Justin Herbert NFL MVP vote revealed: the voter who single-handedly robbed Patriots’ Drake Maye

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• How close the MVP count really was
• Who cast the Herbert ballot and why it mattered
• Simple math shows one ballot could have changed everything
  • Why that single ballot carried outsized weight
• Comparing the MVP cases for Stafford and Maye
• Where Herbert fits into the debate
• Ballot mechanics and alternate scenarios
• Other NFL headlines readers are following

The NFL MVP race ended with razor-thin margins, and now one unexpected ballot is getting all the attention. A single first-place vote for Justin Herbert appears to have been enough to tilt the trophy toward Matthew Stafford instead of Patriots rookie Drake Maye.

How close the MVP count really was

The official totals were startlingly tight. Matthew Stafford finished with 366 points and 24 first-place votes. Drake Maye ended at 361 points with 23 first-place votes. Josh Allen trailed with 91 points and two top votes.

Beyond the top three, one other first-place slot went to Justin Herbert. That lone vote has become a talking point.

Who cast the Herbert ballot and why it mattered

Sam Monson admitted on X that he was the voter who put Herbert at No. 1. He explained his pick in plain terms.

• Monson argued Herbert faced the NFL’s worst offensive line much of the year.
• He said Herbert consistently produced big plays under heavy pressure.
• Monson contrasted that with moments where Stafford struggled after his line weakened.

Monson framed his choice as a judgment of value under adverse conditions. That reasoning resonated with some voters, and alienated others.

Simple math shows one ballot could have changed everything

The voting point system is straightforward. A first-place vote is worth 10 points. Second place gives 5 points. Third place gives 3 points.

With Stafford ahead by 5 points, small shifts mattered. If Monson’s ballot had placed Maye second instead of Herbert first, a swap would have added 5 points to Maye and tied him with Stafford at 366.

And if Maye had been third or lower on that same ballot, swapping Herbert’s first-place slot for Maye’s would have given Maye enough points to surpass Stafford.

Why that single ballot carried outsized weight

• The margin was a single second-place value.
• Only one voter split from the main two-candidate debate.
• In a tight race, atypical votes become decisive.

Comparing the MVP cases for Stafford and Maye

Stafford’s résumé included veteran leadership and big games for a playoff-caliber club. His stat line and team success impressed many voters.

Maye, as a first-year starter, put up impressive numbers and excitement. His season carried a different kind of value: youth and a sudden franchise rise.

Context mattered. Critics noted the Patriots’ schedule had favorable matchups at times. Supporters pointed to Maye’s poise and production.

Where Herbert fits into the debate

Herbert did not finish in the top five overall, but Monson defended the pick by emphasizing the circumstances he faced. He highlighted Herbert’s performance while routinely playing behind a struggling offensive line.

That perspective treats MVP as a measure of impact relative to resources. It is a defensible approach, though not the dominant one among voters.

Ballot mechanics and alternate scenarios

1. If Monson had ranked Maye second and Herbert first remained unchanged, Maye would have tied Stafford.
2. If Maye had been ranked third or lower on that ballot, placing him first there would have produced a Maye victory.
3. Small changes across several ballots could also have shifted the outcome.

The vote’s narrow margin makes these hypotheticals notable. They also show how a single unconventional choice can carry championship-level consequences.

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