It Would Be Great’ to Sign Long-Term Lions Contract After Playoff Run

Jared Goff, the quarterback for the Detroit Lions, recently expressed his enthusiasm for signing a long-term contract with the team. According to Kyle Meinke of MLive.com, Goff stated, I’ve loved every second of my time here and would love more. I love [head coach] Dan [Campbell], I love the coaches and all my teammates. Yeah, it would be great. But it’s not up to me.

Goff’s current contract has him earning just over $21.6 million for the 2024 season before he becomes a free agent in 2025. When he was traded from the Los Angeles Rams to the Detroit Lions in exchange for Matthew Stafford in January 2021, expectations for Goff weren’t particularly high. However, he has since become a crucial component of the Lions’ offence.

In 2023, Goff played a key role in leading the Lions to a 12-5 record. He completed 67.3 % of his passes for 4,575 yards and 30 touchdowns with only 12 interceptions. Thanks in part to Goff’s performance and Detroit’s dominant running game, Campbell’s team boasted the league’s fifth-best scoring offence.

Despite expressing his desire to stay with the organization, Goff acknowledged that the decision to offer him a long-term deal was beyond his control. “It’s not up to me,” Goff said, as reported by Meinke. “I love this place, and we’ll see what happens as time goes on here. But yeah, I love this place, and love Dan and all the coaches love and all my teammates. It’s out of my hands. It’s up to my representatives and obviously the people upstairs.”

Goff’s elevated performance in the playoffs could potentially influence the front office’s decision to keep him in Detroit. In three postseason starts, Goff averaged 279.0 yards per game while throwing 4 touchdowns and avoiding interceptions. The Lions won their first playoff game since 1992 and came close to making their first Super Bowl appearance before a 17-point halftime lead was erased by the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship game.

Reasons for Goff’s Success in Detroit

Several factors have contributed to Goff’s success with the Lions

• Strong Running Game: The Lions’ rushing attack, led by running back D’Andre Swift, has taken pressure off Goff and allowed him to operate more efficiently in the passing game.
• Improved Offensive Line: The Lions’ offensive line has improved significantly since Goff’s arrival, providing him with better protection and more time to make throws.
• Coaching Staff: Head coach Dan Campbell and offensive coordinator Ben Johnson have created a system that plays to Goff’s strengths and allows him to thrive.
• Goff’s Elevated Play: Goff has simply played better since joining the Lions. He has become more accurate with his throws, made better decisions with the football, and shown improved leadership skills.

If the Lions sign Goff to a long-term contract, it would send a strong message that they believe he is their franchise quarterback and the key to their future success. It would also provide Goff with stability and security, which could further improve his play.

A long-term deal for Goff would also have implications for the rest of the roster. The Lions would likely need to prioritize building around Goff by adding talent at other positions, such as wide receiver and tight end.

Additional Information

• Goff was selected first overall by the Los Angeles Rams in the 2016 NFL Draft.
• He played college football at the University of California, where he set Pac-12 Conference records for passing yards and passing touchdowns in a single season.
• Goff helped lead the Rams to Super Bowl LIII, where they lost to the New England Patriots.
• Goff has been named to the Pro Bowl twice in his career.