​Matthew Stafford’s MVP campaign has him sitting as the No. 3 quarterback in the NFL as we approach 2026, according to ESPN’s annual survey of coaches, executives and scouts. The 38-year-old signal-caller surged three spots from his previous ranking of No. 6 last year, and he drew 17% of first-place votes—the first time he’s broken into the top half of ESPN’s rankings since the exercise began in 2020. Last season, Stafford threw for 46 touchdowns against only eight interceptions, a feat that puts him in rare company as only the fourth quarterback in NFL history to reach at least 45 touchdowns with fewer than 10 picks. He also led the league in both passing touchdowns and passing yards while piloting the NFL’s No. 1 offense.
“Nobody played better than him last year,” an NFL head coach told ESPN, “and it wasn’t even close.” Voters highlighted a quarterback who played with rhythm, trusted his receivers, and delivered passes with exceptional anticipation and arm strength. The Rams’ offseason addition of Davante Adams, paired with rising target Puka Nacua, gave Stafford two top-tier receivers, complicating defenses’ attempts to double-team both of them.
Coaches also praised head coach Sean McVay’s scheme for keeping Stafford protected, notably through the Rams’ use of under-center formations and three-tight-end sets that functioned as versatile run-pass looks. “And then you realize, ‘Oh crap, they are actually throwing out of those sets,’” one coach remarked about McVay’s utilization of tight ends. That dynamic has voters viewing Stafford and McVay as the league’s premier quarterback-coach pairing, according to another AFC offensive coach.
Not every voter pushed Stafford higher, though. Some pointed to the strength of his supporting cast as a reason to dial back the leap. “The system helps him,” one NFL coordinator said. “He has an elite offensive coach and elite weapons. He’s great, don’t get me wrong. He has advantages that some of the other quarterbacks don’t have.”
Yet Stafford’s leap into the top three underscores his evolution from a premier quarterback into an elite tier. Only Josh Allen of the Bills and Patrick Mahomes of the Chiefs ranked higher, and both of those quarterbacks have previously won MVP honors. For Los Angeles, the hope is that Stafford can build on his MVP-season momentum to guide the Rams to another deep playoff run and a potential second Super Bowl appearance before he eventually hangs up his cleats.