Tom Brady knows what an NFL Most Valuable Player looks like because he has been one more times than almost anyone else in league history. During his legendary run with the New England Patriots, Brady captured three league MVP awards, and while that résumé would be enough to earn anyone a lifetime of credibility, he has added a new layer to his football authority as a broadcaster for FOX Sports. So when Brady sat down for the “Ask Tom” segment and offered his early picks for the 2026 MVP award, the football world listened. His list included four names, and while some were obvious, one stood out as the kind of bold, thoughtful choice that only someone who truly understands the game would make. Brady named Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy, Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff, and Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs as his top four MVP candidates through the first half of the season. The first three names fit a familiar pattern, because quarterbacks have dominated the MVP award for more than a decade. But Gibbs represents something much rarer. No running back has claimed the NFL’s most prestigious individual honor since Adrian Peterson did it in 2012, and for a retired quarterback to put a running back in the conversation takes a certain kind of vision. The FanDuel odds tell a similar story. Allen is the heavy favorite at +165, Purdy sits third at +500, Goff is further back at +2700, and Gibbs trails the pack at +6000, but Brady’s willingness to mention all four shows that he values more than just statistics. He values leadership, consistency, and the kind of impact that does not always show up in a box score.
Brady’s first name was no surprise. Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen has been playing like a man possessed, and in Brady’s view, he is the clear standard-bearer for the MVP race. Brady said Allen is playing great football, and he specifically pointed to the way Allen impacts the game both through the air and on the ground. That dual-threat ability has become Allen’s signature, and it makes him nearly impossible to defend. Through seven games, Allen has thrown for 1,793 yards, 11 touchdowns, and five interceptions, posting a passer rating of 101.1. Those numbers alone would put him in the conversation, but his rushing production separates him from the pack. Allen has added 270 yards and nine rushing touchdowns on the ground, giving him 20 total touchdowns in just seven games. That kind of production is exactly what MVP voters have come to expect from the award in the modern era. The quarterback is the most important position in sports, and when a quarterback can score through the air and on the ground, he becomes a one-man offensive engine. Allen is doing that right now, and the odds reflect it. At +165, he is the runaway favorite, and it is easy to see why. Brady’s commentary about Allen was short, but it carried the weight of someone who knows how difficult it is to play the position at an elite level. Allen is not just throwing the ball well; he is running through defenders, extending plays, and willing his team to victory. That kind of relentless competitiveness is something Brady recognizes from his own days on the field. If Allen can maintain this pace, he will not only be the MVP favorite at the end of the season, but he will have built a case that is hard to argue against.
The second name on Brady’s list was Brock Purdy, and this was a choice that felt both measured and meaningful. Purdy is the quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers, a team sitting at 6-1, and Brady made it clear that he believes the 49ers would not be in that position without Purdy’s steady, dependable, and consistent play. That is high praise from someone who made a career out of being exactly that kind of quarterback. Purdy may not have the raw arm strength that Allen has, and he may not make the same highlight-reel runs, but he does something that often goes unnoticed: he runs the offense with complete control. Through seven games, Purdy has thrown for 1,748 yards and 15 touchdowns with only four interceptions, and his passer rating sits at an impressive 110.1. Those numbers put him in the upper echelon of quarterbacks this season, and his efficiency is a major reason the 49ers have been one of the best teams in the league. Brady specifically praised Purdy’s steady presence, and that is not something every quarterback can offer. In a league filled with chaos, Purdy brings calm. He takes what the defense gives him, he throws accurately, and he makes the right decisions under pressure. The odds currently have Purdy at +500, which makes him the third most likely player to win the award, and that is a significant achievement for a player who was once known as “Mr. Irrelevant” as the final pick in the draft. His journey from that point to being mentioned by Tom Brady alongside the game’s best is a testament to his work ethic and football intelligence. Purdy is not just managing games; he is winning them. The 49ers are a Super Bowl contender, and if they continue to roll, Purdy’s MVP case will only grow stronger.
