‘Every era has its hero, and this is his time to shine…’ For Jared Goff, this is his time… and he’s embracing every moment of it. I mean, this is barring the fact that the Lions are roaring and he’s cooking under center. They have made the league their Den with the 12-1 record! We are talking about all the behind the curtains stuff that he is doing. IF we are going to use the word ‘class’, well, Goff’s name alone has upped it.

Now, Goff has been honored with the nomination of the 2024 Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. For starters, that’s one of the prestigious honors you can receive as a player. It’s a flashy rubber stamp to tell the whole world: ‘Hey, I am human first, before being the player on the gridiron’. Basically, we must forget the stats for this one. It’s all about the impact. To put it precisely, this award celebrates players who “excel on the field and demonstrate a steadfast commitment to creating a positive impact beyond the game.”

But that’s where Goff enters with the REAL move… The real reason why he’s deserving of that nomination right now. So, Goff surprised Fate Detroit students with four-year college scholarships. Yes, that happened! But guess what? He surprised ‘every single one of them’. No fine print, no exceptions. Read that again! Now, imagine hearing that as a student.

Meanwhile, in the clip, where he announced, “We will be giving each of you a 4-year scholarship,” you can hear the gasps of the students in the background. That’s the impact we were talking about! Sure, he’s a millionaire (with a $85 million net worth). But that’s where you want those big guys to spend their big bucks as well. Simply, giving back to the community with a smile!

Well, this is not his first nomination either; he also repped Detroit for the same honor back in 2022. Goff’s partnership with organizations like Detroit’s Give Merit FATE program and the Lineage Foundation for Good highlights his dedication to making the community thrive, and it’s not just a one-off—it’s a movement.

Jared Goff: Detroit’s favorite, on and off the field!

Having nominated for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award? Yeah, Jared Goff is not making a meal of it. “Staying humble,” he says, adding, “My work off the field is deeply connected to my desire and responsibility to give back to my communities.” I mean, hats off for rolling up your sleeves for community service. But for Goff, this is the bare minimum on his part. He added: “To be a source of inspiration with the influence that I have is something I take seriously.”

But here’s the thing—his actions speak louder than the words. Goff doesn’t just play QB; he’s quarterbacking change off the field too. Take JG16, his foundation that’s all about leveling the playing field for Detroit youth. From designing merch with Merit to fund college scholarships to matching 100% of the profits himself, Goff is putting his money where his mouth is. And he’s not stopping there.

In 2022, he turned those funds into a full-blown STEM lab for the Detroit Lions Academy, opening doors for kids to explore science, tech, engineering, art, and math. Who knew a quarterback could also be a STEM hero? Oh, and about those families in need—don’t worry, we have done our research. Goff walked the talk when he teamed with Forgotten Harvest to distribute 40,000 pounds of fresh food to 500 households.

That earned him the NFLPA’s Community MVP honors, and honestly, it feels well-deserved. What also feels deserved, is the MVP chatter surrounding him. Especially when we consider where the Lions are currently. Couple that with the solid numbers: 3000+ YDs, 25 TDs, 10 INTs, so far.

But Goff is proving that being a leader isn’t just about what you do under the bright lights. Nope! It’s about how you show up for the community when the cameras are off. And Detroit fans? You’ve got a keeper, both on and off the field.