Since the moment the Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Rams exchanged their starting quarterbacks in March 2021, fans and analysts have argued about which franchise truly came out ahead.

Dan Campbell’s take? Everybody won.

As Detroit prepares for a highly anticipated Week 15 showdown with the Rams, Campbell looked back on the franchise-altering trade that sent Matthew Stafford to Los Angeles and brought Jared Goff, two future first-rounders, and a third-round pick to Detroit.

After 12 years with the Lions, Stafford was dealt to the Rams in a move that reshaped the immediate future of both teams.

Campbell expressed confidence in how things unfolded for Detroit.
“Both sides should feel good,” the Lions coach said. “From our perspective, we’re lucky to have Jared and grateful for everything those picks became. We’ve added Sewell, we’ve added Saint, we’ve added a ton of talent — and we’ve got Goff. It certainly feels like a win on our end, and I’m sure they feel the same.”

For Los Angeles, the payoff came quickly.
Despite leading the league with 17 interceptions in 2021, Stafford also fired 41 touchdowns, threw for nearly 4,900 yards, and ultimately guided the Rams to a Super Bowl LVI victory over the Bengals.

Detroit’s returns developed more gradually but proved equally significant.

The 2021 third-round pick the Lions received became defensive back Ifeatu Melifonwu, now with the Dolphins.

The 2022 first-rounder (No. 32) was bundled in a trade with Minnesota that moved Detroit up to No. 12, where they drafted Jameson Williams, as well as defensive lineman Josh Paschal at 46.

In 2023, the Lions traded down from No. 6 — also part of the Stafford compensation — and converted that move into Jahmyr Gibbs (12), Sam LaPorta (34), and Brodric Martin (96), though Martin is now with Pittsburgh.

The turnaround followed on the field. After a 3-13-1 campaign in 2021, Detroit stacked three straight winning seasons: 9-8 in 2022, 12 wins in 2023, and a franchise-record 15-2 mark in 2024.

Along the way, the Lions earned their first playoff win at Ford Field — fittingly against Stafford and the Rams — and secured consecutive NFC North crowns.

A victory this Sunday would seal a fourth straight winning season, regardless of how the playoff race ultimately settles.

Detroit still aims to capture its first Super Bowl appearance — and its first Lombardi Trophy — but the impact of the Stafford–Goff deal is undeniable. Both franchises reshaped their futures, stayed competitive in the NFC, and emerged as better teams because of it.