Matthew Stafford is "A Total 'G" Says Rams' McVay amid NFL MVP Race vs. Drake Maye

With Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford mounting a strong MVP campaign, head coach Sean McVay believes all of the praise is "probably overdue."

"I know we feel really fortunate to have him in command and running the show," McVay said, per ESPN's Sarah Barshop. "And his competitiveness, his enjoyment for those moments, his ability to be at his best when his best is required, his ability to elevate his teammates and his overall ownership of what we're trying to get done with the intent. Whether that be run or pass game or protection oriented.

"He's a total 'G' and he's been 'G'. I think it's just getting more recognized now, but this isn't new to us."

The Rams' Super Bowl title in 2021 already caused a lot of people to assess Stafford's career differently.

While he had been prolific during his 12 years with the Detroit Lions, the Lions' 0-3 record during that span was tough to ignore.

"If you landed him in Pittsburgh or San Francisco, you'd see a winner," one defensive coordinator told The Athletic's Mike Sando in 2020. "He is going down that Carson Palmer road. Carson never really won until he got late in his career, either. Carson could always throw the ball. He was a first-round pick. He got to Arizona and he made some things happen. Never quite won the big one, but he was still a damn good quarterback."

Whatever criticisms about Stafford that were connected to Detroit's lack of success have been dispelled.

At the age of 37, he's in the midst of what could be his best season yet. Through 15 starts, he has thrown for 4,179 yards and an NFL-best 40 touchdowns. His 71.9 QBR ranks fourth in the league, per ESPN.com.

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This could potentially be a legacy-defining campaign. Winning an MVP, on top of maybe lifting the Lombardi Trophy for the second time, would make it tough to keep him out of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.