It was a tale of two seasons for Jared Goff, who has another season coming in Detroit. How many beyond that remains to be seen, but Goff did enough down the stretch this year to retain his role as QB 1 for the Lions entering 2022.
Goff's contract ensured he would be here next season regardless. His performance in the second half of the season ensures he'll be leading the offense. A lot of that owes to Dan Campbell, who took over play-calling from former offensive coordinator Anthony Lynn in Week 10 and sparked Detroit's passing game.
Goff posted eight touchdowns, six picks and a passer rating of 85.3 with Lynn calling plays, compared to 11 touchdowns, two picks and a rating of 101.8 with Campbell. He was third in the NFL with a passer rating of 107.1 since Week 12, behind only Aaron Rodgers and Joe Burrow.
Goff said Monday that his feel for the offense changed coming out of Detroit's Week 9 bye when Campbell and tight ends coach Ben Johnson, promoted to passing game coordinator, got more involved in game planning.
"It was always about understanding what we're trying to do and just playing fast and playing decisive," he said. "Once I was able to get there with some of the new stuff we implemented with Ben and Dan, maybe the Chicago game (on Thanksgiving) was the game where that clicked. I thought we kind of took off from there offensively."
Campbell said Monday that Goff "played some of his best football in the last four or five games of the season." He said he appreciated the fact that Goff wanted to play through injuries down the stretch and "take ownership of this team." Goff said he appreciated the fact that Campbell and his staff allowed him some "ownership" of the offense "and that feeling of it being mine."
"I know this," said Campbell, "he can throw the football. I like where he’s going, I really do. He’s certainly trending in the right way. Shoot, man, he’s one of the biggest reasons why we did get three wins.”
Asked if Goff did enough this year to be the Lions' franchise quarterback moving forward, Campbell said, "Look, I can’t get into all of that, I really can’t. I just know this, I’m excited that we’ve got him and I can’t wait for (next) year to come. Give me a minute (to decide), but I like where we’re going. I like where we’re heading next year.”
Goff similarly deflected the question when asked if he cemented himself as the Lions' long-term answer under center.
"Not my decision," he said. "I'm happy to be here as long as I am, and I'll continue to be the best I can be. If it is here for the next 10 years, fantastic. But I'm going to keep playing the best I can, and be the best player I can this offseason moving into next year."
The Lions have a potentially big decision to make at quarterback this offseason with two first-round picks in the draft, including No. 2 overall. There isn't a clear-cut franchise QB on the board, certainly not one that's expected to go in the top two. But Brad Holmes and Detroit could take a swing at one later in the first round or early in the second. If that's the case, "It'd be fine," said Goff.
"It's their decision, man. It's up to them and whatever they want to do. Ultimately, I'm still under contract and still going to be here playing and feel pretty good about my standing with them and where I'm at," Goff said.
Goff has a $31 million cap hit and a $30.5 million dead cap hit next season, which makes him unmovable. The Lions can't feasibly move on from him, if they so choose, until his dead cap falls to $10 million in 2023. Right now, they're content to move forward with Goff into 2022, and Goff is ready for whatever comes next.
"Just seeing how much better we got over these (last) six or seven weeks gives us a real reason for optimism heading into the offseason," he said.