Much like the Los Angeles Rams, Jared Goff and the Detroit Lions exited the playoffs earlier than they had hoped. The Lions were defeated by the Washington Commanders, while the Rams fell to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Following their playoff exit, the Lions experienced a wave of coaching changes, losing both coordinators—including offensive coordinator Ben Johnson—who secured head coaching roles with rival teams.
Despite these departures, the Lions remain confident in Goff and his potential for continued improvement, even without Johnson.
“I feel very confident in that,” Lions general manager Brad Holmes stated on January 23. “As long as Dan [Campbell] is the head coach here, and as long as I’m here, those things are not going to change. So, there might be some tweaks to the scheme, but when a player comes here, he’s either a Detroit Lion or he’s not; same goes for a coach.
“I think Jared, in particular, is something that’s at the forefront of Dan’s mind when it comes to what will be best for him [Goff]. I have faith that everything will be alright.”
Holmes continued, “I can’t say that Goff is a product of Johnson’s system. He was very productive with Ben as a coordinator, but he had success in a completely different system before he came here. I think he’s a better, more mature quarterback now. I don’t foresee that being an issue. I believe he’s entering his prime and continues to improve each year. Every season, he keeps playing at a higher level. So, I have a lot of faith in Dan, and I know he’ll make sure Jared’s in a good position.”
In November 2024, Goff signed a four-year, $212 million contract extension, three years after being traded from the Rams. According to Over The Cap, the Lions can’t cut Goff for financial gain until 2026. A post-June 1 designation would save them $35 million, with $34.6 million in dead money.
If a trade were to occur, the 30-year-old quarterback’s situation would have similar financial consequences. The first opportunity for the Lions to save money with a post-June 1 trade would be in 2026, offering a $55 million saving with $14.6 million in dead cap.
Teammates Rally Behind Jared Goff After Playoff Defeat
In the aftermath of the playoff loss to the Commanders, Jared Goff faced heavy criticism for his performance. He completed 57.5% of his passes, with 313 yards, two touchdowns, and five interceptions. He was also sacked twice and fumbled once.
However, Goff’s teammates defended him, including Lions offensive linemen Frank Ragnow and Penei Sewell.
“I will ride with Jared Goff until the day I die,” Ragnow declared on January 18. “In any aspect of life. Football, no matter what it is. He’s one of the most stand-up human beings, players— you name it. I’ll always have his back.”
Sewell echoed Ragnow’s sentiments, criticizing the notion that Goff should shoulder the blame for the loss. “That’s bulls***,” Sewell said on January 19. “I just don’t understand how a team sport can place the blame on one person. It’s not like he’s out there by himself. But that’s not my world, and I don’t pay attention to that.”
NFL Fines Commanders LB for Hit on Jared Goff
Although Jared Goff is no longer active in the postseason, he still made headlines after a controversial hit from Washington Commanders linebacker Frankie Luvu. A fan shared a clip on X, noting that if the hit had been on Patrick Mahomes, the linebacker would have been thrown out of the game, fined, and possibly arrested.
On January 25, the NFL imposed a fine on Luvu for roughing the passer, specifically for a blow to Goff’s head/neck that aided in a pick-six. The hit occurred with less than six minutes remaining in the second quarter, with Goff having completed 8-of-10 passes for 120 yards and a touchdown. Following the hit, Goff struggled, finishing the game with 15 completions on 29 attempts for 193 yards, no touchdowns, and two more interceptions.
The NFL fined Luvu $16,883 for the hit, although no flag had been thrown during the game.
