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Eric Woodyard
DETROIT — While enjoying the company of close friends on the patio of his home in Hidden Hills, California, Jared Goff received a pressing phone call on the evening of January 30, 2021.
«I need to take this,» Goff remarked, stepping inside the house.
Shortly thereafter, the familiar «da-da-da, da-da-da» alert from ESPN flashed on the phones of his companions, announcing that Goff, having just completed his fifth NFL season, was traded from the Los Angeles Rams to the Detroit Lions in exchange for veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford. This marked the inaugural exchange of former No. 1 picks in NFL history.
«At that time, the Lions’ reputation wasn’t stellar, and that was clear. Even I thought, ‘He’s being let go,’” recalled Cam Croteau, Goff’s childhood friend present that day. «However, once [Lions head coach] Dan Campbell called and shared his vision, Goff was fully committed.
«From that moment, it was about making things right. It wasn’t a ‘poor me’ situation, but rather ‘let’s get to work.’ He was locked in within minutes.»
After parting ways with the New England Patriots, the Rams sought a change under center two years later.
They found an ally in Detroit, which was eager to rebuild after hiring Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes to initiate a fresh chapter for the franchise. To lead this transition, they selected Goff, whom Holmes — having served as the Rams’ director of college scouting — had known previously in Los Angeles.
This collaboration led to a revival for Goff’s career, establishing him as a leading figure in the Lions’ impressive resurgence while reaffirming his status as one of the premier quarterbacks in the NFL.
Despite his growing reputation, he remains relatively unknown off the field.
According to friends, family, and former coaches, Goff’s resurgence in Detroit was anticipated, stemming from a resilience and strength that has characterized him since his youth.
Beyond just bouncing back from challenges, Goff is a compassionate leader. He surprised a longtime Lions security guard with a retirement celebration, showcases loyalty to friends, and has been described by peers as a relentless competitor who once embodied a «lesser version of Dennis Rodman» as a freshman basketball player.
The upcoming game between the Lions and Rams at SoFi Stadium this Sunday (4:25 p.m. ET, Fox) carries significant implications. With an 8-5 record, the Lions enter Week 15 holding a 55% likelihood of making the playoffs, according to ESPN Analytics. A win propels that probability to 73%, while a loss plummets it to 42%.
Those closest to Goff agree: he approaches high-pressure moments with courage.
«He’s tough. This whole transition hasn’t been easy for everyone. It was a significant challenge,» asserted his father, Jerry Goff, a former Major League Baseball catcher. «It wasn’t straightforward, and not everyone could handle it. We are incredibly proud of what he has achieved across various franchises, overcoming obstacles as he did in college.
«… His commitment to elevating this city means the world to him. He loves Detroit and its fans. This affection for the city will always hold a special place in his heart.»
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«I think Nancy heard how loud we were,» Croteau noted. «She came out and said, ‘You guys should probably tone it down.’ She agreed.»
In pool basketball, rules are non-existent. No dribbles mean that hard fouls took place, and tensions soared among the four friends, especially between Goff and Croteau, until they resolved their differences.
«We got into a heated argument in the pool, and I told him to leave,» Goff recounted to ESPN. «[Cam] walked home. We were at my parents’ house, playing pool basketball. It just became too wild.»
From childhood, Goff has showcased competitive spirit in every endeavor. Having first met in fourth grade as teammates on the St. Anthony’s CYO basketball team, their bond deepened when Croteau relocated to Goff’s neighborhood in eighth grade.
«We engaged in sports growing up; I recognized him because he often bested me,» Croteau shared, who played tight end at Boston College.
Their friendship flourished at Marin Catholic in Kentfield, California, where they enjoyed playing sports together, including varsity football and baseball.
Terheyden also participated in high school football, while Conroy excelled in basketball at Marin Catholic and walked on to play at the University of Nevada, Reno.
«We had a tight-knit friend circle. But Goff was always the most competitive, undoubtedly the most competitive individual I’ve ever encountered,» said Croteau. «He knows how to inject fun into situations with his pranks.
«Given our competitiveness, friends can occasionally clash, which is why our crew still avoids discussing or playing pool basketball now.»
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«You could say he was kind of the poor man’s Rodman. His role was to contribute defensively while focusing on doing the hard work,» Saia explained. «We had skilled ball handlers and scorers on the team, but for the gritty plays and winning efforts, Jared excelled and earned minutes.»
