Jared Goff is nearing legendary status in Detroit.

The Detroit Lions quarterback has quickly become one of the most beloved athletes in recent history after helping lead a turnaround for the traditionally moribund franchise in his three seasons since being traded to Detroit. He has had a major hand in helping the Lions win their first division title and make a run to the NFC championship game for the first time in three decades.

The city has embraced Goff during the playoff run. It started with a matchup with the Los Angeles Rams, and former Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford, in a battle between the two quarterbacks traded for each other. To show where their loyalty is, Detroit fans mercilessly booed Stafford and the Rams, while serenading Goff with chants of his name before kickoff. The following week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the chants came raining down again as fans showed their appreciation to the quarterback who led them over the hump.

Now, Goff has reached a status among Detroit fans where he doesn't need to even be in the building to garner loud chants of his name. Last night late in the third period of the Detroit Red Wings' 3-0 win over the Philadelphia Flyers, Detroit hockey fans erupted in a loud "JA-RED GOFF" chant in Little Caesars Arena.

On Friday, Goff confirmed he was not at the Red Wings game last night but saw the video, and once again thanked fans for their unwavering support throughout the season, especially in the playoffs.

"It was pretty cool," Goff said. "(It's) pretty fun to be a part of a city that cares so much."

Goff said the support from Detroit is unlike anything he ever experienced while he was making playoff runs for the Rams in the first five seasons of his career.

"(It) was not like this, no," Goff said. "This is a little different, obviously the circumstances of it all kind of feeds into that, but these fans are unbelievable."

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The Lions will be returning to the area where Goff grew up for the NFC championship game against the San Francisco 49ers. Even though the trip is over 2,000 miles across the country from Detroit on the Pacific Ocean, the Lions quarterback is looking forward to more support from dedicated Lions fans who make the trip for a chance to see history.

"I expect to see a lot of them this weekend and it'll all be fun," Goff said.

The NFC championship game kicks off at 6:30 p.m. Sunday from Santa Clara. The Lions are a touchdown underdog in their second-ever trip to the NFC title game trying to reach the Super Bowl for the first time in franchise history.

If that happens, don't be surprised if you hear the quarterback's name being chanted in the Bay Area once again.

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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Jared Goff thanks Detroit Lions fans for name chants at Red Wings game