Unlike another famous Cal quarterback, Jared Goff didn’t have to wait around on draft day.

Goff, who grew up in Novato and was a standout at Marin Catholic High, barely had time to settle into his seat Thursday night at Auditorium Theater in Chicago before the Los Angeles Rams ended the scant suspense and made him as the No. 1 pick of the NFL draft.

“I’m taking it as an honor and something I’m going to have to prove them right, that they made the right decision,” Goff said.

Tupac’s “California Love” took over the speakers at the theater when Goff was picked.

“It’s a good spot for me and for my family to come watch games,” Goff said. “Very excited to get down there and get to work.”

Now, the Rams hope Goff can follow in the footsteps of Aaron Rogers. The two-time NFL MVP out of Cal famously plummeted to 24th overall in 2005 after speculation he might go first.

Goff, in contrast, was off the board in the blink of an eye. He became the first Bears quarterback to go first overall since quarterback Steve Bartkowski in 1975.

“What I know of him is he’s a great kid and he’s got a bright future in front of him,” Rodgers told ESPN.com leading up to the draft. “And if he gets drafted by L.A., he’s a lucky man.”

Goff, who got the nod over North Dakota State passer Carson Wentz, impressed NFL scouts with his pocket presence and quick release. Those are skills he first demonstrated while starting as a freshman for overmatched Cal team that went 1-11 in 2013.

Even then, Goff showed promise in finding passing lanes and keeping his eyes up while scrambling in the pocket. Those traits caught the attention of NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock.

“Polished, great in the pocket, finds lanes to throw,” Mayock said in a pre-draft conference call. “Really good arm. Not elite, but a really good arm, very accurate with a quick release. Most ready to play quarterback in the draft today.”

Like so many No. 1 picks before him, Goff heads for a franchise in need of a savior. The Rams finished 7-9 last season finished 29th in scoring out of 32 teams.

The Rams’ quarterbacks — Nick Foles and Case Keenum — combined to throw 11 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. That continued a string of futility for a franchise that last made the playoffs during the 2004 season.

Unlike other No. 1 picks, however, Goff, inherits an extra challenge. The Rams embark on an epic homecoming this year, returning the franchise to Los Angeles. The team goes back to the nation’s second largest market for the first time since relocating to St. Louis after the 1994 season — when Chuck Knox was still the coach.

Cal Coach Sonny Dykes has faith that Goff will turn things around. Dykes saw the quarterback do it at Cal, going 1-11 in his freshman season before finishing with an 8-5 record an Armed Forces Bowl victory as a junior.

And Dykes expect the rookie to handle the spotlight — on the field and off. Goff is listed as 6-4, 215 and has a reputation for carrying a load on his shoulders.

“Once he became the face of our program, he handled that as well,” coach Sonny Dykes said. “And I think he handled both incredibly well. He never changed and never wavered when things weren’t going well.”

Goff, 21, is the son of Jerry Goff, a former big league catcher who now works as a fireman in Burlingame. Jerry and Nancy, his wife of 28 years, went to Chicago to be part of the ceremony.

Goff also invited his high school coach, Mazi Moayed.

“It’s surreal,” Moayed said before departing. “It takes a village to develop anybody. I just enjoy sharing the moment with everybody who’s been involved. It’s been a lot of fun.”

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