Jared Goff contract: How Lions QB's deal compares to highest-paid quarterbacks in NFL
Jared Goff's career turnaround has been one of the more compelling stories in the NFL in recent years.
Once a salary dump in the Matthew Stafford trade from the Los Angeles Rams, Goff has become a key part of the Detroit Lions' success. His performance has earned him a substantial contract, keeping him with the Lions for the foreseeable future.
Goff’s deal is one of several significant quarterback contracts signed across the league in recent seasons. At one point, his career seemed to be heading in the wrong direction, but he has turned it around, earning a place among the NFL’s top-paid quarterbacks.
Here’s a look at Goff’s latest contract and how it stacks up across the league.
Jared Goff contract details
Jared Goff signed a four-year deal worth $212 million with the Detroit Lions in the 2024 offseason, though the contract officially begins with the 2025 season. The deal averages $53 million per year, though the structure of the contract isn’t evenly distributed.
As part of the agreement, Goff received over $113 million guaranteed at signing, including a $73 million signing bonus, and more than $170 million guaranteed overall. The contract also makes him the highest-paid player in Lions history.
Jared Goff career earnings
According to Spotrac, Jared Goff has earned over $259 million in his career to date, including the 2025 season.
Goff has signed three major contracts during his career: a $27.9 million rookie deal with the Rams, which included a $22.8 million team option; a four-year, $134 million contract with the Rams; and a four-year, $212 million deal with the Detroit Lions.
Highest-paid NFL QBs in 2025
| Rank | Player | Team | Contract length | Contract Value | AAV |
| 1. | Dak Prescott | Cowboys | 4 | $240 million | $60 million |
| T-2. | Josh Allen | Bills | 6 | $330 million |
$55 million |
| T-2. | Joe Burrow | Bengals | 5 | $275 million | $55 million |
| T-2. | Trevor Lawrence | Jaguars | 5 | $275 million | $55 million |
| T-2. | Jordan Love | Packers | 4 | $220 million | $55 million |
| 6. |
Tua Tagovailoa | Dolphins | 4 | $212.4 million | $53.1 million |
| T-7. | Jared Goff | Lions | 4 | $212 million | $53 million |
| T-7. | Brock Purdy | 49ers | 5 | $265 million | $53 million |
| 9. | Justin Herbery | Chargers |
5 | $262.5 million | $52.5 million |
| 10. | Lamar Jackson | Ravens | 5 | $260 million | $52 million |
| 11. | Jalen Hurts | Eagles | 5 | $255 million | $51 million |
| 12. | Kyler Murray | Cardinals | 5 | $230.5 million |
$46.1 million |
| 13. | Deshaun Watson | Browns | 5 | $230 million | $46.1 million |
| T-14. | Patrick Mahomes | Chiefs | 10 | $450 million | $45 million |
| T-14. | Kirk Cousins | Falcons | 4 | $180 million | $45 million |
| 16. |
Matthew Stafford | Rams | 2 | $84 million | $42 million |
Goff is the seventh-highest paid quarterback in the NFL by AAV and 14th-highest paid by overall value. By signing a four-year deal instead of a five-year deal, Goff earns more on a yearly basis and is set up for another contract earlier rather than later.
T.J. Hockenson Doesn’t Hold Back After Vikings Lose to Eagles
The Minnesota Vikings fell to 3-3 on the 2025 NFL season after losing 28-22 to the Philadelphia Eagles on October 19 at U.S. Bank Stadium. Nonetheless, a moment in the game could have given the Vikings the victory.
Bill Vinovich’s crew initially awarded T.J. Hockenson a 15-yard touchdown on third-and-2 with 2:58 remaining. Nonetheless, in the NFL, all scoring plays are automatically reviewed, and that’s when the controversy came into the picture.
Early replays showed the ball might have shifted as Hockenson hit the ground, but league rules say the call on the field stands unless video shows clear, undeniable evidence to overturn it. While speaking to the media after the loss, Hockenson was livid over the referee’s decision.
“There was nothing to overturn it,” Hockenson said postgame (h/t Kevin Seifert of ESPN). “I mean, I was out there; I felt it, hands under the ball, snag it
“It is what it is. Got to move on other plays. … I mean you can’t go one for six [in the red zone] and win a ball game with two turnovers. We had the [opportunity] at the end, obviously. But yeah, tough one.”
Instant Replay Exec Sounds Off on Vikings
Despite the remarks from Hockenson, the vice president of instant replay, Mark Butterworth, said that the decision to overturn the touchdown was the correct call.
“The ruling on the field was a touchdown,” Butterworth said. “So it’s replay’s jurisdiction to stop the game. We used broadcast-enhanced shots to show that as he was going to the ground — he needs control of the ball throughout the process of the catch — he lost control of the ball. The ball hit the ground. Then, he regained control of the ball.
Vikings Couldn’t Overcome Controversial Call
If the touchdown had stood and the Vikings made the extra point, they would have trailed 28-26 with all three timeouts still in hand. Earlier in the game, they had several chances to capitalize but came up short, scoring just one touchdown on six trips to the red zone.
The Vikings also turned the ball over twice, including a costly interception that Eagles linebacker Jalyx Hunt returned 42 yards for a touchdown. It was one of two interceptions that veteran Carson Wentz committed in the loss to Philadelphia.
Despite the two picks, Wentz did pass for 313 yards and put the team in position to find the end zone. Nonetheless, that interception that went for a touchdown was a backbreaker for Minnesota.
As a result, it will be interesting to see what the Vikings will do under center for next week, whether they stick with Wentz or hand the job back to J.J. McCarthy, who will have another week of practice to determine whether he’s 100 percent and ready for live NFL action.
