Terry Bradshaw disagrees with MVP narrative and names player having his 'best year'
Former NFL quarterback Terry Bradshaw has outlined his thoughts on the MVP race, with the four-time Super Bowl winner admitting he believes Matthew Stafford could win the award this year
Terry Bradshaw has outlined his thoughts on the 2025 NFL MVP race, with the former Pittsburgh Steelers star admitting Matthew Stafford would be his pick to win the award this year.
Last season saw Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson vying for the award, with the former claiming his maiden MVP despite having worse stats than the Baltimore Ravens quarterback. Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley also enjoyed a stunning 2024 season, and deserved to garner more MVP interest.
However, Barkley, who topped 2000 yards, did not receive a single first-place MVP vote, something which could signal disappointment in the future for Indianapolis Colts star Jonathan Taylor, the NFL's top back this season.
Through eight games this season, Taylor has rushed for 850 yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground, averaging 5.9 yards per carry for a Colts team that sits 7-1.
However, speaking on FOX's NFL Sunday, Bradshaw explained how he believes Taylor's efforts to win the MVP this year could be thwarted by interest in his own quarterback, Daniel Jones, when it comes to the voting.
Bradshaw, who won the MVP award in 1978, said to host Charissa Thompson that he believes Barkley should have won the award last year, but the importance and coverage of quarterbacks across the NFL was the reason Allen and Jackson were the top two candidates to win the award.
"Terry, did you know that you were going to win the MVP?" said Thompson, which Bradshaw replied: "No, but when I did win the MVP - this is going to shock you - it was because I threw 28 touchdown passes, which was the most since the merger of the AFL and NFL, 28 touchdown passes.
"Can you believe that? Matthew Stafford has 17 now."
Bradshaw continued: "And actually, I thought last year it should have been Saquon Barkley hands down.
"Well, I thought Lamar Jackson, if anybody would have won it out of the quarterback position, Lamar threw for 41 touchdowns and five interceptions. Was astounding. And he didn't win it."
The former Steelers star then went on to outline his belief that the importance of the quarterback is why they are always in the discussion to win the MVP award, adding that while he thinks Taylor is a frontrunner this season, he would choose Stafford to win the award out of the signal callers in the discussion.
He continued: "I think it's because we always have the ball in our hands, we're always being talked about, we're always being given the credit because of how great we are, forgetting that we have a line and receivers and so on and so forth, and running backs is not a sexy thing.
"That's why Taylor would be a front runner this year, but someone asked me that earlier and I said 'easily would be my front runner' - but then they could look at Daniel Jones, and if I had to pick a quarterback or anybody winning it, I would say Matthew Stafford is having his best year ever."