Wade Payne / Associated Press
Matthew Stafford’s 12-season career with the Detroit Lions came to an end after the team swapped the Los Angeles Rams’ overall No. 1 in 2009 for quarterback Jared Goff, two future first-round picks and a third-round pick, ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Saturday.
It’s a new era in Detroit, with Brad Holmes, general manager, and head coach Dan Campbell patrolling the sidelines.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported on January 23 that Stafford and the Lions’open and healthy discussions “after the end of the 2020 season, and both sides agreed that the time was right to separate.
As for Stafford, a new home where at this stage of his career he is better able to compete for a Super Bowl, is probably the best move as opposed to participating in a rebuild.
The 32-year-old is now on his way to Los Angeles after completing 64.2 percent of his passions last year for 26 touchdowns, 10 interceptions and 4,084 yards. He was also one year removed from a career high of 8.6 meters per pass attempt.
Stafford started from week 1 of the 2009 season for the Lions. Although the team did not achieve much success outside of three playoff games, he did well as the Lions full-back, completing 62.6 percent of his passing for 282 touchdowns and 144 picks.
In addition, the Georgia product has done an excellent job over the past few years in forming reports with a rotating group of top recipients. A core dominated by Calvin Johnson made way for a group led by Golden Tate and Marvin Jones Jr. before Kenny Golladay took over as the clear no. 1 of the team.
Now Stafford will throw to Cooper Kupp, Robert Woods and a new set of passers-by for the Rams as he moves to LA
Meanwhile, Los Angeles made a seismic change to quarterback by inserting veteran Stafford for Goff, who took the Rams with the No. 1 overall in the NFL draft in 2016.
Goff’s numbers have plummeted over the past few years, with his passing effort from 8.4 in 2018 (the team’s NFC title year) to 7.2 in 2020.
On January 29, ESPNs Jeremy Fowler reports, “Matthew Stafford views the Rams as a viable competitor in his trade with the Lions. While it is unclear what the Rams can do with Jared Goff’s long-term deal, they have explored the possibilities with Stafford.”
And now the possibility is a reality, with Stafford wanting to lead the Rams to the Super Bowl.