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Detroit Lions' Jared Goff closing in on huge contract extension: 'Just how the league goes'
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- Detroit Lions' Jared Goff closing in on huge contract extension: 'Just how the league goes'
The salaries of NFL quarterbacks have skyrocketed since Jared Goff signed his last contract more than four years ago, and after leading the Detroit Lions to the NFC championship game this month Goff appears to be in line for a major payday this offseason.
Asked at locker room cleanout Monday how important it is for him to get a market-level deal this offseason, Goff said he was leaving all contract talks to his agent.
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"How important is it? I don't know. It's just how the league goes," he said. "If it happens, it happens, if it doesn't, it doesn't. But I think I've loved every second of my time here and would love more. Again, I'll echo what I just said, I love (head coach) Dan Campbell , I love the coaches, I love the players here and my teammates. Yeah, it would great, but it's not up to me."
Lions quarterback Jared Goff looks on at during warmups before the NFC championship game at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024.
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Goff finished second in the NFL in passing this season and played three turnover-free postseason games to lead the Lions to within a whisker of their first ever Super Bowl.
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Including base salary and roster bonus, Goff is scheduled to make $27.3 million next season in the final year of a contract he signed with the Los Angeles Rams in 2019.
Patrick Mahomes , Joe Burrow , Justin Herbert , Lamar Jackson and Jalen Hurts have all signed contract extensions in the past 12 months that average more than $50 million a season, and Goff is expected to be somewhere in that range when the Lions get around to rewarding him with a new deal later this year.
Goff, whose last extension came after leading the Rams to the Super Bowl, said this year will go down as one of his most enjoyable seasons ever.
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He led the Lions to a franchise-record 14 wins (including regular season and the playoffs) and blossomed as a fan favorite who was serenaded with chants of "Jar-ed Goff, Jar-ed Goff" at both of the Lions' home playoff games.
Lions quarterback Jared Goff looks to pass against the 49ers during the second half of the Lions' 34-31 loss in the NFC championship game in Santa Clara, California, on Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024.
"To see the fans' response, not only for me but for our whole team has been so special and it's something I'll never forget," Goff said. "Obviously, the season didn't end how we hoped and last night it was disappointing, but yeah, in particular those two home games in the playoffs were as special and electric an environment as you can imagine. Yeah, it was a lot of fun."
Goff said it's imperative the Lions return in 2024 ready to build on this year's playoff run, which ended with a 34-31 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Sunday's conference title game.
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In 2019, the Rams missed the playoffs in Goff's first year of a new deal, and he was traded to the Lions after the 2020 season along with three draft picks for Matthew Stafford .
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"In regards to my future, it's not up to me," Goff said. "I love this place and we'll see what happens as time goes on here. But yeah, I love this place and love Dan, love all the coaches, love all my teammates. It's kind of out of my hands in some ways. It's up to my representatives and obviously the people upstairs."
Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com . Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions' Jared Goff: New contract 'not up to me' this offseason
