BREAKING: Lily, a 24-year-old waitress, had no idea she was serving Detroit Lions superstar Jared Goff. Polite and unassuming, Goff ate quietly without drawing attention. But when he left, he placed a folded bill on the table and walked away with a warm smile. Curious, Lily opened the bill — and within seconds, tears welled up in her eyes. What Jared Goff wrote was more than just a thank you… it was a message so powerful that it changed her life forever. 💔✨
Detroit Lions QB Jared Goff Leaves Waitress in Tears with Life-Changing Tip and Heartfelt Note
In a quiet Detroit diner on a crisp autumn evening, 24-year-old waitress Lily Thompson was wrapping up another routine shift. Little did she know that one unassuming customer would turn her ordinary night into an unforgettable moment of kindness that’s now going viral across social media.
The customer was none other than Jared Goff, the superstar quarterback for the Detroit Lions. Fresh off leading his team to a thrilling 52-6 rout of the Jacksonville Jaguars on November 17, 2025—where he threw for 412 yards and four touchdowns—Goff slipped into the booth incognito. Dressed in casual jeans and a hoodie, the 30-year-old NFL veteran ordered a simple burger and fries, chatting politely with Lily about the weather and the Lions’ dominant season.
“He was so normal,” Lily later shared in an emotional TikTok video that’s racked up over 5 million views. “No entourage, no fuss. Just a guy enjoying his meal after a big win.”
As Goff finished, he stood up, flashed a warm smile, and placed a folded $100 bill on the table before heading out. Lily, used to modest tips from late-night patrons, picked it up absentmindedly—only to unfold a note scribbled on a napkin tucked inside.
The message read: “Lily, you’ve got this. Keep pushing through the tough shifts—better days are coming. Your smile lit up my night. God bless, Jared Goff. P.S. Lions are 9-1… let’s keep it going!”
But it was the tip that truly stunned her: $5,000 in crisp bills, far beyond anything she’d ever received. Tears streamed down her face as she realized the stranger was the Lions’ franchise QB, who’s having a career-best 2025 season with 3,412 passing yards, 28 touchdowns, and just four interceptions through 10 games.
For Lily, a single mom juggling double shifts to support her 3-year-old daughter amid rising rent costs in Detroit, the gesture was life-altering. “I’ve been struggling to pay bills and put food on the table,” she told local news outlet WDIV. “This means I can catch up on everything and maybe even take my little girl to a Lions game. It’s not just money—it’s hope.”
Goff, known for his low-key personality since being traded to Detroit in 2021, has quietly built a reputation for community generosity. This isn’t his first act of kindness; he’s previously surprised fans with tickets and supported local charities through his JG16 foundation. Yet he downplayed the incident when asked by reporters at practice this week.
“I just saw someone working hard and wanted to help,” Goff said with his trademark humility. “Lily was awesome—great service, great energy. If it brightens her day, that’s all that matters.”
The story exploded online after Lily’s video, with #GoffKindness trending on X and Instagram. Fans praised the two-time Pro Bowler for staying grounded despite his $212 million contract extension. “This is why Detroit loves Jared,” one commenter wrote. “He’s not just winning on the field—he’s winning hearts.”
As the Lions gear up for their Week 12 showdown against the Indianapolis Colts, Goff’s off-field play is reminding everyone why he’s become a beloved figure in the Motor City. For Lily, the tip has already covered overdue bills and funded a small celebration with her daughter. She’s even started a GoFundMe to pay the kindness forward, aiming to help other service workers in need.
In a league often dominated by headlines of drama and diva behavior, Goff’s simple act proves that true stars shine brightest in everyday moments. Lily’s tears weren’t just from surprise—they were from realizing that sometimes, the biggest plays happen far from the spotlight.
Raiders grab promising QB, generational defensive prospect in 3-round mock draft
After another divisional loss and some favorable results around the NFL, the Las Vegas Raiders moved up a slot in the 2026 NFL Draft to the No. 6 overall pick. They could move even closer this week with a tough Monday Night Football matchup against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 11.
The Raiders may still be on the outside looking in when it comes to the top quarterback prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft. With teams like the Cleveland Browns, New York Jets, and the New Orleans Saints all currently ahead of them, they may have to be patient to find their signal-caller of the future.
In the case of this mock draft, that is exactly what happened. Alabama's Ty Simpson, Indiana's Fernando Mendoza, and Oregon's Dante Moore were all picked before the Raiders got their chance. But Las Vegas still landed a potential franchise quarterback and an elite defensive prospect.
Raiders land Caleb Downs, LaNorris Sellers in 3-round mock draft
Round 1 - Pick 6: Caleb Downs, S (Ohio State)
According to many draft experts, Ohio State safety Caleb Downs is one of the top prospects in the entire 2026 class. NFL Draft Buzz has him ranked second overall behind Miami EDGE Ruben Bain Jr., and they compare him favorably to Pro Football Hall of Famer Troy Polamalu.
Downs has a prototypical build for a safety at 6-feet and 205 pounds, and his last recorded 40-yard dash time of 4.45 seconds is in the 86th percentile for his position. What makes Downs special is not necessarily his measurables, but rather his tremendous football IQ and elite processing abilities.
The Ohio State star can break down opposing offenses with speed and power, and he is a leader on and off the field. This Buckeyes star is a possible top-five pick in the upcoming draft and could help transform the Raiders' defense for years to come.
Round 2 – Pick 37: Christen Miller, DT (Georgia)
After cutting Christian Wilkins, the Raiders have had a mammoth-sized hole in the middle of their defense. They rank in the middle of the pack against the run, but near the bottom of the league in sacks and pressures, solely because offenses can focus so heavily on Maxx Crosby.
Adding a player like Christen Miller to the defensive line can alleviate some of that pressure because he is such a physical force. Miller measures in at 6-foot-4 and 305 pounds and is noted for his combination of power and quickness that helps him be such a disruptive player in the interior.
RELATED: Raiders just had an obvious Chip Kelly replacement become available
He has a chance to keep boosting his draft stock this season, as the Bulldogs are likely to play deep into the winter. But it’s a safe bet that he will be another Georgia defensive lineman who hears his name called early in the NFL Draft and makes an immediate impact.
Round 3 – Pick 68: LaNorris Sellers, QB (South Carolina)
As of now, fans can assume that Geno Smith will be on the Raiders in 2026, considering he is under contract and is Pete Carroll's favorite. This allows the Raiders to focus on a more developmental prospect at quarterback, and they grab a tantalizing one in LaNorris Sellers from South Carolina.
Sellers has prototypical size at 6-foot-3 and 240 pounds, and he moves well, running a 4.62-second 40-yard dash. He was tremendous in 2024 as a dual-threat, recording 22 total touchdowns to just 7 interceptions and completing 65% of his passes.
The South Carolina native has not been as effective this season on a struggling team that is 3-6 in 2025, which has contributed to his draft stock sliding a bit. If Sellers pans out, however, this would be an excellent value for a player with incredible upside.
He does represent a high level of risk because of the variance in his game, but that is why the Raiders would select him as a developmental piece behind Smith, and not just throw him to the wolves on Day 1.
