Jared Goff said the contract extension he officially signed Thursday morning that will keep him in Detroit through at least the 2028 season closes the door of sorts on the first chapter of his Lions tenure.
After the initial shock of being traded to Detroit for Matthew Stafford and draft picks ahead of the 2021 season there were some dark times early on as the Lions got off to a 0-10-1 start. Fans wondered if Goff was just a table setter at the position and not the long-term solution.
The criticism from fans early on was fair, according to Goff. One of the things he loves and appreciates most about Detroit is playing for a passionate fan base that isn't afraid to show their displeasure with bad play and celebrate the good.
"From a fan perspective we got what we deserved for the majority of the last three years," Goff said. "When we were bad, they let us know. When we were good, they let us know. When we got embraced is when we started to play well.
"Kind of in that 2022 year I think probably that Bills game at home during Thanksgiving when I could really feel like, 'Alright, this is different now with the city and the fans and how much they care.' They believe in us and we believe in ourselves. From that moment on I don't know what our record is but I'm sure it's pretty good. That's probably when I realized they like what we're doing."
After a 1-6 start that 2022 season, Detroit won three straight games going into the Thanksgiving Day Game vs. Buffalo. The Lions lost a close game to the Bills, 28-25, but went on to lose only one more game the rest of the season, finishing 8-2 over their last 10 games. Goff and the Lions picked right up where they left off to start the 2023 season as Goff would eventually lead them to their first division championship in 30 years and first playoff win in 32 years. They were 30 minutes away from the franchise's first Super Bowl.
Among all NFL quarterbacks since Week 9 of the 2022 season, Goff ranks second in yards (7,109), third in touchdowns (47) and fourth in passer rating (100.0). Detroit is 20-7 over that span and 2-1 in the playoffs.
Goff battled through adversity when he got to Detroit and has come out of it appreciative of that journey. He's grown both on and off the field because of it. Hearing the 'JA-RED GOFF' chants from the Ford Field faithful during the Rams playoff game last year is something Goff said he'll never forget. It took on a life of its own at other sporting events around Detroit and he joked Thursday someone actually sent him a video of the chant at a local grocery store, which left him chuckling.
View photos of Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff.
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during a NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers on November 12, 2023 in Los Angeles. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during an NFC Championship football game against the San Francisco 49ers on January 28, 2024 in Santa Clara. (Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during an NFC Wild Card round football game against the Los Angeles Rams on January 14, 2024 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during an NFC Championship football game against the San Francisco 49ers on January 28, 2024 in Santa Clara. (Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions tackle Penei Sewell (58), Detroit Lions offensive lineman Graham Glasgow (60), Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16), and Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (26) during an NFC Divisional round football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on January 21, 2024 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during a NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on January 7, 2024 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during an NFC Divisional round football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on January 21, 2024 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during an NFC Wild Card round football game against the Los Angeles Rams on January 14, 2024 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during a NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on January 7, 2024 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during a NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers on November 12, 2023 in Los Angeles. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during a NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on December 24, 2023 in Minneapolis. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during a NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys on December 30, 2023 in Arlington, TX. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16), Detroit Lions tackle Taylor Decker (68), and Detroit Lions offensive lineman Graham Glasgow (60) during a NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints on December 3, 2023 in New Orleans. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during a NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on December 24, 2023 in Minneapolis. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during a NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings on December 24, 2023 in Minneapolis. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during a NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers on September 28, 2023 in Green Bay, WI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during a NFL game against the Las Vegas Raiders on October 30, 2023 in Detroit. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during a NFL game against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023 in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during a NFL game against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023 in Detroit, MI. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during a NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on October 15, 2023 in Tampa, FL. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
This extension, more than anything else, is about security and stability for Goff. He has a no-trade clause, and knows he's the quarterback for the foreseeable future in a place that has become near and dear to him. He said he's more driven than ever to bring Detroit the ultimate prize.
"Now I'm more driven and fired up to go even harder and put the pedal to the metal even more to bring a Super Bowl to this city," Goff said.
"This city just means so much to me now and will hold a special place in my heart forever that there isn't as much external motivator as there is internal of, I just want to win for them. I want to win for these fans, and I want them to be able to experience the success that we've had this past year and half and continue to do that."
