Chris Godwin Details His Injury, The Birth Of His Son And The Reasons He Re-Signed With The Bucs
September 30th, 2025
Chris Godwin embraces his wife Mariah after warmups Sunday prior to his season debut.
Pretty cool column in the Players Tribune by Bucs receiver Chris Godwin.
It’s a pretty revealing column. He explained the chaos of when he had his ankle destroyed against Baltimore last year, his rehab, losing his father to cancer, the birth of his son and the reasons he wanted to stay with the Bucs and not chase more cash.
In short, Godwin thought the Bucs showed him love by re-signing him after he tore up his knee in 2021. He wanted to continue to play for an organization that showed so much faith in him when the Bucs easily could have waved goodbye.
But there were other reasons, Godwin noted. The chance to win another ring was one. His teammates were another. But a big reason was Godwin believes in Baker Mayfield.
But I do have to be honest, too. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t think we have a damn good football team. And I want another ring. Bad, man. Real bad. That’s part of why I’m back. Great organization, yeah. Weather’s good, yeah. Family is happy, yeah. But I also feel like this group has some business to finish. And another thing on that: As a receiver, you have to like the guy throwing you the rock. And Bake is a real one, let me tell you that.
When I signed my deal, the first notification I got was a FaceTime from him. He was with Tristan and they were so just happy for me. LETS GOOOOOO BRO. LETS GET TO WORK. CANT WAIT!!!
Godwin made his season debut on Sunday. He said after the game he has a lot of improvement ahead of him. That’s not surprising. Godwin needed a full season after recovering from his knee surgery to get back to his old self.
When Godwin was injured against Baltimore last October, he said he knew it was bad by how Baltimore defenders reacted. Godwin said he heard the stadium go silent, then he heard a Baltimore player say, “Oh, sh!t.”
Then, as Godwin was carted off the field, guys who just moments before were trying to knock his block off, were trying to cheer him up.
Also, Godwin typed one thing he learned playing with Tom Brady was that Brady was adamant teammates should build up teammates. Joe immediately recalled how Emeka Egbuka has said how much Godwin has helped him navigate his first few months in the NFL.
Really revealing and touching column by Godwin.
September 30th, 2025 at 7:19 am
Great story.
I hope he returns to form. He’s saying the right things.
September 30th, 2025 at 7:19 am
Great write up Joe! Godwin is such an easy guy to love! Glad he is a Buc hopefully for life!
September 30th, 2025 at 7:37 am
Awesome photo and the article was from Chris’ heart. His love for his dad was moving. And what a beautiful couple, family. You definitely see how much he and Mariah love each other.
True, Godwin has been out recovering and will be back full tilt soon! We are grateful for him. Go Bucs!
September 30th, 2025 at 7:52 am
What a fantastic story written by Chris…worthy of a link being put up..
If you don’t want to run through a wall for CG14 after reading that, you’re dead.
September 30th, 2025 at 7:53 am
Bucs have the potential to be a great team if all 3 phases
(offense, defense, special teams) executed for 4 quarters but they dont. Offensively the weapons are there but the injurys to the O-line and WR groups offset that. It’s been slow starts and playing from behind with Grizz so far.
Defense has Winfield, VV, LVD, and then it’s just everybody else. It lacks star power at the other 8 positions. Again it’s slow starts and can’t lock down for 4 quarters.
Special Teams just needs to start over. 3-1 isn’t to bad but being 6 points away from 0-4 doesn’t feel good either.
September 30th, 2025 at 8:00 am
From all indications, Chris Godwin is a great guy and a great football player.
Todd Bowles is a great guy.
September 30th, 2025 at 8:12 am
Great article!
This team is so lucky to have him here.
September 30th, 2025 at 8:57 am
Chris is the real deal of a person. I was so happy for him to be back. I thought more could have been said after the game by the media!. Thought he got overshadowed by the loss. He played pretty much the whole game. I am not sure anyone expected that!!. He will round out you can count on that!. He has more left. As for me,I can’t wait to see him get back to himself and receive the honors he deserves.
September 30th, 2025 at 9:03 am
Great job Joe!
It’s great to have Chris back on the field. I wish him and his family nothing but the best.
Go Bucs!!!!
September 30th, 2025 at 9:11 am
Great read, Joe thanks for posting this
September 30th, 2025 at 9:16 am
Don’t ever discount how much it means to not only be able to root for your team because they are good, but to love your team because you actually admire the people they are.
It’s easily the greatest part of this team the past 5 years or so. Great players, greater people!
…except for maybe AB, we kind of had to pretend he was ok, but hey all families got some crazy. 🙂
September 30th, 2025 at 9:21 am
Roquan Smith needs a career ending injury. Hip drop dirty tackle. No penalty. No fine. No suspension. Karma is a biotch.
September 30th, 2025 at 9:37 am
Chris Godwin – Hall of Fame Person
September 30th, 2025 at 10:07 am
So glad to read that. Thanks.
September 30th, 2025 at 10:13 am
It is nice to follow a team that has good men on it. Godwin is such a great player, husband and father. And a great member of the community. I really hope he stays in this area after retirement, which hopefully isn’t for another few years.
As for Sunday, I thought he looked really good in his movements and routes. I’m sure it had to be a tough thing to start back in that heat against that quality of an opponent.
Well done, Chris Godwin.
September 30th, 2025 at 10:25 am
Give Godwin a couple more games and he will be back in form.
September 30th, 2025 at 12:49 pm
“And this past offseason, with my contract being up and thinking about a life somewhere else, it just didn’t work in my head. I tried to think on it. I did. I pictured myself in other jerseys. Thought about Mariah and Ace walking around different cities. Heard from my agent about all the money I could make somewhere else. And I’m not knocking anybody for taking the money. This isn’t about all that. This decision to be a Buc was about me, about my family — about my love for Tampa. I wanted to be here, more than anything else. Simple as that.”
Simple as that. Thanks, Chris. You’re the best.
September 30th, 2025 at 1:16 pm
CG12 went to high school down the street. When the locals hear im a Bucs/Godwin fan they’ve shared several times how cool/chill he was even as a young kid. He’s a great dude to cheer for. Glad he’s a Buc.
September 30th, 2025 at 3:27 pm
what an awesome person!!
September 30th, 2025 at 3:46 pm
What a dude 😎
Very happy for him and his family!
Tampa is special – at least the culture inside the building seems to be.
I was pretty encouraged after watching Chris Sunday. Rusty = yes but looked better than I feared he would.
Lfg Chris 💪🏼
September 30th, 2025 at 3:59 pm
I will try again to comment. Mariah and Chris Godwin are a huge compliment to our beleaguered country. Classic example of the melting pot: Skin color? Say what? White and black and two classy human beings who love each other!!
October 1st, 2025 at 1:11 am
Chris Godwin is a great player and an awesome person! Am so glad he’s a Buc. So easy to root for.
October 1st, 2025 at 5:18 am
The show “smells like the paper and pulp whodunits live upon”
October 1st, 2025 at 8:03 am
I wish 100% of our fans were solid MEN like Chris Godwin, Mike Evans, Lavonte David, Baker Mayfield, Tristan Wirfs and countless others.
How any Bucs fan could still be a toxic hater boggles my mind!
We have true heroes and legends on our team!
Learn from them!
Learn from them to be good human beings!
Go Bucs!