The Detroit Lions have already experienced an eventful offseason. After finishing 15-2 and securing the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs, Detroit fell short in a divisional round loss to the Washington Commanders.
The biggest headline has been the departure of several coaches, including Aaron Glenn and Ben Johnson, who accepted head coaching roles. However, it’s also worth wondering how some players will spend their offseason.
Jared Goff’s plans won’t be as hectic as they were last year when he was finalizing a four-year, $212 million contract extension. While some players may be planning rigorous training schedules or vacations, the Lions quarterback revealed some surprising offseason news over the weekend.
According to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, Goff and his wife Christen are part of a high-profile investment group aiming to bring a WNBA team to Detroit.
The area once hosted the WNBA’s Detroit Shock, one of the league’s original franchises, which relocated to Tulsa in 2009 after winning three championships (2003, 2006, 2008) under coach Bill Laimbeer. The franchise now plays in Fort Worth, where it became the Dallas Wings in 2015.
Although the Shock no longer exist, there have been efforts to bring a WNBA team back to Detroit. Goff and his wife are among several investors, including Detroit Pistons owner Tom Gores, Lions owner Sheila Hamp, and former Pistons stars Grant Hill and Chris Webber. The league has filed a trademark request for the name “Detroit Shock” as of Friday.
The WNBA is expanding to 16 teams by 2028, with the Golden State Valkyries joining this season. The Toronto Tempo and a still-unnamed franchise in Portland will launch in 2026, bringing the total to 15 teams, with one more expansion slot left.
Goff’s group is well-positioned to be awarded a team, and if Detroit receives an expansion franchise by 2026, Goff will join a growing list of athletes with stakes in professional teams.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is part of the Kansas City Royals ownership group and has stakes in Sporting Kansas City and the Kansas City Current. New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers holds a stake in the Milwaukee Bucks from his time with the Green Bay Packers, and Cleveland Browns edge rusher Myles Garrett owns a minority share in the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Goff also shared that he is considering owning a stake in an NFL franchise after retirement, though active players are not permitted to own shares in teams. Therefore, the WNBA investment could be a satisfying endeavor during his offseason.
