Drake Maye’s 2025-26 campaign has rapidly evolved from breakout season to near-consensus NFL MVP effort, with sportsbooks installing him as a heavy odds-on favorite heading into Week 18.
NFL Regular Season MVP 2025-26
- Drake Maye (NE) -350
- Matthew Stafford (LAR) +225
- Trevor Lawrence (JAX) +20000
- Josh Allen (BUF) +25000
- Christian McCaffrey (SF) +50000
In his second year, he has paired top-tier efficiency with high-volume production, giving New England the kind of elite quarterback play it has sought since the Tom Brady era. The Patriots sit at 13-3 with the AFC East already clinched, and their resurgence to legitimate Super Bowl contention is a core pillar of his MVP profile.
Maye’s statistical résumé matches the eye test: he is over 4,200 passing yards with around 30 touchdowns against single-digit interceptions while leading the league in passer rating and advanced efficiency metrics.
A Week 17 demolition of the Jets, where he threw five touchdowns on 19-of-21 passing, crystallized the narrative that he is the engine of one of the NFL’s most dangerous offenses.
NFL sportsbooks that opened him as a long shot before the season have steadily shortened his price until he now carries roughly an 80–85% implied chance to win the award at many markets.
From a betting standpoint, his profile checks every traditional MVP box: elite individual numbers, a top-tier team record, signature performances in high-leverage spots, and a compelling “new star” storyline that contrasts sharply with veteran rival Matthew Stafford’s late-season slide.
Unless he completely stumbles in the finale or voters heavily penalize New England’s relatively soft strength of schedule, Maye’s 2025-26 season is positioned not just as an MVP-caliber campaign, but as the kind of year that resets expectations for his ceiling going forward.
NFL Coach of the Year 2025-26
- Mike Vrabel +110
- Kyle Shanahan +150
- Mike Macdonald +600
- Liam Coen +1200
- Ben Johnson +2500
- Sean Payton +5000
- Dave Canales +25000
- Demeco Ryans +25000
- Mike Tomlin +40000
- Sean McVay +40000
Mike Vrabel’s 2025-26 season has been defined by a rapid reset of the New England Patriots’ identity and on-field results after several stagnant years post–Tom Brady.
Taking over following his firing in Tennessee, Vrabel quickly installed a tougher, detail-oriented culture that has translated into a winning record and a return to relevance in the AFC playoff picture.
New England’s goals under Vrabel — winning the AFC East, hosting playoff games, and competing for championships — are no longer slogans but realistic objectives, as reflected in the team’s strong early-season surge and improved divisional standing.
On the field, Vrabel’s impact is most evident in situational football and complementary play.
The Patriots have tightened up in critical downs, shown more physicality on defense, and leaned into a balanced, opponent-specific game plan each week, a hallmark of Vrabel’s tenure in Tennessee, where his teams routinely punched above their talent level.
Pairing that approach with the rapid rise of quarterback Drake Maye has given New England a modern offensive ceiling that his Titans teams often lacked, helping fuel his emergence in Coach of the Year discussions alongside the team’s return to double-digit win pace.
Vrabel leads the odds for betting on the NFL COTY, but a 49ers win against the Seahawks tomorrow could propel Kyle Shanahan to the top of the pack.
Bovada Sportsbook | Sports Illustrated
