The Detroit Lions went into the offseason needing to address several positions on the roster after failing to make the playoffs in 2025. In light of the down year in the Motor City, many questioned keeping quarterback Jared Goff around any longer after the QB had a less-than-stellar performance in a must-win game against the Minnesota Vikings.
However, while several fans are losing confidence in their signal-caller, Goff's legend continues to grow with his teammates due to his leadership abilities. Not only that, but he still ranked second in the league in passing touchdowns and passing yards, all while getting sacked a career-high 38 times and receiving no help from a defense that was tied for 22nd in scoring (24.3 PPG).
As someone who finished fifth in MVP voting in 2024, it should come as no surprise that Goff was listed as the No. 3 dark horse MVP candidate by NFL.com's Dan Parr going into the 2026 season.
There have only been five MVPs in the last eight seasons, but when Goff has had a clean pocket to operate in and a good foundation around him, his career season in 2024 shows what he is capable of and why he is ranked so highly on the dark horse list.
How Jared Goff stacks up to other MVP candidates
Since Goff arrived in Detroit, he has completed 67.9% of his passes for 21,451 yards with 149 TDs and 47 interceptions. Sure, he has fallen short in some of the biggest moments, but he has also willed this team to numerous wins and has a plethora of weapons around him in running back Jahmyr Gibbs, tight ends Sam LaPorta and Isaac TeSlaa, and wide receivers Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams.
When you compare Goff to the two players ranked ahead of him on the dark horse MVP list, Trevor Lawrence and Brock Purdy, there is certainly a case to be made that he should be in front of them.
While Lawrence also passed for more than 4000 yards last season, he still only completed 60.9% of his passes and tossed 12 interceptions. Purdy, meanwhile, has a lot of weapons around him and managed to pass for 20 TDs last season, although injuries have plagued him early in his career, and he has not been the same since his breakout 2023 campaign.
As for recent MVP winners, Patrick Mahomes (2018, 2022) accounted for at least 5,000 pass yards and 40 TDs in each of his MVP seasons, while Lamar Jackson (2019, 2023) utilized his dual-threat ability with more than 3,000 pass yards and at least 800 yards on the ground. Aaron Rodgers (2020, 2021) totaled 85 passing TDs and only nine interceptions, and Josh Allen (2024) put his team on his back with 28 TDs in the air and 12 on the ground.
Most recently, Matthew Stafford (2025) had arguably his best season to date with 4,707 pass yards and 46 TDs with only eight interceptions. Justin Herbert, Joe Burrow, and 2025 MVP runner-up Drake Maye are near the top of the DraftKings MVP odds board going into the 2026 season.
Herbert is one of the more physical QBs, but he had 13 interceptions last season, while Burrow went for 43 pass TDs in 2024 before injuries interrupted his 2025 season. Maye completed a ridiculous 72% of his passes, all while getting sacked 47 times last season.
Goff's overall body of work lately is more than enough to put him in MVP consideration. His completion percentage (68%), pass yards (4,564), and pass TDs (34) from last season are all in the ballpark of recent MVP winners and current frontrunners going into next season. He even has some extra motivation as someone who continues to get disrespected in the NFC North.
Realistically, unless the Lions make some strides on their offensive line and protect Goff, who has performed at his best when given a clean pocket, it is hard to see him contending for the MVP. However, if the protection improves and Goff resembles his form from the 2024 season, it is not totally out of the question that he makes another run at the MVP award and leads this Lions team on another playoff run.
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