Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff didn't start out his career with the team in the traditional sense. He wasn't drafted and he wasn't signed. He was nabbed by general manager Brad Holmes after Goff's stock had begun to...let's say tank.
In addition to the plethora of first rounders the Lions got back for Goff that became players like Jahmyr Gibbs, Sam LaPorta, and Jameson Williams, Detroit got back a quarterback open to learning the ropes for a new club while looking to bounce back from some down years with the Los Angeles Rams.
The sense of relief that Goff got from being traded to the Lions was actually covered by the latest season of Netflix's series Quarterback, which Goff will be starring in alongside Joe Burrow, and Kirk Cousins.
Goff explains to his interviewers that while he felt like maybe his "previous organization" was under the assumption that he'd be headed to Detroit to see his career" die," the welcoming atmosphere from both Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell made it clear that they were all trying to build a winner from the ground up, with Goff at the helm.
Fighting through tears, Goff said, "That moment of hearing them on the phone, knowing that the opportunity I had here was special."
Goff's thoughts on Lions trade captured by Quarterback crew
Goff explained in the clip that getting the phone call from Holmes and Campbell made it a reality that he'd be coming into the city with the purpose of revitalizing the franchise, one step at a time. Holmes and Campbell were also interviewed for their thoughts on the trade, with Holmes reiterating that he felt like it was a "no brainer" to go get Goff.
"I had an idea of what we were gonna start going through, and I knew how resilient he was, and I just thought he'd be a good fit for the journey we were about to take," said Holmes.
That journey was, of course, Detroit struggling after acquiring Goff because they had to go through a rebuild. They were 5-11 in 2020 and 3-13 in 2021, but then exploded on the scene as a 9-8 team in 2022 and a 12-5 team the following year. Last season, they were one of the best regular season teams in the NFL with a 15-2 record.
This year, Goff is getting back almost all of the same weapons he had last year, but will be without his steadfast center in Frank Ragnow. Regardless, the faith in Goff is obviously real from the coaching staff and front office. He's clearly expected to achieve greatness for not just himself, with the team.