Jared Goff was the third quarterback on Brady’s list, and this choice came with a personal touch. Brady noted that he had covered Goff in back-to-back weeks, which gave him a close look at the way Goff commands the Detroit Lions offense. Brady’s praise was glowing. He said Goff has total command of the offense, and he highlighted the quarterback’s ability to distribute the ball to playmakers like Jameson Williams and Amon-Ra St. Brown. That distribution has been on full display this season. Through seven games, Goff has thrown for 1,964 yards and 15 touchdowns with just one interception, and his passer rating is a magnificent 110.0. Those numbers are remarkably similar to Purdy’s, and when you consider that Goff has thrown only one interception, it is easy to understand why Brady respects his game so much. Goff has never finished higher than fifth in MVP voting, but this season feels different. He is on pace to throw for a career-high 4,770 yards, and he is doing it while leading an offense that is among the most explosive in football. The Lions have become a legitimate contender, and Goff is the reason their offense runs so smoothly. Brady’s point about total command is important because it speaks to the mental side of the quarterback position. Goff is not just throwing the football; he is reading defenses, making adjustments, and putting his teammates in position to succeed. That kind of leadership is hard to measure, but Brady recognizes it because he lived it. At +2700, Goff is not the favorite, but he has the seventh-best odds in the league, and if he continues to play at this level while the Lions stack wins, he could find himself right in the middle of the MVP conversation when the season comes to a close.
The most intriguing name on Brady’s list was not a quarterback at all. Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs made the cut, and that is a bold statement in an era where running backs rarely receive serious MVP consideration. Brady’s reasoning was simple and powerful. He pointed to Gibbs’ performance against the Vikings, where the young back put up more than 150 yards, and he noted that Gibbs accounts for something like 92 percent of Detroit’s rushing yards. That kind of workload and production is almost unheard of in today’s NFL, where running backs are often part of committees. Gibbs is the exception. Through seven games, he has rushed for 773 yards and eight touchdowns, while also catching 34 passes for 285 yards and three more touchdowns. That gives him 1,058 total yards from scrimmage and 11 total touchdowns, and he is on pace to finish the season with 1,880 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns. Those are video-game numbers, and they are exactly what a running back needs to overcome the historical bias against non-quarterbacks in the MVP race. The last running back to win the award was Adrian Peterson in 2012, and it took a near-record season for him to do it. Gibbs might not be quite there yet, but he is making a case. Brady called him a threat to go the distance on any play, and that is the perfect description. Gibbs combines speed, vision, and power in a way that reminds viewers of the league’s best backs. He is not just a runner; he is a weapon in the passing game as well, which makes him even more valuable. At +6000, he is a long shot by the oddsmakers, but Brady’s willingness to name him shows that the old quarterback still has a soft spot for dynamic playmakers who can change a game in a single touch.
Taken together, Brady’s four picks offer a revealing look at how he views the MVP award. He clearly respects the traditional value of quarterbacks, but he also believes that exceptional play should be recognized regardless of position. Josh Allen is the favorite because he is doing things that have never been done before. Brock Purdy and Jared Goff are the steady hands who are leading two of the best teams in football. And Jahmyr Gibbs is the liberated playmaker who represents everything fun about the sport. The 2026 MVP race is far from over. There are still many games to play, and the award could easily swing on a late-season performance, an injury, or a memorable Monday night moment. But if Brady’s list is any indication, this could be one of the most interesting MVP races in years. The quarterbacks will almost certainly get the most attention, but Gibbs opens the door for a conversation about what “valuable” really means. Is it the player who touches the ball every play, or the one who can score from anywhere on the field? Brady, who spent 23 seasons answering that question by winning championships, seems to believe the answer is not always simple. That is what makes his opinion so compelling. He is not just reading stats or following trends. He is watching film, studying the game, and trusting his instincts. And when Tom Brady talks about what makes a player great, even a three-time MVP himself, it is worth listening. The award might still be Allen’s to lose, but with Purdy, Goff, and Gibbs all in the conversation, the race is officially on.
