Andrew Whitworth is one of the few players in the NFL who has had the chance to be teammates with both Matthew Stafford and Jared Goff. He reached the Super Bowl with every quarterback and won a title in 2021 when Stafford was under center.
Whitworth always provides valuable insight when discussing the NFL. So when he made comparisons for Stafford and Goff, it was worth listening to him. During a podcast for The Ringer, Whitworth described why guys love playing for both quarterbacks and compared their personalities in very different ways.
He said Stafford was like John Wayne, while Goff was “like the teddy bear you've had since you were two.”
“I love Goff and Stafford,” he said. “I had the great opportunity to have a lot of success with both. But it's interesting because they are completely different people. I've always said that Stafford is John Wayne. He's the baddest cowboy in the bar and everyone's like, “Dude, I just want to have a beer with that guy.” That's the hardest thing – he doesn't say a word, he never complains, he has blood coming out of his lip and he will still win. He’ll fight anyone and he doesn’t care what the situation is, so you love him because he’s John Wayne.”
“Stafford is John Wayne…Jared Goff is like the teddy bear you've had since you were two.” joined and gave a unique look at why NFL players love playing alongside Matthew Stafford and Jared Goff.
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When Whitworth compared Goff to a teddy bear, he meant it as a compliment — even though it might not sound like it at first glance. This isn't because Goff is as soft as a teddy bear, but rather because anyone who plays with Goff is always ready to defend him, as if he were a valuable toy as a child.
“Jared Goff is like the teddy bear you’ve had since you were two years old,” Whitworth said. “'If you rip off my teddy bear's arm, I'll kill you.' Don't touch my teddy bear. guys Love Jared. They love him. They chant his name. They go crazy for him every time he succeeds. He’s like the little toy they’ve had since they were little and they say, ‘You’ll never touch my toy.’ That’s how the boys love him.”
Whitworth made it clear that both quarterbacks are loved by their teammates, just in different ways.
“They both have that, but it’s just different. Their personalities and the way you care for them,” he said.
