Veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford was named the NFL MVP at the NFL Honors on Thursday. The Los Angeles Rams quarterback defeated Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence, San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey and New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye.

Stafford won his first MVP award after beating the Patriots quarterback by just five points. The Rams veteran also became the oldest quarterback to win his first NFL MVP award at 37 years old.

The 37-year-old quarterback also quashed rumors of his retirement during his acceptance speech on Thursday night.

“I am so happy to have you at the games on the sideline with me, and I can’t wait for you to cheer me on next year when we’re out there kicking ass,” Stafford said. “So, I’ll see you guys next year. Hopefully, I’m not at this event, and we’re getting ready for another game in SoFi. So, I appreciate you guys. Thank you very much.”

Stafford reportedly beat Maye by just one first-place vote in one of the tightest MVP races in NFL history.

Also Read: “Sympathy MVP award,” “Stat pad queen”: NFL fans outraged as Matthew Stafford wins MVP award over Drake Maye by 1 vote

Also Read: Ryan Clark believes Drake Maye will lose MVP to $84,000,000 QB despite leading Patriots to Super Bowl