By Blessing 
Have Detroit Lions Fans Fallen Out of Love with Jared Goff?
Since the Detroit Lions’ surprising playoff exit, the chants of “Jared Goff!” that once echoed through Meijer stores, school bus stops, and local gyms have noticeably faded. This sudden silence has sparked a debate: are Lions fans beginning to lose faith in their quarterback?
One person raising this question is Jeff Riger, a sports radio host at 97.1 The Ticket. Riger has been closely monitoring fan sentiment, and he believes there’s been a significant shift in how Detroit views Goff.
Why It Matters
According to Riger, while not every Lions fan feels the same, there’s been a clear drop in confidence when it comes to Goff’s ability to lead the team.
“The one thing I keep getting back from Lions fans, and it’s not every Lions fan, but it is actually a decent amount of them, is the quarterback,” Riger said, as quoted by Lions OnSI.
“You know what’s changed over the last five weeks, six weeks, two months? I don’t think I’m wrong about this. Detroit Lions fans are not as confident in Jared Goff as they once were.”
What Changed for Goff?
So, what caused this shift? Riger points to Goff’s disappointing performance against the Washington Commanders in the playoffs. In a game where the Lions needed their quarterback to step up, Goff threw a costly pick-six that swung the momentum in Washington’s favor.
For some fans, that single moment seemed to erase months of solid performances.
“All it took was one game, it was a brutal game,” Riger explained. “Even today, we had someone (caller) say, ‘Jared Goff can’t win you three, four games to win a Super Bowl.’”
He continued, “You went from chanting this man’s name at a Meijer’s, girl’s volleyball game, local pharmacy, school bus stop, to not chanting it at all.”
Will the Goff Chants Return?
Riger wonders if the love for Goff will return when the new season kicks off.
“Does the chant come back? I don’t know. How does that work? Preseason starts, you’ve got a team in town, Goff gets out there, you chant his name again? How does that work? I don’t know,” Riger questioned. “There’s been so much, and it’s almost under the radar, but it’s a lot.”
It’s a fair point. The same fans who once embraced Goff might hesitate to cheer as loudly after his playoff stumble.
The Big Game Struggles
Despite Goff leading the Lions to two playoff wins in 2023—a feat that shouldn’t be overlooked—skepticism lingers. The collapse against the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship game didn’t spark much criticism at first. But Goff’s poor showing against the Commanders reopened old wounds and doubts.
Riger believes these doubts were always there, just waiting for a moment to resurface.
“There’s been a lot of reaction here and there. People usually say it in passing,” Riger observed. “They call the radio station on a different topic, but they always make sure to kind of slide it in. I’ve noticed. I think Detroit has fallen out of love with Jared Goff. I do.”
Riger didn’t hold back when evaluating Goff’s most recent performance:
“I get it man, the guy stunk in the last game. He wasn’t the only one who stunk, but he stunk in the last game.”
The Future of Goff in Detroit
Looking ahead, Goff faces new challenges. At 30 years old, he’ll now be working with a new offensive coordinator, adding more uncertainty to his future in Detroit.
Riger raised a critical question: did Lions fans ever truly believe Goff was the long-term answer?
“I do believe all of Detroit loves Goff. And the Goff chants started when Stafford ran on the field in the playoffs last year, right?” Riger said. “However, have you really always loved him? Or was there always something down deep that told you he’s not the guy for the job, he’s not gonna be able to win a Super Bowl?”
He continued, “I’ve always wondered this, and ever since losing that playoff game, I think my wonders have been answered. There’s a lot of people that don’t come out and say it publicly; they slide it in there, it’s almost very passive-aggressively. There’s a lot of people that are taking little pot shots at Jared Goff.”
Key Takeaways
- Goff’s playoff struggles, especially against the Commanders, have reignited doubts about his ability to win big games.
- While Goff helped Detroit secure two playoff victories in 2023, his postseason record remains a question mark.
- The upcoming season, with a new offensive coordinator and rising expectations, could determine whether Goff regains the full trust of Lions fans—or if the chants remain silent.
Final Thought
Jared Goff’s journey in Detroit has been filled with highs and lows. From earning fans’ respect after replacing Matthew Stafford to now facing renewed skepticism, Goff’s time with the Lions hangs in the balance.
The real question is: will Detroit rally behind their quarterback once more, or has the love story between the city and Jared Goff quietly come to an end?