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Eric Woodyard, ESPN
ALLEN PARK, Mich. — Fresh off officially inking his new four-year, $212 million contract extension Thursday morning, Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff spent a couple of minutes thanking those close to him.
Goff’s fiancée, Christen Harper, joined him at the Lions’ practice facility as he spoke to media members about the new deal and noted “security” and his no-trade clause as the biggest things he was considering during the process.
The deal negotiated by Goff’s agent, Ryan Tollner of Excel Sports Management, also includes a $73 million signing bonus — the largest in NFL history.
However, being signed through 2028, when Goff will turn 34, was just as intriguing.
“It was mostly security. You can go back and forth on the numbers and whatnot, and that wasn’t really the thing that was ever something I was extremely concerned with,” Goff said. “It was the security and the no-trade clause and all of that stuff, knowing that all that was in there and feeling secure in knowing that I can finally put that behind me and be excited about what’s to come.”
Goff, 29, led the Lions last season to an appearance in the NFC Championship Game for the first time since 1991. He has passed for 12,258 yards and 78 touchdowns with just 27 interceptions during his three years with Detroit, where he has revived his career since being acquired in a trade with the Los Angeles Rams for Matthew Stafford in 2021.
Over the past two seasons, the 2016 No. 1 pick also ranks top four in the NFL in several categories, including passing yards with 9,013 (second); passing TDs with 59 (tied for third); touchdown-to-interception ratio (3.1), which ranks second; and first-down rate (38%), which ranks fourth.
“It’s a good chapter closing of the last three years if you want to say,” Goff said. “Now, I’m more driven and more fired up than ever to go even harder and put the pedal to the medal even more to bring a Super Bowl to the city, and that’s what’s most important.”
After signing an extension with the Rams in 2019, Goff called this second extension in Detroit “a lot more” satisfying because of the tough times he had to endure to reach this point.
In Goff’s first season with the team in 2021, the Lions finished 3-13-1, but they improved to 9-8 in 2022. Detroit went 12-5 last year, when they tied the franchise record for single-season victories and won a division title for the first time in three decades.
Goff said he understands the criticism that’ll come with reaching a massive extension, but feels he plays his best when he’s being doubted, so he’ll continue to find ways to stay motivated.
“Those things are still there. Absolutely. I think all this does is give me the security of knowing where I’m going to be, but those things won’t ever die,” he said. “And there will be things that will come, I’m sure this year, that can add to that chip and continue to drive me, but I’m very internally motivated. I want to win a Super Bowl. I want to leave a legacy. I have a lot of personal goals, but I think most importantly it is hoisting that Lombardi.”
Goff was the third big extension that Detroit handed out this offseason. The franchise extended star receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and offensive lineman Penei Sewell, handing out over $444 million among the trio.
Goff is set to receive $170 million in guaranteed money, which ranks eighth among quarterbacks, while St. Brown ($77 million) and Sewell ($70.7 million) ranked first at their respective positions. Goff said he feels that awarding players who are deserving could signify big-picture success for the organization.
“I think that is important. The Lions, they recognize that upstairs to know that we have three players that are due for a new deal and took care of them,” Goff said. “I think that potential free agents see that and potential draft picks in the future see that and know that if you play well, you are taken care of.
“Us three are three guys that are very motivated and driven to win a Super Bowl, and it’s not just us three, though. There’s 53 guys and 11 guys on offense for every snap. We plan to do our part, but it’s fun to know that I’ll be able to play with those guys for quite a bit longer.”