Jared Goff
A quarterback who transformed from a discarded number one pick into the steady leader who revived a long-suffering Detroit Lions franchise.
Born 1994 (age 32)·American football player·Birthday: October 14·Millennials
Biography
Jared Goff's football journey is a story of high-stakes pressure and quiet redemption. Hailing from California, he shattered Pac-12 passing records at Berkeley, making his selection first overall by the Los Angeles Rams in 2016 feel inevitable. Under coach Sean McVay, he quickly blossomed, piloting a dynamic offense that reached Super Bowl LIII in the 2018 season. That pinnacle, however, was followed by a swift, public fall from grace, culminating in a trade to Detroit that many saw as the Rams dumping his contract. In Michigan, Goff found a different kind of challenge: leading a historic franchise mired in defeat. With a calm demeanor and surgical precision, he became the central figure in the Lions' cultural turnaround, ending playoff droughts and, in 2023, delivering a division title and a run to the NFC Championship game, rewriting his narrative from castoff to cornerstone.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Jared was born in 1994, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Jared Was Born
The biggest hits of 1994
#1 Movie
The Lion King
Best Picture
Forrest Gump
#1 TV Show
Seinfeld
Jared's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1994Born
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1999Started school
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2007Became a teenager
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2010Could drive
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2012Could vote
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2015Turned 21
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2024Turned 30
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
2026Age 32 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Selected first overall by the Los Angeles Rams in the 2016 NFL Draft.
- Led the Los Angeles Rams to an appearance in Super Bowl LIII following the 2018 season.
- Earned Pro Bowl selections in both the 2017 and 2018 NFL seasons.
- Quarterbacked the Detroit Lions to their first NFC North division title in 2023.
Did You Know?
He played baseball as a pitcher and first baseman in high school and was scouted by MLB teams.
His father, Jerry Goff, was a Major League Baseball catcher for the Montreal Expos.
He wore number 16 in college and with the Rams in honor of Joe Montana, but switched to number 9 with the Lions.
“I think the biggest thing is just staying even-keeled, not getting too high, not getting too low.”
