Former NFL quarterback unironically compares Jared Goff to Drew Brees

No one would put Jared Goff in the same class as Drew Brees, well, almost no one….

Any comparison between Jared Goff and Drew Brees begins and ends with each having started a Super Bowl, and even then Brees won one while Goff lost. As the Lions enter a new phase under head coach Dan Campbell, Goff may or may have a long-term future in Detroit.

Mark Brunell is the Lions’ quarterback coach, and he also spent two seasons toward the end of his career as a backup to Brees in New Orleans. So he’s getting acquainted with Goff’s talent and work habits, with what he saw from Brees as a Hall of Fame-caliber frame of reference.

Mark Brunell seriously compared Jared Goff to Drew Brees

Brunell offered some observations of Goff to Justin Rogers of the Detroit News.

“I’ve been impressed with Jared from Day One,” Brunell said. “Let’s start with the person. He’s a hard worker. He has a great attitude. He’s a very good leader. As far as him on the field, you guys have seen it, he can throw that ball. He makes good decisions with it, and he’s really grown into this offense to the point where he’s doing a good job with it.”

“He has a lot of qualities that I saw in Drew Brees,” Brunell said. “Really, the passion for the game, the work ethic, the leadership. There are some similarities there, which is great to see.”

Brunell is in his first year coaching in the NFL, but he coached some at the high school level and of course played 17 NFL seasons. He certainly knows what a good quarterback looks like, and he was one for a big chunk of his playing career.

But as Goff’s position coach, and with how Rams’ head coach Sean McVay has heaped praise on Matthew Stafford since the trade involving the two quarterbacks, Brunell also has to play amateur psychologist. Comparing Goff to someone like Brees is a clear effort to prop up his pupil, even if it’s a huge stretch and notably only including intangibles.