Jared Goff will return as the Detroit Lions' starting quarterback in 2026, as the veteran has been a key part of the franchise's turnaround over the past few years under head coach Dan Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes.
Though the Lions missed the postseason in 2025 for the first time since 2022, Goff still posted one of the best seasons of his career, throwing for 4,564 yards, 34 touchdowns, and just eight interceptions. The former No. 1 overall pick also had a 68% completion rate and a 105.5 passer rating.
Goff has provided the Lions with efficient and stable play at quarterback since he arrived in 2021 as part of the Matthew Stafford trade with the Los Angeles Rams. However, Goff has still yet to be mentioned among the elite signal-callers in the sport.
Goff Lands in Tier 2 of Quarterbacks in The Athletic Survey
The Athletic conducts a yearly survey with NFL coaches and executives, to gauge the top quarterbacks in the league and what tier they belong in. For the third straight year, Goff landed in Tier 3 and was once again ranked as the eighth-best quarterback, this time tying with Drake Maye of the New England Patriots.
Some quarterbacks ahead of Goff include Dak Prescott of the Dallas Cowboys, Justin Herbert of the Los Angeles Chargers, and Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens. The Tier 1 of quarterbacks was Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs, Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills, Stafford, and Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals.
An anonymous defensive coordinator told The Athletic that he has a newfound respect for Goff, as his play didn't drop despite the departure of offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, who is now entering his second season as head coach of the Chicago Bears.
However, league personnel aren't ready to call Goff elite, which should lead to the Lions quarterback playing with a chip on his shoulder in 2026. Goff is one of the most effective pocket passers of his generation, and though he failed to lead Detroit to the playoffs last year, the 31-year-old has consistently been a winning quarterback, even dating back to his days with the Rams.
If Goff posts another productive season and leads the Lions on a deep playoff run, the Cal product should shoot up the rankings. There aren't many quarterbacks in the sport who have been better statistically in recent memory than Detroit's QB1.
Best of the Lions
- 5 Best Quarterbacks in Detroit Lions History
- 5 Best Running Backs in Detroit Lions History
- 5 Best Wide Receivers in Detroit Lions History
