Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford’s late-career resurgence is turning heads across the NFL, and even former rivals are taking notice. On Wednesday, Eagles center Jason Kelce jokingly suggested Stafford must be “taking whatever Tom Brady is” to maintain his elite play at 37.
“He’s taking whatever Tom Brady and all these other Hollywood folks are taking,” Kelce said on the “New Heights” podcast. “He’s got some out there. I don’t know what it is. There’s some devilation. That’s keeping him young, and his fing arm is still slinging like it’s a fing 18-year-old.”
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Matthew Stafford’s MVP-Level Performance
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The numbers back up Kelce’s playful jab. Through 11 games in 2025, Stafford leads the NFL with 30 passing touchdowns and just two interceptions. According to NFL research, only three other quarterbacks in league history—Tom Brady in 2007, Aaron Rodgers in 2011, 2014, and 2020, and Patrick Mahomes in 2020—have reached at least 30 touchdowns with fewer than five interceptions through a team’s first 11 games. Brady and Rodgers won MVP in those seasons, while Mahomes finished third.
Stafford is on pace for 46 touchdown passes this season, which would tie him for the seventh-most in a single season with Drew Brees (2011) and mark the most since Rodgers’ 48 in 2020—another MVP year. This statistical company only bolsters his MVP candidacy, highlighting Stafford as one of the most efficient, productive quarterbacks in the league.
Efficiency Meets Longevity
Stafford has openly embraced a Brady-like approach to his career. “I’m right there with Tom, and I would say probably most quarterbacks in this league, in finding something that works for you and going with it,” Stafford explained. “Since I’ve been here in LA I’ve had the same guy who has worked physical therapy-wise with me every single day… I try to eat as clean as I possibly can. I do try to take care of myself as best I can. It’s really important. It’s what helps create the ability to have some longevity in this league.”
Rams analyst Ryan Anderson echoed Stafford’s transformation, noting his evolved decision-making: “I’ll say he is protecting the ball in a much better way. He’s not trying to extend plays; he’s kind of entering his Tom Brady era of just directing the ball, getting rid of it in a smart way, not putting it in harm’s way.” Stafford’s blend of efficiency and conditioning has allowed him to maintain peak performance even under constant pressure.
The Rams MVP Narrative
Stafford’s statistical dominance is impossible to ignore. He has completed 65.7% of his attempts in the red zone, ranking fifth in the NFL, and has absorbed 37 quarterback hits while throwing 25 touchdowns to just two turnovers over the last eight games. At 37, Stafford isn’t just surviving; he’s thriving, rewriting the late-career quarterback narrative and making a strong case for MVP honors while leading the Rams atop the NFC West.
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