Lions QB Jared Goff: ‘Security,’ no-trade clause were factors in new contract extension

“The reward of the contract and the success that we’ve been able to have, but the journey itself these past three years has been the true success and the true meaning of success, I guess,” he said. “Obviously, the wins and whatnot and getting the contract are amazing but being able to go through that together with my teammates and with my family, go through the dark times and grow through those times and learn more about yourself and work on yourself — that’s the win in all of this.”

When Detroit traded for Goff, the outside world viewed him as a toss-in, a weighted contract that allowed the Lions to leverage another first-round pick from the Rams. However, Lions general manager Brad Holmes denied that assertion from the start, saying he wanted Goff as the club’s franchise quarterback. The Lions highlighted, underlined and bolded that claim with $170 million guaranteed in the new deal.

Players aren’t paid for their past accomplishments. They’re given large sums for future production. Goff didn’t get the bag for getting the Lions to an NFC Championship Game. He’s sleeping in bales of cash because the club believes he can get them over the hump.

Goff’s $53 million-per-year extension came with plenty of dropped jaws and claims the Lions are overpaying for a “system” quarterback. The 29-year-old will use those claims to motivate his future.

“I think I play my best when I’m being doubted,” Goff said. “So, like, continue to find — maybe fabricated ways you’re being doubted, if you’re not — that’s part of the answer and also the internal motivation to want to win for this city and for my teammates and for our coaches. This city means so much to me now and it’ll hold a special place in my heart forever that there isn’t any external (or) as much external motivators as there is internal of, I just want to win for them.

“I want to win for these fans and I want them to be able to experience the success that we’ve had for the past year and a half or whatever it is and just continue to do that.”

Detroit has rallied around Goff, often chanting his name in large settings — like last season’s playoff game versus Stafford’s Rams, a random Red Wings tilt, or before the 2024 NFL Draft. The quarterback wants eventually to repay the loyalty he never fully found in L.A. with a Lombardi.

“All that’s awesome and great, but if we don’t go and achieve our ultimate goal with all the things that we’ve done to set ourselves up that, it’s not what we want,” he said of having continuity in Detroit. “So, the ultimate success is winning the Super Bowl. Myself, Penei (Sewell), (Taylor) Decker, Frank (Ragnow), all these guys, that’s all we’re looking at — winning a Super Bowl and bringing it to the city.”