Rams' Stafford named NFL's Most Valuable Player / Photo: © GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP/File
-
Trump unveils new US passport -- with picture of himself
-
US and Iran trade strikes putting new strain on Mideast ceasefire
-
Hat-trick hero Dembele displays Ballon d'Or brilliance for France at World Cup
-
Maple Leafs make teen McKenna top pick in NHL Draft
-
Injured England defender James to miss Panama game at World Cup
-
California appeals court orders Weinstein resentencing for sex assault
-
Norway coach defends decision to leave out Haaland, Odegaard against France
-
Scheffler fires 60 to grab 36-hole PGA Travelers lead
-
Movie theaters are allies for streamers like us, Apple exec says
-
Austria's Rangnick shuts down conspiracy talk ahead of Algeria World Cup clash
-
DR Congo must take risks to keep World Cup 'dream alive', says Desabre
-
Should we fear an AI bubble bust?
-
Jangoo, Chase keep West Indies in touch against Sri Lanka
-
US strikes Iran sites after cargo ship attack
-
Dembele hat-trick as France swat Norway, Senegal stay alive
-
Gueye double keeps Senegal's World Cup hopes alive
-
Dembele hits hat-trick as France thrash second-string Norway at World Cup
-
US stocks recover from tech tremors as oil prices fall
-
Globalization isn't dead, just 'transformed,' says IMF chief economist
-
OpenAI restricts limited release of new model to US only
-
Israel and Lebanon hail Washington deal, rejected by Hezbollah
-
Scheffler fires 60 to grab early PGA Travelers lead
-
Usyk -- pugilist who kept Ukrainian spirits high in darkest days
-
Trump blasts 'godless' Democrats in incendiary speech to evangelicals
-
Orange wave: Dutch World Cup dream gathers pace
-
Venezuela earthquakes kill 920, tens of thousands missing
-
Swiss nuclear plant shut down due to heatwave
-
Hundred hero Duckett punishes New Zealand after Stokes sparks England revival
-
American businesswoman Michele Kang buys French club Lyon
-
South Korea coach bereft of answers with World Cup hopes on knife-edge
-
Lebanon, Israel, US sign trilateral framework agreement in Washington
-
Mistrial declared in deadly Los Angeles fire case
-
Antonelli scores 'double top' for Mercedes as Russell warns of McLaren threat
-
Verstappen wants to stay at Red Bull – in a fast car, says Mekies
-
Australia eye 'something special' after reaching World Cup last 32
-
Usyk says vacating heavyweight world title belts
-
UK sets new June temperature record for third day in a row: Met Office
-
Germany sees hottest temperature on record of 41.3C: weather service
-
AI abuse deterring good MPs: incoming IPU chief
-
Teenager Antonelli dominates practice for Austrian GP
-
More than 50,000 missing after Venezuela quakes, death toll soars
-
Japan say bring on Brazil at World Cup but wary of revenge mission
-
Caudullo challenges Montpellier to be 'watertight' against Dupont threat
-
Stocks recover from tech tremors as oil prices fall
-
Venezuela earthquakes toll soars to 589 amid desperate rescue effort
-
How heatwaves are dangerous to human health
-
Stokes strikes on England return before Duckett runs riot against New Zealand
-
Europe heatwave shattering temperature records: UN
-
UK hottest June day record broken for third day in a row: Met Office
-
Farm workers wilt in sweltering Italian shanty town
Rams' Stafford named NFL's Most Valuable Player
Veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford was named this season's NFL Most Valuable Player on Thursday, barely edging Drake Maye in the closest vote in years.
Stafford, the 37-year-old Los Angeles Rams signal-caller, received 24 of 50 first-place votes while the New England Patriots' Maye -- who will play in Sunday's Super Bowl -- received 23.
Buffalo Bills star Josh Allen placed third, while San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey -- the only non-quarterback on the final shortlist -- finished fourth.
Stafford led the league this season with 4,707 passing yards and 46 touchdowns, but his Rams just missed out on a Super Bowl appearance with a 31-27 defeat to the Seattle Seahawks in last month's NFC Championship clash.
"This team was really special. It didn't end the way we wanted it to, but, man, I'll never forget it," said Stafford, flanked by his four young daughters.
"I'll see you guys next year," Stafford added.
Also at the NFL Honors ceremony in San Francisco hosted by "Mad Men" star Jon Hamm, the Patriots' Mike Vrabel was named head coach of the year for a second time.
In his debut season as New England coach, former Patriots player Vrabel took a franchise that had won just four games in each of its two previous seasons all the way to this Sunday's Super Bowl.
Vrabel was previously the 2021 award winner with the Tennessee Titans.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the Seattle Seahawks wide receiver who will take on Vrabel's Patriots at Super Bowl LX, won offensive player of the year.
His league-high 1,793 receiving yards was the eighth-most in NFL history.
Cleveland Browns star Myles Garrett was named the defensive player of the year after setting the NFL record for sacks in a single season, with 23.
NFL legends including Drew Brees were named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
But, as had already been widely leaked, six-time Super Bowl-winning former Patriots head coach Bill Belichick failed to be elected to the Hall in his first appearance on the ballot.
Belichick, 73, is widely regarded as one of the greatest coaches in the history of the NFL.
But his career was also tinged with controversy, notably the 2007 "Spygate" scandal, when he was fined a record $500,000 after the Patriots were caught illegally filming signals by opposing coaches during games.
L.Wyss--VB
