Sean McVay: Jared Goff 'Deserved Better'

Sean McVay understands, reflects on errors he made in the past.

Several years removed from coaching quarterback Jared Goff, Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay continues to acknowledge and accept that he handled moving on the team's starting quarterback in a less than ideal manner. 

Since trading Goff to Detroit, McVay, who is bringing his 10-7 Rams team to Ford Field to face the Lions, has publicly expressed his admiration and respect for the success the veteran signal-caller has had in Motown. 

Speaking to reporters Wednesday, the Rams head man offered more perspective on Goff's departure from Los Angeles. 

"Just growing as a person, handling every situation the way that you want to with perspective, respect, appreciation -- the thing that I'll never run away from is mistakes that I've made in previous instances," McVay said. "But, when you look back on it, the gratitude for those four years, all the good memories that we had, and then when you end up making a change that ended up being difficult. Could it have been handled better on my end? Absolutely."

Goff Downplays Lions Playoff Inexperience, 'Badly' Wants Win

Based on the manner in which Goff was traded, the perception came across that the former No. 1 overall pick was to blame for the team not being able to climb the final hurdle to be able to win the Super Bowl. 

Also, many perceived Goff as being a thrown in, not as a valuable commodity a team could legitimately build around.  

"I'll never run away from that. But the further you get away from it, the more that you try to grow as a man, as a person, as the leader that you want to become -- he deserved better than the way that it all went down. I'll acknowledge that," said McVay. "And I think he knows that, too. And you know, and I'm not afraid to admit those things. But, I think we're all better, being able to look back on those things. And I do have more appreciation for him as time goes on."