Since being drafted first overall in 2016, Jared Goff has been one of the most reliable quarterbacks in the NFL, but none of it would have been possible without his rollercoaster time in Berkeley playing for the Cal Golden Bears.
As the Lions QB1 prepares to face off against the Green Bay Packers on Thanksgiving, there is no better time than now to look back on the historic career that Goff had at Cal.
Big Man on Campus in Year 1
The Golden Bears wasted no time inserting Goff into the fire when he arrived on campus, making him the first freshman to start on opening weekend. Unfortunately, the season would be a blur as Cal finished 1-11; however, their Bay Area native QB would be their silver lining as he set school records for passing yards, completions, and attempts.
While it was not a big year in the win column, Goff was still able to showcase a talented arm and great accuracy. At 6-foot-4, he offered the prototypical size for a potential NFL quarterback.
- PFSN College QBi Score: N/A
- Completions: 320
- Attempts: 531
- Yards: 3,508
- TDs: 18
- INTs: 10
- Rush Attempts: 59
- Rush Yards: –62
- Rush TDs: 1
Jared Goff Makes His Mark
With much ground to make up for in the second year, Goff was already showing that he can be not just one of the top quarterbacks in the PAC. But in all of college football, as he started all 12 games for Cal, breaking all of his own single-season records he set the prior year.
The Golden Bears finished the season 5-7 with Goff throwing 35 touchdowns. Cal would not make a bowl game; however, their improvement would be highlighted in the win column with the future first overall pick as their full-time starter. Fans in the Bay Area began to ride the Jared Goff hype train and were ready for his junior campaign.
- PFSN College QBi Score: N/A
- Completions: 316
- Attempts: 509
- Yards: 3,973
- TDs: 35
- INTs: 7
- Rush Attempts: 55
- Rush Yards: –44
- Rush TDs: 0
Goff Makes Golden Bear History
Goff’s junior season in Berkeley was prolific to say the least, with the Golden Bears quarterback shattering every record in Cal’s history. Goff’s third year would put his career totals at 96 passing touchdowns and over 12,000 passing yards, two records that seemingly may never be broken in the foreseeable future.
Leading Cal to their first bowl game since 2011 and coming away with a win, the Golden Bears finished 8-5 in Goff’s final season, as he left his coveted program completely transformed from when he arrived in 2013. With all the physical traits and proven development in three seasons, all Goff needed to do was put together a solid combine performance, which would help solidify his No. 1 overall selection.
- PFSN College QBi Score: N/A
- Completions: 341
- Attempts: 529
- Yards: 4,719
- TDs: 43
- INTs: 13
- Rush Attempts: 56
- Rush Yards: –8
- Rush TDs: 0
From Draft Day to Detroit
Selected first overall by the Los Angeles Rams, Goff would not see the field until midway through the season, but it would be to no avail as the Rams fell 0-7 in all of their rookie QB’s games played. Following that season, the former Golden Bear quarterback led the Rams to the playoffs in back-to-back seasons, culminating in a Super Bowl berth for LA in the 2018 campaign.
Following his Super Bowl loss, the Rams and Goff struggled to regain their spark, which ultimately led to the blockbuster trade of Jared Goff to the Lions for veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford.
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In his first two seasons with his new team, Goff found some similar struggles that he faced early on in his career, but by year three with the Lions, the former Cal gunslinger was back to his reliable ways. Leading Detroit to the playoffs for the first time in seven years, Goff defeated his former team on the way to the NFC championship before falling to the 49ers.
Detroit is now hopeful of fighting for a playoff spot in the competitive NFC North and NFC Wild Card, so its matchup today against the Green Bay Packers comes with heavy ramifications.