By Blessing 
Jared Goff’s Lingering Rams Narrative: Time to Turn the Page?
It’s been over five years since Jared Goff was traded from the Los Angeles Rams to the Detroit Lions, yet the story of his departure still lingers—especially with the upcoming release of Netflix’s second season of Quarterback. Goff is set to be one of the featured players, and unsurprisingly, the show will spotlight how he was “cast away” by the Rams and found redemption in Detroit.
In a trailer for the new season, Goff touches on the emotional fallout of that trade.
> “A lot of people saw it as I was being cast away or I was being sent to my career to die, and I think a lot of people in my former organization may have thought that as well,” he says.
It’s a compelling quote—raw and personal. And frankly, Goff isn’t wrong in saying that many doubted his future after leaving L.A. Some assumed he’d fade into the background as a career backup. Instead, he proved himself in Detroit, showing he was still a quarterback worth building around.
But as the years roll on and Goff continues to revisit the Rams trade narrative, the question arises: how much longer can this storyline stay relevant? At what point does it shift from being a source of motivation to simply rehashing old wounds?
Goff’s subtle implication that figures in the Rams organization—possibly head coach Sean McVay or general manager Les Snead—wanted him to fail muddies the waters. It’s one thing to say the world doubted you, but another to suggest your former coaches hoped you’d crash.
From the Rams’ side, the decision to move on wasn’t about personal feelings. It was a strategic football move, albeit one that could’ve been handled with more grace. McVay himself admitted in 2022 that he should’ve dealt with the situation differently:
> “If I had it over again…you sit down with him, you look him in the eye, you tell him that,” McVay said, referring to the trade talks. “Instead of calling him and setting up a meeting… that was my intention when I got back from Cabo.”
Clearly, McVay had regrets—not for the decision itself, but for how it was executed. There’s no denying that Goff’s performance in 2019 and 2020 gave the Rams reason to consider a change. He ranked 24th out of 35 quarterbacks in adjusted EPA per play during that period. Interceptions, fumbles, and inconsistencies plagued his final years in L.A.
McVay, aiming to capitalize on a win-now window, pushed for a trade that brought Matthew Stafford to Los Angeles. That gamble paid off immediately—Stafford led the Rams to a Super Bowl win in his first season.
In hindsight, the move was a win-win. The Rams got their championship. The Lions got a young quarterback and draft assets that helped spark a rebuild. Yet, in the eyes of some, the emotional fallout of the trade continues to cast a shadow over what was, fundamentally, a professional decision.
Goff has every right to use the trade as fuel. Many athletes do. Feeling slighted or underestimated can be a powerful motivator. But the continued framing of the Rams as villains starts to feel less like motivation and more like unresolved resentment.
McVay, to his credit, has praised Goff publicly—even after their teams faced off in 2021:
> “I thought he did a great job. He handled it well and made a couple big-time throws… credit to him.”
If there was bad blood, McVay’s comments certainly didn’t show it. And if anything, McVay’s earlier comments show he acknowledges how things could’ve been handled with more maturity and communication.
Despite how it may feel to fans of both teams, this wasn’t a betrayal. Goff wasn’t the first quarterback to be moved after a few rocky seasons, and he certainly won’t be the last. Even Rams legend Kurt Warner was cut loose after two down years.
The NFL is a business—and a brutal one at that. In Goff’s final two years with the Rams, his turnover numbers were high, and his development appeared to stagnate. That doesn’t mean he was a bad quarterback; it just meant the Rams were ready to try something different. Goff just happened to be the casualty of a bigger vision.
And let’s be honest—both sides got what they wanted. The Rams hoisted the Lombardi Trophy. The Lions, long desperate for stability, found it in Goff. In his time with Detroit, he’s nearly matched the number of games he played in L.A. and will enter his fifth season there—equal to his tenure with the Rams.
Still, as Quarterback returns to screens and this narrative resurfaces, it’s worth asking: when does revisiting the past stop being inspirational and start sounding like a grudge?
Last year, Goff told The Athletic’s Mike Silver:
> “Everyone externally just assumed that I suck because why else would this be happening… They (Lions fans) knew I was dumped by this team.”
That’s a powerful statement—and probably one many athletes can relate to. But at the same time, it reinforces the same underdog arc Goff has leaned into for years. The concern isn’t whether he was truly disrespected—it’s whether continually framing the situation this way risks distorting what actually happened.
It’s also worth noting that Stafford—who left Detroit in that very same trade—hasn’t received nearly as warm a reception upon returning. Ironically, it’s the player sent away who became the hero, and the one who delivered a title who has faced colder vibes.
In the end, the Rams didn’t mistreat Goff. They made a tough call, and he’s risen above it. There’s no shame in either side’s story. If anything, this trade is a rare example of a true win-win in the NFL.
As Goff prepares to take center stage again on Netflix, the spotlight on his past will shine bright. But maybe, just maybe, it’s time for him—and the media—to start focusing more on what’s ahead than what’s behind.