How Los Angeles Rams Ex Jared Goff Got Closure From Sean McVay
Today, Jared Goff is the leader for a resurgent Detroit Lions team that is eyeing its first Super Bowl in franchise history, but his outlook wasn't always so bright.
Goff spent the first five seasons of his career with the Los Angeles Rams, who drafted him first overall out of California. The 29-year-old quarterback certainly had some great moments in L.A., most notably when he led the Rams to a Super Bowl 53 appearance, but also had more than his share of struggles.
After Goff had an underwhelming 2020 season, the Rams decided it was time with a change and shipped him off to Detroit along with a haul of draft picks in exchange for veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford. The Rams were immediately validated in their decision, as they won Super Bowl 56 while Goff struggled in his first season with the Lions. Now, though, the trade looks more like a win-win.
Goff and Stafford before the Lions and Rams met in 2021.
Since a 1-6 start last season, Goff and the Lions have been nearly unstoppable. He's been one of the most efficient quarterbacks in the league, while Detroit has won 14 of its last 18 games. It's a remarkable turnaround for both player and team that few saw coming, at least not so soon.
What led to Goff's remarkable comeback story? According to former Rams offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth, Goff's exit meeting with coach Sean McVay did him a world of good.
“He wanted the full breakdown of why,” Whitworth told the Los Angeles Times. “I thought that really showed his toughness...
“I’m like, 'Wait, what?’ And he’s like, 'I told Sean I still want to do our exit meeting…’ And I was like, 'You’re crazy. Why would you want to do an exit?’ And he said, 'I want him to tell me right to my face what I did wrong. I want to hear it from him. How do I get better?’ He wanted closure.”
Goff himself didn't share many details of that exit meeting, but did say that McVay's brutal honesty helped him get his career back on track.
“I got some answers and gained a lot of closure. He was forthright,” Goff said.
That closure helped Goff rebound to the player he is today, and he has become a hero in the Motor City. It took some time, but both player and team got what they wanted from the trade. Goff got a fresh start in a new city, while the Rams got the short-term success by winning the Super Bowl that eluded them for several years.
