Last year, quarterback Jared Goff helped the Detroit Lions win their first NFC North division title and reach their first NFC Championship Game since 1991. In return, the team that traded for him before the 2021 season rewarded him with a four-year contract extension worth up to $212 million.
Goff's new contract with the Lions includes $170 million in guaranteed money. It's his first contract extension with the Lions because Detroit absorbed the four-year, $134 million extension he signed with the Los Angeles Rams in September 2019.
Another done deal in Detroit: Lions are signing QB Jared Goff to a four-year, $212 million contract extension that includes $170 million guaranteed, sources tell ESPN.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 13, 2024
Goff now goes from former No. 1 overall pick to highest-paid Lion in franchise history. pic.twitter.com/FKlQuGDf8M
The massive contract extension makes Goff the second-highest-paid NFL player regarding annual average value. He's between Joe Burrow's $55 million and Justin Herbert's $52.5 million. The former California standout earned this extension after finishing with 407 completions for 4,575 yards and 30 touchdowns. It's his second consecutive 4,000-yard season with the Lions, which translates to improved postseason chances.
Before Goff joined the Lions, the team finished its third consecutive losing season at 5-11. But since he became their starting quarterback, their fortunes improved from 3-13-1 in 2021, 9-8 in 2022, and 12-5 last year.
Goff's new contract will significantly add to his career earnings, which Spotrac estimates at $161 million as of the 2023 season. However, this financial reward comes with great responsibility as he tries to deliver the franchise's first-ever Super Bowl championship.
-Lance Fernandez