Kirk Herbstreit wants an NFL quarterback to receive more recognition among the game's top signal-callers. On Thursday's "The Pat McAfee Show," Herbstreit theorized that Jared Goff is underappreciated because he's tied to the trade for Matthew Stafford. The football broadcaster thinks the Detroit Lions quarterback merits more praise.
"When he left the Rams and went to Detroit, because Stafford right away won a Super Bowl and everybody gave Matthew his accolades, and they should have," Herbstreit said. "But I almost feel like Goff, because of the optics of that, has never been treated with the respect that he deserves. I feel like he's a top-seven guy in the league." The numbers back up Herbstreit's claim.
Since he joined the Lions in 2021, Goff ranks second in passing yards, third in passing touchdowns, fourth in quarterback rating, and fifth in completion percentage. Goff has garnered three of his five career Pro Bowl nods with Detroit, exceeding 4,400 passing yards in four straight seasons. He opened the 2026 campaign with 206 yards and two touchdowns in a 31-30 overtime win over the New Orleans Saints.
Herbstreit will see Goff in action when calling Thursday night's game between the Lions and Bills on Prime Video. "I really wish the league and the fans of the league would pay more attention to what Jared Goff is doing," Herbstreit said. "Not just the numbers, but watch him tonight at the line of scrimmage.
He almost reminds me, not to the level of Manning, but they give him so much at the line of scrimmage ... I just have a great appreciation for the command at the line of scrimmage, the way he's able to get out of the bad play, into the good play. The decision-making, the accuracy, and how damn consistent it is.
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