**ALLEN PARK, Mich.** — Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes has always believed in Jared Goff, even when outsiders were skeptical. Confirming that belief, the Lions signed the veteran quarterback to a much-anticipated contract extension on Monday, as reported by sources to the Detroit News.
The NFL Network revealed that the four-year deal, worth up to $212 million with $170 million guaranteed, keeps Goff in Detroit through 2027, with an option for 2028. This extension is the Lions’ most significant move of the offseason, solidifying the core of the team that won the division and reached the NFC championship game last season.
Goff, the No. 1 pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, joined the Lions in 2021 in a trade that sent Matthew Stafford to the Los Angeles Rams. For Holmes, who endorsed Goff in 2016 as the Rams’ director of college scouting, acquiring him just weeks into his tenure as Detroit’s GM was a fortunate opportunity. Despite Goff’s initial struggles during the roster rebuild, Holmes consistently supported him, bypassing chances to draft a new quarterback in 2021 and 2022.
Holmes’ faith was rewarded as Goff led the Lions to a 9-8 record in 2022, finishing with 4,438 yards, 29 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. His ball security improved significantly, setting a franchise record with 383 consecutive passes without an interception. In 2023, Goff continued to excel, achieving a career-best completion percentage and top-five finishes in passing yards and touchdowns. The Lions ended the season with a 12-5 record and their first division title in 30 years, culminating in their first playoff win in over three decades against the Rams.
Goff’s extension follows recent deals with wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and offensive tackle Penei Sewell, key players from Holmes’ first draft class. If Goff remains healthy, he is expected to surpass his number of starts with the Rams by mid-2025. His legacy now hinges on his achievements in Detroit, potentially leading the Lions to a Super Bowl appearance.
Reflecting on his trade to Detroit, Goff recently stated on a podcast, “Being shipped off and being sent to a place to die, essentially, is what a lot of people thought, but I was never going to allow that to happen. In hindsight, it was the greatest thing that ever happened to me, for my career and my development as a human.”
