Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff will be marking Thanksgiving a little differently this year — it’s his first holiday season as a father. Goff and his wife, Christen Harper, welcomed their daughter, Romy Isabelle, in July, and the new dad is still getting the hang of things.

During a conversation with Will Reeve on Good Morning America on November 21, Goff reflected on his early experiences with parenthood. Asked what he’s mastered so far, he laughed and admitted, “I’ve figured out how to make her laugh pretty well.” But he didn’t hesitate to call out the areas where he’s still improving. “Diapers? Definitely not my strength,” he joked. “I keep telling Christen she’s a pro at it, so she should keep taking the lead there.”

Who is Christen Harper?

Goff first connected with Christen — now 32 — through a dating app in 2019. At the time, she wasn’t planning on a new relationship. “I had just ended a long-term one and was determined to stay single for a while,” she explained to Sports Illustrated in 2022. “Then I met Jared, and everything changed.”

The two became engaged three years later and were married in June 2024 in California, the place both still consider home. “California is where I’m from and where we live now,” Goff told People that spring. “Christen grew up just outside L.A., so it’s special for both of us.”

After Goff was traded from the Los Angeles Rams to the Lions, Christen moved with him to Detroit and quickly embraced the city. She became active with local groups such as Forgotten Harvest and Girls Inc., reflecting her commitment to giving back. “I really love it here,” she told The Detroit News in October 2024. “My goal is to keep growing personally, stay involved in the community, and hopefully return to Sports Illustrated next year. But for now, Detroit feels like home.”

Still, she admitted the move wasn’t easy. “Detroit was a dramatic change from L.A.,” she shared on the Women of the League web series. “I didn’t know anyone, so I leaned a lot on the other women connected to the team.”

Could the Lions Reach Their First Super Bowl?

Detroit is one of only four NFL franchises that has never appeared in a Super Bowl — the others being the Browns, Jaguars, and Texans — but this year’s squad, led by Goff, may be inching closer. The Lions kicked off 2024 by snapping a 32-year drought with a playoff win over the Rams. Their current season has had ups and downs, yet they remain in the postseason conversation.

At 6–4, ESPN lists Detroit with 10-to-1 odds to win the title. The Lions next take on the New York Giants on November 23 before hosting the Green Bay Packers on Thanksgiving Day.