Jared Goff‘s redemption arc with the Detroit Lions has been one of the league’s more impressive turnarounds in recent years. After helping lead the Lions to a 12-1 start last season and earning his second Pro Bowl nod in three years, the quarterback has found both form and respect in a new environment.
But a recent emotional revelation about how his time with the Los Angeles Rams ended has reignited a wave of criticism.
In the new Netflix series Quarterbacks, the 30-year-old opened up about the hurt and confusion he felt when the Rams decided to move on from him. According to Goff, there was no real conversation-just a phone call from head coach Sean McVay, followed moments later by the news hitting social media. The experience, Goff said, left him feeling betrayed.
“You wish that it wasn’t such a blindside and you wish that there was some sort of maturity, I guess, to have that conversation and to be able to let me know what’s going on and how things went down and why this is happening,” Goff shared.
Even McVay later admitted he mishandled the communication and said he wished he had approached it differently. But that hasn’t stopped several critics from questioning Goff‘s perspective.
Critics argue Goff should have expected the move
One of the strongest responses came from podcaster Jake Ellenbogen, who argued that the Rams had every reason to trade Goff-and that the quarterback’s success was more circumstantial than people remember.
Ellenbogen pointed to Goff’s rookie contract as a key factor, suggesting the Rams were only able to build a competitive roster around him because he wasn’t costing them top quarterback money. He also referenced Super Bowl LIII, where the Rams’ offense failed to deliver in a 13-3 loss to the Patriots.
“Brandon Cooks was wide open down the seam, and he missed him. And then at the last second, he threw it and it was incomplete. Missed a total obvious touchdown that would have taken the lead. No, they didn’t hold that against him,” Ellenbogen said. “They didn’t hold it against him for underthrowing him by forever and throwing it right at the defensive player of the year in Stefon Gilmore.”
Ellenbogen claimed the Rams gave Goff time and support through underwhelming performances and injuries. Eventually, though, McVay had to decide between continuing a slide or turning the page-and he chose the latter.
LaVar Arrington calls out Goff’s ‘alternate reality’
Former NFL linebacker LaVar Arrington also weighed in, criticizing Goff‘s view of the situation. Speaking on Fox Sports Radio, Arrington dismissed the quarterback’s complaints and said they reveal a lack of understanding about how professional football works.
“Quarterbacks must have an alternate reality than other players. You felt you were ‘blindsided’ by it? That happens to players every day,” Arrington said.
Drawing from his own NFL experience, including a rocky departure from Washington and a controversial move to the New York Giants, Arrington emphasized the business side of the sport. He made it clear that hurt feelings don’t change the fact that trades happen, and often without warning.
“You felt like you weren’t wanted? They didn’t want you. That’s why they traded you. If they wanted you, you wouldn’t be traded,” he added.
Despite the backlash, Goff’s trajectory with the Lions speaks for itself. He has posted back-to-back 4,000-yard seasons and was ranked among the league’s top quarterbacks in touchdowns and passing yards heading into Week 15 last season. His efforts helped Detroit secure its first division title in nearly 30 years.
Still, as Goff reflects on the past, some in the football world believe he should let go of the pain and focus on the future. For them, the NFL is a business, and Goff‘s public reflections are being interpreted not as honesty, but as an unwillingness to move on.
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