Jared Goff, the quarterback for the Detroit Lions, has retaliated against the local media for their coverage of the NFL, saying he is tired of the unfavorable narrative he feels his club is exposed to.
Goff expressed his dissatisfaction with what he believes to be a bias in the local Detroit press towards publicizing negative news about the Lions in a recent conversation on Willbo’s “Trading Cards” podcast.
“I have this like, I probably need to drop it pretty soon here because I’m hopefully gonna be in Detroit for a long time, but I have this thing with our local media where they almost like relish in negativity at times,” he stated. “And maybe that’s what gets clicks and that’s what sells, but it’s no longer what they need to live in.”
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff has expressed frustration with the local media’s coverage of the NFL, feeling that the team is unfairly targeted with negative stories. Speaking on Willbo’s “Trading Cards” podcast, Goff criticized what he perceives as a bias towards negativity in the Detroit press, suggesting that they tend to emphasize unfavorable narratives about the Lions. He believes the media should focus more on the team’s successes and strengths rather than constantly portraying them as underdogs. Goff points out that the Lions have made significant improvements since he joined the team in 2021, progressing from a 3-13-1 record to winning the NFC North title in 2023 with a 12-5 record and making it to the NFC Championship Game. He emphasizes the talent on the team and hopes for more positive coverage moving forward.
Last season, running backs Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery proved to be one of the most powerful duos in the NFL, combining for an impressive total of 1,960 yards rushing and 23 touchdowns.
Wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown received recognition as a First Team All-Pro after an outstanding performance, tallying 119 receptions for 1,515 yards and 10 touchdowns. Additionally, rookie tight end Sam LaPorta earned a spot in the Pro Bowl with 889 yards receiving and 10 touchdowns.
On the defensive side, Aidan Hutchinson earned his inaugural Pro Bowl selection following an impressive season, amassing 11.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries.
Despite their considerable talent on both offense and defense, the Lions were consistently seen as significant underdogs throughout their playoff journey last season. Before facing off against the 49ers in the NFC Championship Game, Goff faced questions about Detroit’s perceived lack of playmakers compared to San Francisco.
Reflecting on the moment, Goff clarified that he wasn’t attempting to be disrespectful, but rather to highlight the familiarity their beat reporter should have with the Lions’ roster after being with the team for three years. He questioned the need to emphasize the strengths of the opposing team rather than focusing on their own strengths.
Goff expressed his frustration, asking whether they should feel privileged to play against the 49ers simply because they have talented players. He then proceeded to list some of Detroit’s standout players, such as Amon-Ra St. Brown, Penei Sewell, Frank Ragnow, and Sam LaPorta, emphasizing that the Lions also boast a roster filled with talent and should be recognized for it.