Time for the media to stop empathizing with Jared Goff…
The story of the Los Angeles Rams and Jared Goff is not what you think. For years now, the media has coddled Jared Goff; painting him as this hero rising from the ashes to deliver new hope to the Detroit Lions while the Los Angeles Rams were the villain who betrayed the quarterback by trading for Matthew Stafford.
In Season 2 of Netflix’s series Quarterback, episode 1 ensures to pull on the heart strings and empathize for Jared Goff…
“So 2020 season happens, three weeks after the last game of the season, I get a call from [Rams coach] Sean [McVay], and really did not expect anything. He lets me know they’re trading me to Detroit and I’m like, ‘Oh, whoa, OK, alright,’ what the hell, what’s happening?’ And I would say about 30 seconds after that phone call, it was on Twitter.”
So let’s break this down and rewind the tape shall we…
In 2018, after losing Super Bowl LIII 13-3 to the New England Patriots, the Rams gave Jared Goff a massive extension. 4 years $134 million ($110 guaranteed). The deal was the most guaranteed money rewarded to a quarterback…ever.
How did Goff respond the next two seasons? Here’s a breakdown of 2017-2018 Goff vs 2019-2020 Goff…
Pre Super Bowl / Rookie Deal…
QB record: 24-7 (.774%)
TD/INT ratio: 60/19
Sacked: 58 times
GWD: 5
Post Super Bowl & Extension…
QB record: 18-13 (.580%)
TD/INT: 42/29
Sacked: 45 times
GWD: 3
The truth is Jared Goff regressed. And he has no one but to blame but himself. And never once did he take ownership of that regression. He might have made comments about playing better…blah, blah, blah. But there was never a heightened sense of urgency from him or more effort from a guy that just received an extension. You know what Aaron Donald did when he got an extension? He balled out at an even higher level.
Jared Goff couldn’t find a way to beat the 0-13 Jets in the 2020 season. What made you believe he was going to get the Rams back to the Super Bowl in a timely manner?
Goff created waves with Sean McVay
Again…let’s not mistake Goff for some puppy that was disowned by Sean McVay. Sean McVay tried to coach Jared Goff hard. Playing the quarterback position requires personal ownership. I’m pretty sure Dan Campbell coaches the Detroit Lions hard. Interestingly enough, Jared Goff seemed to take plenty of accountability after mistakes during airing of the Quarterback tv series…
Not many head coaches want an apathetic quarterback leading their offense. Was Sean McVay wrong for being public about Jared Goff in meetings and the locker room? Maybe. Can you blame Sean McVay for being frustrated? No.
Also, did we forget that Jared Goff sent this message in a group chat that was later leaked…
A message from Jared Goff on Veronika Khomyn, who is the fiancée of #Rams coach Sean McVay… and it’s a pretty clear one: pic.twitter.com/QUWSIuM25d
— Hux (@AdamHux2) February 17, 2022
Not sure many head coaches would want to work day in-day out with a quarterback that makes those types of comments about their girlfriend/fiancee/wife.
Goff vs. Stafford Debate (If there is any…)
For anyone that is still calling the Goff and Stafford trade even… The Rams have a Super Bowl. The Lions do not (still). Here’s the difference about the two: Stafford steps up in big games, Goff does not…
Playoff *Averages* extrapolated over 17 games..
Goff: 4200 yards, 15 touchdowns, 9 interceptions
Stafford: 5100 yards, 32 touchdowns, 10 interceptions
Look no further than what the Rams did in 2021. Stafford led three game winning drives across the divisional, conference championship, and Super Bowl. If you judge the two during their respective times with Los Angeles…
Goff (6 games): 1300 yards, 4 touchdowns, 2 interceptions
Stafford (7 games): 2088 yards, 15 touchdowns, 3 interceptions
Jared Goff’s World…
In Season 2 of Quarterback, Goff said he wished that Los Angeles front office had maturity with how they handled the situation. Um did Goff forget that McVay had repeatedly apologized for his part in the trade news in 2021 without anyone prompting him. I guess forgiveness doesn’t exist. And yet even then, the NFL is a business!
How are you blindsided by a move in which you were benched in favor of John Wolford. (*Disclosure: Wolford has 4 career starts ever). Maybe your agent should have done you better by preparing you for a potential trade since the Rams coaching staff was souring on his performance…
“Quarterbacks must have an alternate reality than other players…You felt you were ‘blindsided’ by it? That happens to players every day.”
️@LaVarArrington reacts to Jared Goff saying he was blindsided by the Rams trade, saying the handling of it lacked maturity pic.twitter.com/wNEr2O7b9f
— FOX Sports Radio (@FoxSportsRadio) July 11, 2025
So what’s the recap? Goff regressed. He wasn’t liked by his head coach. He deflects mistakes/avoids accountability. And he can’t perform up to talent level of elite quarterbacks in the NFL. I mean, did he not single handedly cost the #1-seeded Detroit Lions in the divisional game against the Washington Commanders with four turnovers? Stafford doesn’t lose that game…
That’s the truth about Jared Goff. Good perhaps. It’s time for the media to stop letting Goff play victim. He’s just not like Matthew Stafford.