Croteau, who began shooting hoops with Goff as early as elementary school, agrees with the Rodman analogy. «He was a ball hawk. He instinctively knew where to position himself for rebounds and played aggressively. But I’m unsure if he shares the same off-court traits as Rodman.»
Now, Goff identifies more with Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors.
«Rodman and Draymond Green are alike, but I played as a [power forward]. I was not a scorer,» Goff stated. «I was strong defensively, good at rebounding, and contributed to the team’s success, but wasn’t leading in scoring.»
«I might have scored a few points here and there, maybe around 10. Occasional layups, but I was entirely the hustle guy.»
Goff would establish himself as the seventh or eighth man on a Michigan Wolverines team that concluded the season with a 20-12 record, achieving an 11-5 finish in league competition, all while he donned the No. 2 jersey.
Conroy, a close friend, was the second-leading scorer as a sophomore that year, averaging 8.6 points, while Goff posted an average of 2.4 points, ranking third on the squad in rebounds (4.2) and blocks per game (0.4), also contributing 1.0 steals across 30 games played during his sole season on the varsity basketball team.
«We likely weren’t sophisticated enough to analyze plus-minus back then, but his plus-minus was consistently favorable when he played,» Saia noted.
Following that season, Saia urged Goff to return to basketball, but Goff chose to concentrate on football, ultimately becoming a four-star recruit and All-American quarterback headed to Cal.
Even without actively playing basketball again, Goff remained supportive of the program.
«He became an avid supporter during his junior and senior years, cheering on his friends,» Saia said. «He was highly visible, energetic, and remained an integral part of the program, even if he wasn’t on the court.»
Aaron Rodgers [24th pick in 2005], Steve Bartkowski (No. 1 in 1975), Craig Morton (No. 5 in 1965), Rich Campbell (No. 6 in 1981) and Kyle Boller (No. 19 in 2003).
By Week 3, unranked Cal faced a 52-34 defeat at home against No. 4 Ohio State where Goff accomplished 31 completions on 53 attempts for 371 passing yards, throwing three touchdowns with one interception yet remained unshaken.
«Ohio State boasted Joey Bosa; this was a real challenge. He started the game, took countless hits, and never wavered,» Dykes remarked. «Midway through the third quarter, I thought, ‘He keeps standing tall, keeps delivering passes, getting knocked down yet bouncing right back.’ That’s his character.»
Goff learned from the struggles of that 1-11 season, converting to a 5-7 record in 2014 and finishing with an 8-5 mark in 2015, ultimately setting 26 school records—including career passing yards (12,220) and touchdown passes (96)—before being chosen as the No. 1 pick by the Rams in 2016. Those challenging moments, particularly against Ohio State, honed his resilience.
«We managed to win just one game that year, so you can imagine our situation. Ryan Shazier was outstanding in that game, and I thought, ‘This guy is special,'» Goff recalled. «Although they defeated us, we found a way to score, proving we could score against top-tier competition.’
«There was plenty of punishment, but we managed to score late, demonstrating resilience, which was a ‘moral victory’ in a tough loss.»
#Lions Director of Security, who is retiring in May also gets honored by Jared Goff during the private event with a «retirement» gift by Jared Jewelry and Goff. Goff gets emotional when bringing him on the stage. pic.twitter.com/rB6xMIoBHB
— Eric Woodyard (@E_Woodyard) April 23, 2024
«I had no clue I was part of this. Not at all,» Moore said. «I kept insisting I wanted nothing, yet it was a surprise.»
For Goff, loyalty holds great significance. Honoring someone he deeply admires so shortly after guiding the Lions to their first NFC Championship Game since 1991 was crucial.
Goff also led the Lions to two playoff victories in one postseason for the first time since 1957, while bringing home their first division title in over three decades as Moore departed just as the franchise entered a new era of Detroit football.
«You won’t find anyone as loyal as Jared. He cherishes his friends deeply,» remarked Goff’s friend Joey Mahalic, also a former backup QB at Cal. «He truly cares for those in his life and reflects this on his team, fostering bonds because he makes everyone feel like family.
«When you’re part of Jared’s circle, you are in for life, and he’ll go the extra mile to keep that friendship strong. He’s genuinely that kind of person, which reflects his upbringing.»
