In 2009, the Detroit Lions had the first overall pick in the NFL Draft. They sought a quarterback capable of leading their team out of the basement and back into playoff glory that has eluded them for a long time. On draft day, they chose Matthew Stafford from the Georgia Bulldogs, anointing him to be their savior.
Stafford played three years with the Bulldogs. He was one of the most highly recruited quarterbacks in the country and was projected to be a number one pick in the NFL from early on. His record with Georgia was 30-9 in his college career. The bad thing was that he never won that big game. Would that change with a team that did not make the playoffs in 10 years and had only one season over .500 since 2000?
Embed from Getty ImagesHere Come the Lions
Embed from Getty Images2009 was a “get to know you” year for the Lions. They had a new coach and a rookie quarterback. Ugly is the nicest word to describe that year as the Lions finished 2-14. The next year started out even uglier, while Stafford had an injured shoulder. He came back in Week 8 and the team found their way late in the season ending up 6-10. This showed promise that the franchise was ready to turn that corner. And they did.
The Playoffs are Calling
In 2011, the Lions finished 10-6 and made the playoffs for the first time in over a decade. They would lose to the New Orleans Saints, but this was the start of the dynasty. Or was it?
In 2012, the team did not follow through and reversed back to the bottom, finishing 4-12. 2013 got a little better at 7-9. In 2014, they found their way again and made the playoffs at 11-5. They would once again lose in the first round. A couple of years floundering around .500 and one more playoff appearance/first-round loss about sums up Stafford’s career in Motown. 0-3 in the big games. The Lions were looking less like a dynasty and more like the bottom-dwellers they have been.
The Trade: New Beginning in L.A.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe Rams sent Jared Goff, a 2021 first-round pick, a 2022 first-round pick, and a 2023 third-round pick to the Lions for Matthew Stafford. “I asked to go to a team that was ready to win a championship,” Stafford said. It was a new beginning for him. He was now surrounded by a team that was strong on offense and really tough on defense. Was this the missing piece he needed to grab that championship?
Silence the Doubters
The 2021 season gave Stafford the elusive wins he had been looking for, at last. The Rams dominated the regular season with a 12-5 record and finished first in the NFC West. Stafford would finally get the first playoff win of his career, and that train kept rolling. The Rams made it to the Super Bowl in his first year. They would face the Cincinnati Bengals for the NFL Championship. The game went back and forth, with multiple lead changes. Trailing 20-16 with less than two minutes to play, Stafford led the team to the late score to retake the lead. The Rams went on to win Super Bowl LVI, 23-20 after Stafford’s third TD pass of the game. Not only did he silence the doubters, he solidified his place among the NFL elite.
Let’s Compare Stafford and Goff
Matthew Stafford
Detroit Lions (2009-2020)
- 12 seasons, 3 playoff appearances, 0 playoff wins
- 45,109 passing yards, 282 touchdowns, 144 interception
Los Angeles Rams (2021-present)
- 3 seasons, 2 playoff appearances* , 1 Super Bowl win (2022)
- 10,938 passing yards, 75 touchdowns, 36 interceptions
Jared Goff
Los Angeles Rams (2016-2020)
- 5 seasons, 3 playoff appearances, 1 Super Bowl appearance (2018)
- 18,171 passing yards, 107 touchdowns, 55 interceptions
Detroit Lions (2021-present)
- 3 seasons, 1 playoff appearance *
- 12,258 passing yards, 78 touchdowns, 27 interceptions
Stafford vs. Goff Comparison Chart
(Asterisks (*) denote playoff appearances with this year included)
Bittersweet Homecoming
Detroit is looking for that first playoff win in decades. The person that they counted on to accomplish that goal now stands in the way of that feat. This is Stafford’s old stomping grounds. He knows the terrain well. Will he have demons from the past that prevent him from doing what he needs to do? Will it be the Lions’ historical shortcomings that come into play? The pressure is definitely on both sides.
The Lions have not won a playoff game since 1991. The stakes are high, and the sense of urgency is higher. The other thing standing in their way is a player who has unfinished business in Motown and needs to silence his critics. Matthew Stafford needs to prove to the Lions’ fans that he has the ability to get it done. Stafford said in an interview this week, “The opportunity happens to be in Detroit, which is fun for me on a personal level.” He will have the chance to spoil the Lions’ Super Bowl hopes as he comes back to visit for the first time since he left. There will be no better place to be than Ford Field this Sunday to find out.
On Jan. 30, 2021, the Los Angeles Rams and Detroit Lions agreed to a blockbuster trade involving two former No. 1 overall picks: Jared Goff & Matthew Stafford
— NFL (@NFL) January 11, 2024
Nearly three years later, was this deal a win-win for both teams? 🧵 pic.twitter.com/SNx7Bddu7V
Thank you for reading my Matthew Stafford Detroit Lions article. Our NFL page is your premier destination for all things this NFL season. Head to my Belly Up Sports Page and follow me on Twitter/X. For NFL and all other sports articles go to Belly Up Sports. Featured image credit Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images.
