Christen Harper had a hunch that she and her future husband, the former Rams quarterback Jared Goff, were headed for “some type of adventure somewhere else.” The model and philanthropist viewed the opportunity as a “new start” when the former first-overall pick was moved to the Detroit Lions in January 2021, following five seasons in Los Angeles.
Harper recently told The Post, “We’ve always lived in California, so the prospect of a new beginning was exciting, but my entire career has been in L.A., and I had no idea what it would be like to move away from that.”
Similar to Goff, Harper has continued to flourish professionally beyond the confines of Hollywood despite initial concerns about the change.
Harper was presented as a “rookie” in this year’s issue of the legendary journal after being named one of the winners of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit’s annual Swim Search in 2021. Now, she faces a new task as one of the four panelists featured in the newly released web series “Women of the League” by Stay Doubted.
The six-episode series is hosted by Josie Leinart, the wife of former NFL quarterback Matt Leinart, and features four partners of current NFL players: Harper, entrepreneur Allison Kuch, the wife of Browns defensive end Isaac Rochell, content creator Kym Jackson, the wife of Jets wide receiver Jeff Smith, and business owner Whitney Risner, the wife of Broncos guard Dalton Risner.
“This project has been so much fun because I’ve been able to use my voice instead of just sitting behind a camera and looking lovely. Harper stated, “It’s good to have these critical dialogues.”
The second episode, which was released on Tuesday, covers a variety of subjects, including free agency, trades, and the long-term effects of injuries. Harper believes that leaving her West Coast comfort zone allowed her to expand her professional horizons.
She said, “I feel fortunate to be able to start doing other things.” If I had stayed in Los Angeles, I would have likely continued doing the same work I’ve been doing for years.
Meshing with the actors was also a breeze, according to Harper, who met Kuch in an elevator at a Chargers game while Kuch’s husband played for the team.
Harper stated, “We hit it off immediately.” It was so easy to relate to each other because to our NFL backgrounds.
The “Women of the League” are frequently faced with picking up the shattered pieces of a squad following a reorganization, a fact that demonstrates their inherent vigor.
Harper stated, “When their spouse flies to the next destination, they must pack up the dogs, the house, and everything else.”
“There is a tremendous amount of labor going on behind the scenes when these large exchanges occur, and nobody really considers the logistics, because why would they? However, it is quite remarkable what so many of these ladies accomplish.”
Harper hopes that the show will “humanize” players for fans, thereby demonstrating that there is more to an athlete than what is shown on gameday.
Harper stated, “I believe it’s so easy to hurl stones or utter comments to someone you don’t know or care about, but these guys have families and lives outside of football, and I think fans forget that.”
“Women of the League” stars (from left) Kym Jackson, Christen Harper, Whitney Risner, Allison Kuch, and Josie Leinart.
Remain Uncertain/Women of the League
“I think it’s important to humanize these men; they’re just football players, not superhumans who can’t be damaged by anything.”
Even though Goff has faced professional obstacles throughout his seven-year NFL career, it has been fascinating for Harper to watch the quarterback emerge as a leader in Detroit, where he is having a remarkable second season with the 6-7 Lions.
“I believe he improved as a player and a leader,” said Harper of Goff, who was named Lions team captain for the previous two seasons.
Christen Harper supports her fiance, quarterback Jared Goff of the Detroit Lions, who is in his second season with the team.
Harper stated, “Being able to get a fresh start, have more leadership opportunities, and be in a new environment where he was the veteran — this team is so young, so players really look to him to answer things, and he’s able to do that here, and I think he’s really, really enjoyed taking on that position.” I believe he is more himself than ever before, which is incredible to observe.
Nearly two years have passed since that terrible day in January 2021, and Harper believes that, despite its difficulty, the change helped her and Goff grow closer.
“I believe that during difficult times, people draw on one another and grow closer. It was one of the nicest things that could have ever occurred to our relationship, and we really matured a lot together,” she said.
»How Christen Harper challenged herself following the Lions’ deal for Jared Goff«