Lions QB Jared Goff isn't worried about being 'Mr. Perfect.' Here are his goals for 2022

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Dan Campbell had simple advice for Jared Goff after the Detroit Lions acquired the quarterback in March 2021.

Goff, the No. 1 selection in the 2016 NFL draft, was traded by the Los Angeles Rams for veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford, a move that also gave the Lions two future first-round picks. Once nicknamed "Mr. Perfect" during his playing career at California, Goff packed his bags and left behind the state he'd called home his entire life.

Lions coach Dan Campbell watches players, including quarterback Jared Goff (16) stretch during practice during minicamp on Thursday, June 9, 2022, in Allen Park.
Lions coach Dan Campbell watches players, including quarterback Jared Goff (16) stretch during practice during minicamp on Thursday, June 9, 2022, in Allen Park.

When he finally arrived in Detroit, he met Campbell. The two's early conversations still resonate with Goff more than a year later. In a recent appearance on "The Pivot Podcast," Goff shed light on what Campbell — then three months into his job as Lions head coach — told him in their initial moments, and why it has sparked Goff's passion for helping rebuild the franchise.

"Just be Jared," Campbell told Goff. In his stint with the Rams, Goff found himself in the national spotlight constantly, making him feel he had to live up to the "Mr. Perfect" name that Los Angeles fans were hoping for.

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Goff appeared to have finally met the franchise's high expectations in 2018 after leading the Rams to Super Bowl LIII, but the franchise's 13-3 loss to the New England Patriots brought a whole new level of public criticism. Goff underperformed his next two seasons in Los Angeles, causing the franchise to move on.

Knowing Goff's backstory, Campbell wanted Goff to forget his past shortcomings. The Lions don't need "Mr. Perfect," Campbell said, they just need Jared.

"I've been doing this for a long enough time to know what the hell I'm doing," Goff told hosts and former NFL stars Ryan Clark, Channing Crowder and Fred Taylor. "(Campbell said) 'Don't overthink things, don't try to be some superhero out there... let the pieces fall where they may.' I think this spring, and then through the summer into this training camp, that's really settled in with me."

Goff, 27, always thought of the "Mr. Perfect" nickname as a joke. To him, he's far from flawless and has "a million things" he needs to work on. Goff threw for 3,245 passing yards and 19 touchdowns for Detroit in 2021, his lowest single-season total since his rookie year.

The Lions' 3-13-1 record is also the second losing season Goff's had in the league. However, Goff isn't worried. He's taking Campbell's advice and putting it behind him — he's more concerned making 2022 the season Detroit starts turning things around.

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"(Mr. Perfect) isn't very accurate," Goff said. "I'm 'Mr. Imperfect' and always trying to be perfect. ... Now, (I need) to take my game to the point where I can make others around me that much better. How do I make D.J. Chark better? How do I make T.J. Hockenson better? ... How do I make them all better in our system?

"I want to be the guy they can go to ask those questions and elevate their play as much as mine."

Goff has also learned not to determine his personal happiness by wins and losses. In the "grand scheme of things," Goff cares more about his relationships with his coaches, teammates and his friends and family.

Of course, this belief was tested when Stafford and the Rams won Super Bowl LVI in February. It hurt to watch his former team win it all, Goff said, but he was glad to see his old teammates' hard work pay off.

"If I said it was easy, I'd be lying," Goff said. "But, I have so many good friends there and good people there that it was conflicting. You want to see them win it, but... (if) my buddy gets a ring, that doesn't mean I don't want to kick his ass next time I play him."

Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) runs a play against the Arizona Cardinals during first half action  on Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, at Ford Field in Detroit.
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) runs a play against the Arizona Cardinals during first half action on Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, at Ford Field in Detroit.

Golf knows the Lions' rebuild won't happen overnight, but believes Campbell's culture has positioned the team to make a strong push into Year 2. Goff said the main goal is to win the NFC North and make the playoffs, but more so than that, he wants the Lions faithful to walk away from the 2022 season proud of their quarterback.

"I want (fans) to remember, firstly, how I made everyone feel and how I made everyone better," Goff said. "(I want them) to see me as that guy they could look to be a leader. ... I want them to think back and say, 'Man, that guy gave me everything he got.'"

Chandler Engelbrecht is a reporting intern at the Detroit Free Press and can be reached at CEngelbrecht@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @ctengelbrecht.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: How Dan Campbell welcomed Jared Goff to Detroit Lions