Chargers’ Justin Herbert cost Patriots quarterback Drake Maye his first MVP award despite not being close to winning

It’s hard to believe, but Justin Herbert is the reason why Drake Maye doesn’t have an MVP award.

Rob Gregson — NFL News Writer
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Jan 25, 2026; Denver, CO, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) rushes the ball for a touchdown against the Denver Broncos during the first half in the 2026 AFC Championship Game at Empower Field at Mile High
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The New England Patriots, and their quarterback, Drake Maye, are fully focused on hoisting the franchise’s seventh Lombardi come Sunday night in California. However, when you have the turnaround the Patriots had from 2024 to 2025, individuals are bound to win some awards.

Mike Vrabel (not verbal, if you know you know) won the NFL Coach of the Year award, and Maye was up for MVP. Well, he lost the award to Matthew Stafford by one of the narrowest margins in the history of the award, and it was all because of Justin Herbert.

Voter wrote in Justin Herbert as MVP, costing Drake Maye the MVP award

The five finalists for the 2025 NFL MVP award were as follows:

2025 NFL MVP finalists

  • Matthew Stafford, QB, Los Angeles Rams
  • Drake Maye, QB, New England Patriots
  • Trevor Lawrence, QB, Jacksonville Jaguars
  • Christian McCaffrey, RB, San Francisco 49ers
  • Josh Allen, QB, Buffalo Bills

As you can clearly see, Herbert was not included in that list. He was a write-in candidate. That first-place vote, which could have gone to Maye, went to Herbert instead, and it cost him the award. If you’re wondering who would do such a thing and why, don’t worry, he outed himself.

“I was the Justin Herbert vote. The guy had the worst offensive line in the NFL all season, and despite that, he was working miracles in almost every single game. Stafford’s OL became 2/5ths as bad as Herbert’s for 5 minutes, and he became a turnover howitzer. He embodied ‘value’.” – Sam Monson, via X-Twitter

Why voting for Justin Herbert over Drake Maye makes no sense

I believe Herbert is one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. His offensive line was plagued with injuries this year, and he still lacks premier pass catchers, yet he willed his team to the playoffs.

However, it’s hard to argue that Hebert is more valuable to the Chargers than Maye is to the Patriots. What has been the one knock on the Patriots this year? Their offensive line. Who is Maye’s best pass catcher? A 32-year-old, overly emotional Stefon Diggs. Yet, he completed a mind-numbing 72 percent of his passes, had almost a 4:1 TD to interception ratio, and a total EPA of +170.

If that quarterback isn’t valuable, I’m not sure who is.