Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur has always been a huge fan of Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff, dating back to when the two played together with the Los Angeles Rams.
Goff was the Rams’ first overall pick in 2016, but his NFL career got off to a rocky start. Los Angeles lost all seven games he started as a rookie, and Goff completed just 54 percent of his passes.
However, Goff had a resurgence the following year when LaFleur took over as offensive coordinator, passing for 3,804 yards and 28 touchdowns. He led Los Angeles to its first playoff appearance in 13 years and was even selected to his first Pro Bowl appearance.
Such a quick turnaround isn’t straightforward for a newborn quarterback, but LaFleur said he quickly noticed Goff’s resilience.
“It was obvious when we got to him,” LaFleur said. “He made seven starts as a rookie and from a team perspective, he didn’t have much success there. I always thought he approached the game the right way… with balance, that moment was never too essential for him.
Unfortunately for Goff, LaFleur moved on to become the offensive coordinator of the Tennessee Titans after the 2017 season. Then, even though the Rams reached the playoffs in three of five seasons with Goff as their starting quarterback, they traded him to Detroit in exchange for veteran Matthew Stafford, hoping for better postseason success.
While Stafford helped Los Angeles win Super Bowl LVI, Goff became an integral part of another successful Lions rebuild. After finishing his first season with Goff under center with a 3-10-1 record, Detroit was one game away from the playoffs in 2022. Then, in 2023, the Lions won the NFC North Division with a 12-5 record, earning its first league title in 30 years.
“It’s a credit to his work ethic and his ability to stay resilient. “I’m not surprised by the success he has had and is having,” LaFleur said. “He plays the position as well as anyone in the game. Just look at the numbers, they tell you everything, and then watch the tape that proves it.
As Detroit started the season 6-1, Goff completed a career-high 74.1 percent of his passes for 1,695 passing yards and 13 touchdowns to just four interceptions. Meanwhile, their offense ranks sixth in the NFL in yards per game and first in points per game.
On Sunday, the Packers will try to limit the impact of Goff and the offense as much as possible. Goff is 5-2 in his career against Green Bay, and while LaFleur is rooting for Goff from afar, he hopes his former quarterback doesn’t have more success at the end of the week.
“I’ve always been a big fan of his, but on Sunday I won’t be a big fan of his.”
