Jared Goff’s Redemption

Playing for the Rams

Jared Goff is a confident player. It was not always like that though. Jared Goff was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams first overall in 2016. He was a big part of a very explosive offense. Goff earned two NFC West division titles, an NFC Championship, and a Super Bowl appearance with the Los Angeles Rams. This was not easy to do in a division that included the dominant Seattle Seahawks. Jared Goff took the Los Angeles Rams to the Super Bowl in 2019 against the New England Patriots but lost in that game. He was truly a huge part of the Los Angeles Rams’ success.

Goff’s Departure

The success for Goff wouldn’t last long enough, however. The Los Angeles Rams head coach, Sean McVay, blamed Goff when the Los Angeles Rams started failing. This was a strange stance that the coach would take considering all that Jared Goff had done as a starter. McVay claimed that the quarterback needed to stop turning the ball over so much. In Week 12 of the 2020 season, Jared Goff mistakenly turned over the ball to the other team three times. Sean McVay had enough. Instead of putting the blame on himself like a leader, he decided to call out his quarterback to the press. He said, “Our quarterback has to take better care of the football.” From this point on, Sean McVay and Jared Goff’s relationship became sour. Sean McVay losing faith in Jared Goff seemingly made him play worse. Once Jared Goff injured his thumb, Sean McVay would start someone else.  Then the trade came in. Jared Goff would be traded to the Detroit Lions for Matthew Stafford. From this point on, it was clear that Sean McVay had given up on Jared Goff.

Redemption

Jared Goff’s career for the Detroit Lions started out average and shaky. He seemed to have a lack of confidence, it would be reasonable to blame Sean McVay for that. Slowly Goff progressed and became the quarterback that the Detroit Lions needed. Last season, Goff had 4,575 passing yards and threw for a career-high 30 touchdowns. During that season, he ended up playing his former team, the Los Angeles Rams in the first round of the playoffs.  He played one of the best games of his life and led the Detroit Lions to beat the Rams 24-23. After this game, Dan Campbell, the Detroit Lions coach, had lots to say. He gave Goff the game ball and said, “You’re good enough for Detroit, Jared Goff.” Dan Campbell trusted Goff to lead the Detroit Lions. It had never been more clear. After that game, Goff took the Lions all the way to the NFC Championship, where they lost to the San Francisco 49ers. In the first game of this season, Goff beat the Los Angeles Rams again except this time it was in overtime. Goff has continued to improve. Goff has truly proved that he is better off with the Detroit Lions than he ever was with the Los Angeles Rams. Jared Goff is good enough for Detroit. Goff has redeemed himself and found a coach that truly believes in him.  Dan Campbell has given Goff something that Sean McVay never could, confidence.