Jared Goff experienced a variety of adventures during his time in Los Angeles. From being the # 1 Overall Pick to wrestling out of the gate under Jeff Fisher to a Pro Bowler in Year 2 with Sean McVay to lead the Rams to a Super Bowl and then back into the abyss as the scapegoat for how it crashed back to the earth for the past two seasons.
In a lengthy conversation with Los Angeles Times’ Sam Farmer, Goff shared how his trade to Detroit ended in exchange for QB Matthew Stafford.
“As a quarterback, as the guy who has arguably the most important position on the field, if you are in a place where you are not wanted and they want to be further away from you, then the feeling is mutual,” Goff told Farmer. “You don’t want to be in the wrong place. It became increasingly clear that this was the case. [The trade] is something I hope will be so good for my career. “
Goff spent his first five seasons in LA after the Rams traded a boatload of tow bars to select the Cal product. They also traded a lot to get rid of Goff, shipping him, two first-round picks and a third-rounder to the Lions.
“I really enjoyed my time here,” said Goff. “I want to leave this on a positive note. Obviously the ending was neither favorable nor fun. But they put me at number 1 overall and took me to a city that hasn’t had a football team for a long time. “Being able to bring LA football back to the forefront, all those things that I’m extremely proud of. It’s something I’ll always remember.”
Goff’s time in LA was highlighted by high highlights – beating the Kansas City Chiefs in a high-flying air raid in an affair in 2018; winning two playoff games to make it to the Super Bowl – and some low lows that culminated in out-of-town trading.
“However it turned out, Sean and I had a great relationship and did so many great things together,” said Goff. “Won a lot of big games. Won some playoff games. Won two divisions together. I’ve had so much success on the attack, so many good times and memories.”
“Unfortunately it ended sour, but it still doesn’t take away from all the times we had.”
That sour ending included playing through a late season thumb injury that required surgery to get him back for the playoffs. Goff struggled with accuracy both before and after the injury, especially under pressure, but the QB wasn’t the main reason the Rams left the playoffs with a loss at Green Bay.
However, LA saw an opportunity to upgrade the position and scrap Goff’s contract. After weeks of expressing their dissatisfaction with Goff’s trajectory, the Rams buyer made a bold move. History will judge whether it was the right one.
Echoing his comments to NFL.com’s Mike Silver the day after the transaction was reported, the QB is looking forward to the next page of its journey in a new city.
“(Talking to the lions) is what got me, ‘oh my God, that’s how it’s supposed to feel,’ said Goff. ” This makes me feel great, ‘how excited they were, how excited they were. ‘