The Los Angeles Rams and Detroit Lions completed a blockbuster trade after the 2020 season that saw a pair of former No. 1 overall draft picks Jared Goff and Matthew Stafford switch teams.
Goff found a fair amount of success during his time with the Rams, leading the team to an appearance in Super Bowl LIII and earning two Pro Bowl selections.
Stafford spent 12 seasons with the Lions and put up solid numbers but went winless in three playoff games.
Former Rams All-Pro tackle Andrew Whitworth had a chance to protect both quarterbacks and compared their personalities, via The Ringer:
“I love Goff and Stafford. I had a great opportunity to have a lot of success with both of them. But it’s interesting because they’re totally different people. I’ve always said Stafford is John Wayne. He’s the baddest freaking cowboy in the bar and everybody’s like, ‘Dude, I just want to have a beer with that guy.’ That is the toughest – he never says a word, he never complains, he’s got blood coming from his lip and he’s still going to win. He’s going to fight everybody and he doesn’t care what the situation is so you love him because he’s John Wayne. Jared Goff is like the teddy bear you’ve had since you were 2. ‘If you tear my teddy bear’s arm off, I’ll kill you.’ Like, you don’t touch my teddy bear. Guys love Jared. Like, they love him. They chant his name. They go crazy for him every time he has some success. He is like that little toy they’ve had since they were a kid and they’re like, ‘You will never touch my toy.’ That’s the way guys love him They both have that, but it’s just different. Their personalities and the way you care about them.”
Stafford and Goff are two of the most liked quarterbacks in the NFL and Whitworth’s comments reiterate that notion.
Both players have benefited from the trade as Stafford led the Rams to a win in Super Bowl LVI while Goff is playing some of the best football of his career with the Lions.
Stafford and Goff have faced each other three times since the blockbuster deal, with the former winning the first matchup and the latter taking the last two.
Andrew Whitworth feels ‘really good’ about Rams’ future
Now that the Rams are almost back to full strength and starting to gel, Andrew Whitworth expressed excitement for the team’s future.
Whitworth added that the Rams roster could look different next year depending on how the 2024 season shakes out, but hopes Stafford and Cooper Kupp remain with the team.
