It was only three years ago that Jared Goff was viewed as little more than a bridge quarterback for the Lions.
Detroit, seemingly facing a long road back to contention, moved on from Matthew Stafford at the veteran quarterback's request, and Goff wasn't coming off an inspiring season in Los Angeles. It quickly became clear Goff would start for the Lions in 2021, but how long would that last?
The answer is at least four years and likely more after Goff signed a massive contract extension with Detroit this past offseason.
Goff got better as 2021 went on, as did the Lions, and he took that momentum into 2022 before finally breaking through and reaching the NFC championship in 2023.
That playoff run began with a win over none other than Stafford and the Rams in January. Now, the season the Lions hope will end in a long-awaited championship begins against the same opponent.
Here's a look back at the trade that gave both Stafford and Goff fresh starts in the NFC.
MORE: 11 teams with no chance to win Super Bowl 59
Matthew Stafford-Jared Goff trade details
This is how the Stafford-Goff blockbuster deal broke down in January 2021:
Rams received
- QB Matthew Stafford
Lions received
- QB Jared Goff
- 2022 first-round pick
- 2023 first-round pick
- 2021 third-round pick
The Lions turned those picks into the following players:
- RB Jahmyr Gibbs (via trade with Cardinals)
- TE Sam LaPorta (via trade with Cardinals)
- DT Brodric Martin (via trade with Cardinals)
- WR Jameson Williams (via trade with Vikings)
- EDGE Josh Paschal (via trade with Vikings)
- CB Ifeatu Melifonwu
More than anything, a trade like this gave the Lions options. They only secured three draft picks in addition to Goff, but they turned those picks into six players by wheeling a dealing.
A huge swap of picks with the Vikings saw Detroit move up to No. 12 to take Jameson Williams and also landed the Lions the No. 46 pick to select Josh Paschal.
In 2023, the Lions traded down with the Cardinals and won big by putting themselves in position to take both Jahmyr Gibbs and Sam LaPorta.
Not every pick is going to work out, and a couple didn't for the Lions. Adding Gibbs and LaPorta along with Goff, however, bolstered Detroit's offense for years to come.
The Rams aren't complaining, either, as they went all in on Stafford with the goal of winning a Super Bowl, and they did just that in the veteran quarterback's first season with the franchise.
MORE: Flag football QB claims he's better than Patrick Mahomes for 2028 Olympics
Matthew Stafford vs. Jared Goff stats
Stafford and Goff have both played high-level football and appeared in some huge games since they were traded for each other in 2021.
The Rams will never have any complaints about the deal after winning Super Bowl 56 with Stafford under center, but the numbers show Goff has been just as productive as his predecessor since he was dealt to Detroit.
Here are how Stafford and Goff's stats line up since 2021:
| Matthew Stafford | Stat | Jared Goff |
| 41 | Starts | 48 |
| 24-17 | W-L | 24-23-1 |
| 65.7% | Completion rate | 66.5% |
| 10,938 | Pass yards | 12,258 |
| 75 | TD | 78 |
| 36 | INT | 27 |
| 95.8 | Passer rating | 96.5 |
A championship is the ultimate advantage, but Goff has a slightly higher passer rating as well as more yards and a better touchdown-to-interception ratio since the deal.
This season's first edition of "Sunday Night Football" will be another proving ground for both quarterbacks as they lead their respective high-flying offenses into another year.