EXCLUSIVE: Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence heaped praise on Matthew Stafford after seeing the Los Angeles Rams collect the 2025 NFL MVP award
23:27 ET, 16 Feb 2026Updated 23:28 ET, 16 Feb 2026
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence attends the Abercrombie and Fitch NFL Super Bowl weekend fashion presentation at the NFL Culture Club at The Pearl in San Francisco, California, on February 7, 2026
View 2 Images
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence attends the Abercrombie and Fitch NFL Super Bowl weekend fashion presentation at the NFL Culture Club at The Pearl in San Francisco, California, on February 7, 2026. It has become a staple of every NFL game's pre-show coverage -- players strutting their way to stadium locker rooms wearing the latest daring fashion choices. A sport for decades associated with no-nonsense jocks has in recent years encouraged its stars' newfound attire obsession, as a way to capture new fans beyond the sport's traditional base. (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP via Getty Images)(Image: Patrick T. Fallon / AFP via Getty Images)
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence might have left his first NFL Honors gala empty-handed.
Still, he felt a great deal of gratitude to be recognized as one of the MVP award finalists — and said he was thrilled to see Los Angeles Rams signal-caller Matthew Stafford claim the honor. Lawrence had an outstanding season, setting a new Jaguars all-time total touchdown record with 38 while leading Jacksonville to a 13-4 record and the AFC South crown.
Article continues below
The former Clemson star ended the campaign with 4,007 passing yards (sixth-most in the NFL) on a 60.9 completion percentage, 29 passing TDs (fifth-most), and 12 interceptions. His performance didn't go unrecognized, as Lawrence was voted into the top five in both the MVP and Comeback of the Year ballots, perhaps sweetening the heartbreaking 27-24 postseason loss to the Buffalo Bills in the Wild Card round at least a little bit.
Article continues below
READ MORE: Tyreek Hill shares five-word retirement decision after brutal Dolphins releaseREAD MORE: NFL star attacked by group of criminals in NYC hotel as team releases statement
Lawrence finished fifth and fourth, respectively. Still, he had a blast during the NFL Honors gala — taking place at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco, California, a few days before Super Bowl LX — which he attended with his wife, a couple of teammates, and Jaguars head coach and Coach of the Year nominee Liam Coen
"To be recognized, to be honored with those guys and so many great players in the room, is a cool accomplishment that speaks to the season that we had," Lawrence told Mirror U.S. Sports after the ceremony.
Lawrence made sure to emphasize that Jacksonville's strong year was a team effort, noting that "you can never do it alone" as a quarterback. That effort made it all the more satisfying to open a Panini trading card box whose cover featured both him and his Jags teammate, Travis Hunter, while hanging out with several other NFL stars and legends at the Panini Prizm VIP lounge in San Francisco during Super Bowl week.
Lawrence also gave flowers to his rivals, who eventually claimed the end-of-season awards at the NFL Honors ceremony, saying each was "deserving" of the recognition.
Matthew Stafford #9 of the Los Angeles Rams and the AP NFL Most Valuable Player looks on during the 15th Annual NFL Honors at the Palace Of Fine Arts on February 05, 2026 in San Francisco, California
View 2 Images
Stafford has won the MVP award for the first time in his career
That included Stafford, who edged New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye by one vote to claim the first MVP title of his career.
"He's a great player, very deserving of it," Lawrence said of Stafford. "You look at the season he had, I don't think anyone can argue he was playing some of the best football in the league. So, happy for him.
"He's played a long time, and that's his first MVP, and he's been one of the best quarterbacks in the league for pretty much as long as he's played. So it's cool that he got that recognition. It's awesome for him."
Lawrence said he didn't have a chance to congratulate Stafford at the gala, as the Rams star seemed "pretty busy" while celebrating the award with his loved ones.
READ MORE: Super Bowl winner makes feelings clear on Eagles hero who caused historic Tom Brady upsetREAD MORE: Cam Newton dealt professional blow after Patriots ‘fool’s gold’ warning
Asked what his message to the veteran signal-caller would be, though, Lawrence emphasized the magnitude of the accomplishment — even though, he humbly noted, Stafford didn't "necessarily need to hear it from me."
"To be recognized as the best football player in the league — it's really, really cool," he said.
"There's a lot of great players, a lot of guys that have good seasons, and to be the one that wins MVP is pretty special.
Article continues below
"I'm sure he knows that, but you know, just congratulations to him."