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Matthew Stafford is proving why he remains one of the most formidable quarterbacks in the league, even in Year 17 of his career. Through eight games, Stafford has already thrown for 2,147 yards and leads the NFL with 21 touchdown passes, while maintaining an impressive 67.2% completion rate and a passer rating of 113.2. His standout performance has now caught the attention of FOX’s Erin Andrews, who shared a simple yet powerful message on X: “Love this guy!” Her brief statement was in response to Stafford’s candid and heartfelt interview on FOX NFL Sunday, where he opened up about what potentially winning the MVP would mean to him. ADVERTISEMENT When Andrews asked Stafford what he thinks about when contemplating his 17th year in the league, the quarterback responded with humility. “Lucky,” Stafford said. “You know, I feel lucky to still be playing. I’m humbled to still be playing. I enjoy doing this so much…love competing on Sundays, practicing with these guys. I missed a lot of training camp this year with the back injury, and it reminded me how much I love being out there and how much I appreciate those moments. So I’m really just enjoying it all right now and having fun while I compete.” ADVERTISEMENT This perspective became even more striking when Andrews addressed the elephant in the room: his unprecedented MVP candidacy. ADVERTISEMENT Read Top Stories First From EssentiallySports Click here and check box next to EssentiallySports “I know you’ll say it’s not about the stats or accolades, but in Year 17, winning MVP, what would that mean?” Andrews asked. He further added, “I have so much respect and reverence for this game. It’s humbling just to be part of it for as long as I’ve been able to. When you get the chance to play good football and be mentioned with some of the greatest players ever at your position, it’s surreal. I pinch myself sometimes. ADVERTISEMENT On October 12, Stafford surpassed Hall of Famer Dan Marino’s mark of 61,361 career passing yards during a Rams victory over the Baltimore Ravens, moving into ninth place on the all-time passing yards leaderboard. That milestone was particularly meaningful for him, as he mentioned, “I grew up watching NFL Films and all those old-school games, and now to be part of that history, I don’t take it for granted. I’m blessed to be in this spot.” ADVERTISEMENT What stands out most strikingly is Stafford’s dominance in the red zone. According to NFL fantasy statistics, the 37-year-old has completed 35 of 55 red zone passes (63.6%) for 220 yards with 17 touchdowns and zero interceptions in the red zone through eight games. This represents one of the most efficient red zone performances in the entire league, with only Patrick Mahomes (15 red zone TDs) and Josh Allen (9 red zone TDs) approaching Stafford’s production in that critical area of the field. But the narrative around his 2025 season shifted dramatically when Stafford missed the majority of the 2025 training camp due to an aggravated disc/back soreness. This led to multiple absences in practice sessions throughout the camp period. Matthew Stafford’s 2025 campaign takes an unexpected turn Rams head coach Sean McVay had to implement careful management protocols for Stafford’s back injury. Stafford himself downplayed the health concerns, displaying the toughness that has defined his career. “This will be 17 years now [in the NFL]. There’s soreness all over the place every time I wake up. But no, it’s something that I’ll manage, like I do a million other things throughout the year,” he said during training camp. Stafford has already entered rare air in terms of career achievement. He has consistently shown the ability to throw for 4,000+ yards across 9 years of his career, a testament to his durability and consistency. If Stafford wins the MVP award, it will mark the first time in more than two decades that a member of the Rams organization has won the award since the last Rams MVP was Kurt Warner in 2001. It would also represent a stunning turnaround for a franchise that once seemed to view Stafford’s advanced age and injury history as significant obstacles.
