Dan Campbell Compares Jared Goff’s Processing Speed to Hall of Famer Drew Brees

Placing Jared Goff at a particular tier of quarterbacks is a tough chore. Experts don’t consider the Detroit Lions quarterback an outright game-changer like Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow, or Patrick Mahomes, but he also doesn’t belong in the same category as Caleb Williams, Jordan Love, or Kyler Murray, great quarterbacks who have yet to prove they can win the big one. Goff slots somewhere in the middle.

When discussing the NFC North, analysts often champion Williams and Love, while Goff often ends up in the backseat. And yet, Goff has led the Lions to consecutive division titles. Moreover, Goff is among the few active quarterbacks to have played in a Super Bowl (with the Rams in the 2018-19 season).

Lions head coach Dan Campbell would love it if Goff received more coverage as his peers do.

[Jared] is massively underrated. This is a quarterback that plays the quarterback position—he knows how to play quarterback. When you gotta have it, [he] can stand in the pocket, make an accurate throw, an accurate read, and that’s what the quarterback position is. And he’s a rare breed of man.

Dan Campbell told Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated

According to Pro Football Focus’ Dalton Wasserman and Max Chadwick, Jared Goff’s “average time to throw of 2.57 seconds was tied for second-fastest in the league in 2025, and his EPA on zero-graded throws ranked second overall at 0.090 per attempt.”

However, Wasserman and Chadwick argued that Goff has done nothing “but stuff the stat sheet since being traded to the Lions” in 2021.

Regardless of the analytics, Campbell believes Goff can read NFL defenses as well as any quarterback.

His processing speed reminds me of [Drew] Brees. He sees it, he sees it. And every year it’s gotten faster and faster.

Dan Campbell told Breer

Dan Campbell on Jared Goff, via @AlbertBreer:

"His processing speed reminds me of [Drew] Brees … Nobody makes a more accurate throw under duress than Jared Goff." pic.twitter.com/grDaEWPLcN

— Underdog NFL (@UnderdogNFL) September 2, 2026

Goff has played 82 games for the Lions. He has recorded a passer rating of 101.3 with 21,451 yards, 149 touchdowns, and 47 interceptions. Goff is 48-33-1 in the regular season and 2-2 in the playoffs.

In 2025, Goff completed 393 passes for 4564 yards, 34 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions. The Lions went 9-8, finished third in the division, and missed the playoffs.

Dan Campbell and Jared Goff were left out of a prestigious NFL group

CBS Sports recently released its list of best head coach and quarterback duos in the NFL. Dan Campbell and Jared Goff did not make it. Jacksonville’s Liam Coen and Trevor Lawrence surprisingly snagged the 10^th spot.

Here’s the list:

1. Sean McVay and Matthew Stafford
2. Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes
3. Mike Macdonald and Sam Darnold
4. Mike Vrabel and Drake Maye
5. Matt LaFleur and Jordan Love
6. Kyle Shanahan and Brock Purdy
7. Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams
8. Nick Sirianni and Jalen Hurts
9. Jim Harbaugh and Justin Herbert
10. Liam Coen and Trevor Lawrence

Sure, the Lions failed to qualify for the playoffs last year, but they were a very exciting team to watch. Well, the Lions can certainly bounce back in 2026.

According to The Detroit News, the Lions boast -220 (sixth) odds to make the playoffs, +175 (first) to win the NFC North, +930 (fourth) to win the conference title, and +1900 (tied for 11th) odds to win the Super Bowl.

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