Jared Goff Bio
Jared Thomas Goff (born October 14, 1994) is an American professional football quarterback for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the California Golden Bears, where he set Pac-12 Conference single-season records for passing yards and passing touchdowns. Selected first overall by the Los Angeles Rams in the 2016 NFL draft, Goff has earned multiple Pro Bowl selections and played in Super Bowl LIII. After five seasons in Los Angeles, he was traded to Detroit in 2021 and has since emerged as one of the league’s top passers.
Early Life and Background
Jared Thomas Goff was born on October 14, 1994, in San Rafael, California, and raised in Novato, California. He is the son of Jerry Goff, a former Major League Baseball player, and has an older sister named Lauren. Growing up in the Bay Area, Goff became a devoted San Francisco 49ers fan and wore the number 16 as a tribute to Hall of Famer Joe Montana, a number he has carried into his professional career.
Goff attended Marin Catholic High School in Kentfield, California, where he graduated in 2013. He starred for the football team, throwing for 7,687 yards and 93 touchdowns across three varsity seasons. His high school teams posted a combined 39–4 record, captured three Marin County Athletic League championships, won one North Coast Section crown, and advanced to three NCS playoff appearances and one state title game.
Path to American Football
After high school, Goff received scholarship offers from Boise State, Fresno State, and Washington State before choosing to attend the University of California, Berkeley. He enrolled mid-year in January 2013 and joined the Golden Bears for spring practice. In August 2013, he was named starting quarterback over redshirt freshman Zach Kline, becoming the first true freshman in Cal history to start a season opener.
Goff set 26 Cal records during his college career, including marks for passing yards (12,220), touchdown passes (96), completions (977), and total offense (12,086). He ranks second only to Aaron Rodgers on Cal’s all-time passing efficiency list. After his junior season in 2015, Goff declared for the 2016 NFL draft, where most analysts projected him as a top selection.
Jared Goff Career
Early Career (2016)
Goff was selected first overall by the Los Angeles Rams in the 2016 NFL draft after the team traded up with the Tennessee Titans. On June 9, 2016, he signed a four-year rookie deal worth $27.9 million in guaranteed money, including an $18.6 million signing bonus. He began his rookie season as a backup to veteran Case Keenum before taking over as the Rams’ starter in Week 11 against the Miami Dolphins.
In his rookie year, Goff made seven starts, all losses, as the Rams finished 4–12. He completed 112 of 205 passes for 1,089 yards, five touchdowns, and seven interceptions. Despite the struggles, the experience laid the foundation for his future development under a new coaching staff.
Los Angeles Rams Breakthrough (2017–2020)
Under new head coach Sean McVay in 2017, Goff flourished and earned his first career victory in the season-opener against the Indianapolis Colts. He finished the year with 3,804 passing yards, 28 touchdowns, and seven interceptions, leading the Rams to their first NFC West title since 2003. He was named the PFWA Most Improved Player and earned his first Pro Bowl selection as an injury replacement.
In 2018, Goff produced one of the most prolific seasons in franchise history, throwing for 4,688 yards and 32 touchdowns. He recorded a perfect 158.3 passer rating against the Minnesota Vikings with 465 passing yards and five touchdowns, and he led the Rams to Super Bowl LIII against the New England Patriots. Despite the 13–3 loss, Goff’s regular-season performance earned him a second consecutive Pro Bowl nod.
Goff signed a four-year, $134 million extension in September 2019, which at the time set an NFL record for guaranteed money. He continued producing at a high level, leading the league with 626 pass attempts in 2019 and helping the Rams reach the playoffs in 2020 despite a broken thumb suffered late in the regular season.
Detroit Lions Era (2021–Present)
On March 18, 2021, Goff was traded alongside draft picks to the Detroit Lions in exchange for quarterback Matthew Stafford. His early years in Detroit were marked by inconsistency and injuries, but he posted 4,438 yards and 29 touchdowns in 2022, earning his third Pro Bowl selection and becoming the first Lions quarterback honored since Stafford in 2014.
