Jared Goff's life is about to change in a big way. He's going from Los Angeles to Detroit, from a winning team to a rebuilding one, from a proven head coach to one in his first full-time job.
If Goff's apprehensive about all this -- and why wouldn't he be? -- he got a call from a familiar voice to calm his nerves: Ndamukong Suh.
"I spoke to Jared Goff the other day when it happened just to let him know that he's going to a great city in Detroit, I'm excited for him, and to let me know if he needs anything. I know a lot of people up there, a lot of great people in the community that will be happy to help him get his feet settled," Suh said Monday on a Zoom call with reporters ahead of the Super Bowl.
Suh and Goff were teammates in 2018 when the Rams reached the Super Bowl. Now Suh is headed back there with the Buccaneers, while Goff is headed to Suh's old stomping grounds in Detroit. Goff will also be playing for one of Suh's old coaches in Dan Campbell, who was interim head coach of the Dolphins for 12 games in 2015, Suh's first season with the team.
Like his review of Detroit, Suh had nothing but good things to say about the Lions' new head coach. He said he had an "amazing time" playing for him in Miami.
"He's, without question, a players' coach and been able to stay in touch with him when he was at New Orleans. Playing them twice these last two years, you can see that fire in him, as you saw in his press conference. I'm excited for Detroit to have a guy like that and I think he's going to have an opportunity to bring some success," Suh said. "Guys just got to home in and understand what they need to accomplish. He just got a great quarterback in Jared Goff, who I was in the Super Bowl with two years ago. I'm excited to see what they're going to be able to do up there in Detroit."
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Campbell and the Lions have high hopes for Goff, despite his drop in performance the past two seasons. He went from a passer rating of 100.8 from 2017-18, which prompted a four-year, $134 million extension, to 88.1 from 2019-20. The Lions are hoping a new coaching staff and a change of scenery can get him back on track.
Suh also said he's happy for Matthew Stafford to get a fresh start after 12 seasons with the Lions.
"I think it was mutual from my understanding, outside looking in. I believe he had decision-making power to decide where that was going to be, so he chose L.A. That’s really good for him," Suh said. "Hopefully get a chance to play against them next year, wherever I might be, hopefully here in Tampa, and go from there."