Why Drake Maye’s MVP bid would rewrite NFL history

The race appears increasingly clear, and far from what many believed just a few weeks ago, Drake Maye has lost ground in the MVP chase. Despite solid performances to date, the aggressive push from Matthew Stafford has left the New England Patriots quarterback facing what may not be an impossible mission, but certainly a very difficult one. History is not on his side, nor does he have the backing of the man who carried the franchise on his shoulders for so many years.

Brady’s shadow looms large

Tom Brady’s legacy in New England is untouchable, and he has not been shy about weighing in from afar. Speaking live less than a week ago, Brady made clear he does not vote for MVP, but openly praised Stafford.

“Look, I don’t vote, but what Matthew Stafford has done this season has been remarkable,” Brady said. “Forty-six touchdown passes — for any quarterback that’s a dream season. He’s been spectacular.”

Brady went on to acknowledge Maye’s breakout year, while still leaning toward the Rams quarterback.

“On the other hand, Drake Maye has done incredible things in his first year with Josh McDaniels as offensive coordinator,” Brady said. “He’s got a long career ahead of him and will have many more opportunities, but I’d have to say Matthew Stafford.”

No MVP has ever been a lone star

Even so, the central question remains: has every factor been weighed fairly? Objectively, Maye’s case rests on a simple but powerful argument — he revived a franchise without a single Pro Bowl-caliber offensive teammate.

That matters historically. In NFL history, no quarterback has ever won MVP without at least one offensive teammate selected to the Pro Bowl. Since 1959, 49 quarterbacks have captured the league’s top individual honor, and every one of them benefited from elite talent around them. Brady himself won three MVPs alongside stars like Randy Moss, Rob Gronkowski and Wes Welker. Stafford, this season, has had Puka Nacua earn Pro Bowl honors.

Maye, by contrast, has no such luxury.

Stafford’s numbers are superior — 46 touchdown passes to Maye’s 31, 4,707 yards to Maye’s 4,394 — and the Rams’ receiving duo of Nacua and Adams is not only stronger than New England’s group of Diggs and Boutte, but arguably better than any in the league.

That reality has made Maye’s MVP bid far more complicated. But if the young quarterback from Foxborough were to pull it off, he would make history — the first MVP to do it without elite offensive weapons, and despite the public preference of the GOAT leaning the other way.

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