Lions punter wins NFL title fueled by the most ridiculous bet of the year

Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff was one of the three featured players in Season 2 of Netflix’s hit series Quarterback, and his behind-the-scenes segments offered exactly the kind of payoff Lions fans were hoping for.

You got mic’d-up moments, personal highs and lows, and even some details that would’ve never seen the light of day otherwise—like trick plays, film sessions, and emotional reflection after their playoff loss to the Washington Commanders. But one of the most surprising moments didn’t have anything to do with touchdowns, turnovers, or the NFC title race.

It came right at the end of Detroit’s Week 18 blowout win over the Vikings—the same game that capped off a 15-2 season and a second straight NFC North crown. The clock hit zero, and before Goff could even fully celebrate, punter Jack Fox walked up and said something that confused most viewers on first watch:

“Free beer for a year.”

It made no sense in the moment, but it landed perfectly—Fox wasn’t joking, and he wasn’t wrong (which made it even funnier in hindsight).

Bud Light just became the Lions’ unofficial special teams sponsor

As the docuseries later revealed, the moment wasn’t just a joke. It was the result of a real bet made between Goff and Fox before the season started. In a quieter, late-night interview back at home with his family, Goff laid out the backstory:

“I bet Jack Fox at the beginning of the year. I said, ‘If you lead the league in net punting, I’ll get you Bud Light for a year,’” Goff said. “Right after the game, he said, ‘You owe me Bud Light for a year.’”

That’s exactly what happened. Fox finished first in the NFL with a 46.2 net yard average, locking up the punting title and cashing in on what might be the most ridiculous specialist incentive in NFL history. It’s not every day a quarterback sparks elite production from his punter with nothing more than a beer tab.

You won't see that type of bet on FanDuel or DraftKings. So... anyone here looking for a hoppy wager—I'm not picky on beer brand.

What started as a throwaway bet turned into a full-circle moment for a team built on culture and chemistry. If Fox punts like that again in 2025, Goff might want to renew the deal. Or maybe upgrade it. It’s not like the man’s hurting for cash.

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