Jared Goff's 2021 trade from the Los Angeles Rams to the Detroit Lions came as a shock. Los Angeles wasn't far removed from a Super Bowl appearance, and Goff had flourished under Sean McVay after a rocky rookie season.
Despite that, McVay wanted more at the position andboldly decided to swap Gofffor Matthew Stafford. The move didn't just surprise football fans and analysts, it also shocked Goff, who said he wasblindsided by the dealat the time.
Goff will square off against his former team and coach in Week 15, as the Lions travel to Los Angeles to play the Rams. But if you think Goff is still harboring any ill will toward the Rams over that trade, that's not the case.
Goff downplayed the contest Wednesday, saying the trade was "a long time ago" and that he's spent an equal amount of time in Detroit now. When asked whether he would feel "an emotional charge" from playing his former team, Goff said, "No, not so much anymore."
The Lions quarterback noted he's played his former team a few times since leaving Los Angeles. The two teams have met twice in the regular season and once in the playoffs. Goff is 1-1 vs. the Rams in the regular season. He did manage to beat the team in the playoffs in 2024.
As Goff was being asked another question about playing against the Rams, he quipped, "We're still talking about this? All right, go ahead."
The Goff-Stafford trade was a win-win for both teams. In his first year with the Rams, Stafford led the team to a Super Bowl win. He's proven to be a great fit for McVay's offense and is still putting up tremendous numbers in 2025, earning MVP consideration.
Goff has taken a step forward with the Lions and is a big reason why the team has been a powerhouse in the NFC over the past few years. While Detroit hasn't won the Super Bowl with Goff, the team has put up some eye-popping offensive numbers with him under center.
Goff may not feel any extra motivation against the Rams on Sunday, but there is a lot at stake for Detroit. At 8-5, the team finds itself just outside of the playoff picture. The Lions are still very much in the hunt to punch a ticket to the playoffs, and beating thecurrent top seed in the NFCwould go a long way toward Detroit securing its third straight postseason appearance under Goff.
