Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay expressed deep professional regret this week over how he managed the January 2021 trade that sent quarterback Jared Goff to the Detroit Lions.
Speaking on the "Bussin' With The Boys" podcast, McVay criticized his own lack of direct communication with Goff, whom he had helped develop since 2017.
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"I'm super sensitive to what an amateur I was with the Goff situation, trading him," McVay said.
"You want to talk about lack of courage, lack of clarity, lack of ability to be able to look somebody in the eye."
The trade packaged Goff along with two first-round picks and a third-round pick in exchange for veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford.
While the deal helped the Rams win a Super Bowl and allowed Goff to revitalize his career with the Lions, McVay acknowledged his personal shortcomings in navigating the human element of the transaction.
McVay explained that his frustration after the 2020 season led to a breakdown in transparency, leaving Goff blindsided when the trade news broke.
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"Did I have the courage to sit him down after that season and tell him there's a possibility we might explore some avenues that might lead to you not being our quarterback?
No," McVay said. "Would I handle it different now?
Absolutely."
Goff previously voiced that the lack of communication from the Rams front office and coaching staff before the trade announcement was the most frustrating aspect of his departure.
"I appreciate his honesty in all of that," McVay said. "There was nobody to blame but myself."
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Since the 2021 deal, both franchises have found success. The Lions posted a 15-2 season and Goff signed a four-year, $212 million contract extension.
