the fifth inning in Game 3 of baseball's World Series, Oct. 27, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)
Carlos Alcaraz of Spain celebrates winning the men's semifinal singles match against Taylor Fritz of the U.S. at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, July 11, 2025.(AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File)
Dani Baijens, of the Netherlands, center, tries to score during the second round, group D, handball match between The Netherlands and North Macedonia at the Handball Men's World Championship in Varazdin, Croatia, Jan. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic, File)
McLaren driver Oscar Piastri of Australia drives during a practice session at the F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix auto race, Nov. 20, 2025 in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher, File)
Teammates shower Cincinnati Reds' Elly De La Cruz with play money in the dugout after his two-run homer during the third inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, in Cincinnati, July 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)
Andrew Putnam hits on the 16th hole during the final round of the Sony Open golf event, Jan. 12, 2025, at Waialae Country Club in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Matt York, File)
Bayern's Leroy Sane challenges for the ball with Leipzig's David Raum, bottom, during the German Bundesliga soccer match between RB Leipzig and FC Bayern Munich at the Red Bull Arena in Leipzig, Germany, May 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi, File)
A spectator takes a nap next to a court of the French Tennis Open, at the Roland-Garros stadium, in Paris, May 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson, File)
Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese, right, works toward the basket as Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier defends during the second half of a WNBA basketball game , July 22, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr, File)
New Zealand's Jorja Miller gets her hair pulled by Charlotte Escudero of France during the Women's Rugby World Cup bronze match between New Zealand and France at the Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, London, Sept. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Anthony Upton, File)
A boy shouts as the pack rides up the Montmartre hill during the last stage of the Tour de France cycling race between Mantes-la-Ville and Paris, July 27, 2025 in Paris (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani, File)
Driver Henk Lategan and co-driver Brett Cummings compete during the fourth stage of the Dakar Rally between Al Henakiyah and Alula, Saudi Arabia, Jan. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena, File)
Pavle Peric of Serbia is blocked by Iran players during a round of 16 match at the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay city, Philippines, Sept. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila, File)
Qatar's Oumar Doudai Abakar competes in a men's 110 meters hurdles heat at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Sept. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek, File)
Milwaukee Brewers' Abner Uribe enters the game during the ninth inning of Game 2 of baseball's National League Division Series against the Chicago Cubs, Oct. 6, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash, File)
Coco Gauff of the U.S. serves to Paula Badosa of Spain during their quarterfinal match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Jan. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake, File)
