Jared Goff experienced the spectrum of adventures during his time in Los Angeles. From the first overall choice to struggle to the gate under Jeff Fisher to a Pro Bowler in the second year with Sean McVay to lead the Rams to a Super Bowl, then back into the abyss as the scapegoat for how it crashes back to earth the past two seasons.
In a lengthy conversation with Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times, Goff opened up about how it ended with his trade to Detroit in exchange for QB Matthew Stafford.
“As the quarterback, as the man who’s probably the most important position on the field, when you’re in a place you do not want and they want to move away from you, the feeling is different,” Goff told Farmer said. “You do not 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 swapped a load of pull-ups to move up to pick the Cal product. They traded a lot to get rid of Goff as well, sending him two picks in the first round and a third player to the Lions.
“I really enjoyed my time here,” Goff said. “I want to leave it on a positive note. The end was obviously not favorable and was not pleasant. But they put me up overall number 1 and brought me to a city that has not had a football team in a long time. Time, to “Being part of the rebuilding after 2016, being able to make LA football famous again, all the things I’m very proud of. It’s something I will always remember.”
Goff’s time in LA was highlighted by rising highs – which gave the Kansas City Chiefs a high-flying attack in a 2018 affair; won two playoff games to reach the Super Bowl – and a few low lows that culminated in out-of-town trade.
“No matter how it ended, Sean and I had a great relationship and did so many good things together,” Goff said. “Won a lot of great games. Won a lot of playoffs. Won two divisions together. With so much success in attack, so many good times and memories.
“Unfortunately, it ended sour, but it still doesn’t take away from all the times we’ve had.”
That sour end includes playing a thumb injury sustained late in the season that was needed to get him back for the playoffs. Goff struggled with accuracy before and after the injury, especially under pressure, but the QB was not the main reason why the Rams bowed out of the playoffs with a loss in Green Bay.
LA, however, saw an opportunity to upgrade the position and unload Goff’s contract. After weeks of dissatisfaction with Goff’s track, the Rams buyer took a bold step. History will judge if it was the right one.
The QB is excited about the next page of its journey to a new city, while commenting on Mike Silver of NFL.com the day after the trade was reported.
“(Talking to the Lions) is what made me go, ‘Oh my God, this is how it’s supposed to feel,’ Goff said. ” It makes me feel great, ‘how excited they were, how excited they were. ‘