Campbell wants Goff as Lions' 2026 starter: 'He's an absolute stud'

Lions head coach Dan Campbell wants quarterback Jared Goff to be his starter next season despite Detroit missing the playoffs for the first time since 2022.

"We're thankful to have him. I'm thankful to have him," Campbell said of Goff on 97.1 The Ticket, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. "He's an absolute stud, he's a pro. He's going nowhere."

Campbell added: "He's a winning quarterback in this league. He played at a very high level all season long. He played even better than he played the year before, and he's continued to play better."

The Lions are 8-8 heading into their season finale against the Chicago Bears. They were eliminated from postseason contention after losing to the Minnesota Vikings on Christmas Day. Goff arguably played his worst game of the season, turning the ball over five times with one touchdown.

Goff has started every game for Detroit this year and ranks second in the league in touchdown passes (33) and third in passing yards (4,233). Out of 34 qualifying signal-callers in 2025, Goff sits 12th in EPA/play and 16th in success rate heading into Week 18, according to Ben Baldwin's database. His 36 sacks this campaign are the most he's accrued in a season since entering the NFL.

The 31-year-old signed a four-year, $212-million extension with $170 million guaranteed last May. He's under contract through the 2028 campaign and is set to have a $69.6-million cap hit in 2026, according to Over The Cap.

Goff has been Detroit's starter since 2021 after the team acquired him in a trade with the Rams that sent Matthew Stafford to Los Angeles. He's posted a 47-33-1 record during that stretch with a 2-2 record in the postseason.