In 2023, Goff led Detroit to its first division title since 1993 and its first playoff victory since 1991, defeating the Los Angeles Rams in the Wild Card Round before advancing to the NFC Championship Game. On May 16, 2024, he signed a four-year, $212 million contract extension with $170 million guaranteed, keeping him under contract through 2027.
Goff capped the 2024 regular season with 4,629 passing yards, 37 touchdowns, a 111.8 passer rating, and a 72.4% completion rate, all career highs. He led Detroit to a franchise-best 15–2 record and the NFC’s top seed, earning NFC Offensive Player of the Month honors in October and his fourth career Pro Bowl selection.
Driving Style and Strengths
Goff is widely regarded as a precise pocket passer with exceptional accuracy, particularly on intermediate throws. He excels in play-action concepts and thrives in high-volume passing offenses that feature stacked receiver groups. His chemistry with offensive coordinators and ability to deliver on timing-based routes has made him one of the most efficient quarterbacks in the league.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his signature accomplishments, Goff became the youngest quarterback to win an NFC Championship Game in 2018 and produced a perfect 158.3 passer rating against the Minnesota Vikings. In 2024, he set an NFL record by completing all 18 of his passes against the Seattle Seahawks, the first quarterback in league history to complete every attempt with at least 11 throws.
Jared Goff Career Wins
Across his professional career, Jared Goff has accumulated a strong win total highlighted by multiple division titles and deep playoff runs. His most significant victories include NFC West championships with the Rams in 2017 and 2018, an NFC North title with the Lions in 2023, and the Lions’ first playoff win in over three decades.
NFL Highlights
Goff’s standout wins include leading the Rams to a 54–51 Monday Night Football victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in 2018, one of the highest-scoring games in NFL history. With Detroit, he orchestrated a 24–23 Wild Card victory over his former Rams team in January 2024 and guided the Lions to a 31–23 Divisional Round win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
In 2024, Goff authored a Week 10 comeback win over the Houston Texans despite throwing a career-high five interceptions, becoming the first quarterback since 2012 to win after throwing five picks. He also led Detroit to a dominant 52–14 victory over the Tennessee Titans and a 47–9 road win at the Dallas Cowboys, earning NFC Offensive Player of the Month honors in October.
Other Wins and Performances
At the college level, Goff capped his Golden Bears career with a 55–36 victory over Air Force in the 2015 Armed Forces Bowl, throwing for six touchdowns and 467 yards. His Pac-12 single-season records for passing yards (4,714) and touchdown passes (43) remain benchmarks in conference history.
Jared Goff Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Jared Thomas Goff comes from an athletic family. His father, Jerry Goff, was a former Major League Baseball catcher who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Los Angeles Dodgers. Jared has credited his father’s professional sports background with shaping his competitive drive and disciplined work ethic.
Personal Life
Goff became engaged to model Christen Harper on June 16, 2022, after the two met on the celebrity dating app Raya. The couple married on June 22, 2024, in a private ceremony in Ojai, California. Their daughter was born on July 15, 2025. Outside of football, Goff launched his clothing line JG16 in 2019 and co-founded the Detroit Foundation to support university scholarships.
2025 Season Performance
Jared Goff and the Detroit Lions opened the 2025 regular season with renewed championship ambitions after their franchise-best 15–2 campaign in 2024. Despite being eliminated by the Washington Commanders in the Divisional Round of last season’s playoffs, Detroit retained its core roster and re-signed key contributors. Goff’s leadership remains central to the Lions’ bid to become the NFC’s top seed for a second consecutive year.
In the early weeks of 2025, Goff has continued his strong form, completing 23 of 28 passes for 334 yards and five touchdowns in a 52–21 victory over the Chicago Bears in Week 2. That performance earned him NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors and reinforced his standing among the league’s elite quarterbacks. His connection with offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and a deep receiving corps has been pivotal to Detroit’s offensive efficiency.
With a fully guaranteed contract extension keeping him in Detroit through 2027, Goff is positioned to push for his first Super Bowl appearance since the 2018 season. The Lions’ combination of offensive firepower, defensive growth, and home-field advantage makes them a leading contender in the NFC, and Goff’s accuracy and poise will be central to their postseason aspirations.