Hall of Fame quarterback Terry Bradshaw shared his thoughts on the close MVP race between Matthew Stafford and Drake Maye. The four-time Super Bowl winner said Stafford’s chances dropped after a tough Week 17 game. Bradshaw now seems to favor the young New England Patriots quarterback, who is having a great second season.
According to The Mirror, Bradshaw believes the league wanted Stafford to win the award, especially because he’s having such a strong year in his 17th season. But Stafford’s performance against the Atlanta Falcons hurt his MVP case. He threw three interceptions in that loss, which Bradshaw called the turning point.
Maye’s steady play all season makes him stand out. Bradshaw highlighted this difference, saying, “The other guy [Maye] in New England hasn’t had a bad game, man.” This is strong praise from Bradshaw, who has supported the 23-year-old quarterback throughout the season.
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Both quarterbacks posted impressive numbers this season
The MVP decision is difficult because both players had excellent stats in 2025. Stafford led the league with 4,707 passing yards and 46 passing touchdowns. Maye finished with 4,394 passing yards and 31 touchdowns, throwing only eight interceptions all season. Maye also had the league’s best quarterback rating at 77.2, showing his efficiency.
Maye earned his spot in the MVP race not just with regular season stats but by leading the Patriots to the Super Bowl for the first time since Super Bowl LIII. The Patriots won their spot by beating the Denver Broncos 10-7 in a snowy AFC Championship game.
While coaching changes dominated headlines this week, including Mike Tomlin’s unexpected Steelers departure, Maye didn’t put up big passing numbers in that defensive battle, but he did what was needed to win. He completed 10 of 21 passes for 86 yards and added 65 rushing yards.
Bradshaw praised the young star after the victory. “Drake Maye, congratulations,” Bradshaw said. “Second-year guy taking your team to the Super Bowl. Amazing.” This playoff run is the Patriots’ first since 2021 and comes after winning their first AFC East title since 2019. Maye knows he’s following a legendary dynasty but wants to create a new identity for the franchise.
Meanwhile, off the field, other NFL-related stories continue to make waves, including reports about Travis Kelce’s wedding plans with Taylor Swift. “Yes, like I said, the history and everything about it, it’s a new team, it’s a new era,” Maye said after beating the Broncos. “We changed that narrative and look forward to bringing our best football to Santa Clara. That’ll be pretty special.”
Maye could join Patrick Mahomes, who did it in 2022, as the only player to win both league MVP and Super Bowl MVP in the same season. The Patriots will face the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium on Sunday, February 8.
Published: Feb 7, 2026 03:45 pm