In a move that cements the team’s offensive core, the Detroit Lions have locked down quarterback Jared Goff with a hefty four-year contract extension worth $212 million, of which $170 million is guaranteed, CBS Detroit reported.
With this deal, Goff is now slated to stick with the Lions through possibly the 2028 season, said an anonymous source to AP News.
After delivering a remarkable turnaround that brought the Lions to the edge of their first Super Bowl appearance since the lyrics 'Who let the dogs out?' had any cultural relevance, Goff has firmly ousted the notion of being a mere stopgap. However, in the 2023 season, which included a five-touchdown game against Denver, Goff tossed 383 consecutive passes without an interception before succumbing to gravity with a pick last September. He finished the season second in passing yards, the tale of the stat tape provided by ESPN.
While Goff’s deal is headline-worthy, he isn't the only Detroit star shining brighter following contract upgrades. Wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and offensive tackle Penei Sewell also secured the bag, scoring four-year extensions worth $120.01 million and $112 million, respectively. This trio of deals, which combines for a dizzying $444 million, rolls out the red carpet for escalated expectations for the Lions.
"We've got a lot of work to do," Goff told ESPN after the deal was reported. He added, "The expectations are high, but internally, our standards are raising, and our expectations are raising, and we've got goals and things we want to do. It's not like we're going to show up and start winning again." In an era where wrist flicks and quarterback vision decide the fate of entire cities, these words might just be the Detroit doctrine moving forward.
Following an electric end to their 2023 season, with playoff victories that quenched a victory drought not seen since Eisenhower was in the White House, the Lions under Goff’s helm appear poised to roar into the future. A selling-out season tickets for the consecutive year, and the unveiling of their new 2024 uniforms that throws a black alternate into the mix, hints at a city snugly wearing newfound swagger, undoubtedly energized by Goff's continued presence, as reported by CBS Detroit.
