Marquise Goodwin has had quite the incredible journey to where is today. The 49ers wide receiver was a track-and-field star at Texas, walked onto its football team, later became an Olympian, and was drafted in the third round of the 2013 NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills.
In 2017, Goodwin’s first season with the 49ers, he posted the best numbers of his career, including 56 catches and 962 yards. He averaged 96 yards per game during a five-week stretch in the second half of the season. His most memorable play came on an 83-yard touchdown in Week 11 of the 2017 campaign, marking the 49ers’ first win of the season. The play came just hours after Goodwin and his wife, Morgan, lost their newborn baby due to pregnancy complications.
Marquise Goodwin scored this emotional 83-yard touchdown just hours after he and his wife, Morgan, lost their newborn baby boy due to complications during pregnancy. (h/t @MaioccoNBCS) pic.twitter.com/zTrqhNBNQc
— Rob Lowder (@Rob_Lowder) November 13, 2017
In March, Goodwin signed a three-year contract extension worth up to $20.3 million with $10 million guaranteed. He used some of those earnings to buy his mother, Tamina, and sister, Deja, who has cerebal palsy, a brand-new house.
After Friday’s training camp practice, Goodwin opened up about what the act of kindness meant to him.
“Surprising my mom and my sister with a house was the biggest thing to date I have done in my life, besides getting married to my best friend,” Goodwin said. “It’s something I have always dreamt about. I have chills on my arms because it’s real. Growing up, a young African-American, impoverished, not really having the same opportunities as some of my teammates or some of the guys I grew up with, but growing up I always wanted to get my mom a house. Being in Section 8 housing, having to move each year, house to house, city to city, it’s like no stability. So, I wanted to do something special for my mom that she would remember forever and appreciate forever, and let her know she had some sort of security. A lot of people don’t know about that, but it’s hard out there for families, single-parent homes, having to do for their kids. And you know, having to depend on governmental funding, it can be tough at times. So, being blessed enough to do that for my mom and my sister, it means the world to me.”
Goodwin reflected on his strong relationship with his mother, who pushed him to get this point today.
“My mom meant the world to me and my journey,” Goodwin said. “Without my mom, I wouldn’t be here, you know what I am saying? The opportunities I have had, I am just blessed and I think it’s because she was so hard on me growing up, and because we didn’t have much when I was growing up. We didn’t have the same opportunities. That’s why I am so humble, like I am today, because I know what it’s like to have nothing. I know what it’s like to be rock bottom. I mean, scratch dropping a ball in a game, scratch missing a big block for a touchdown, I know what it’s like to not eat at night. I know what it’s like to see my mom have to go to the hospital because of domestic violence. That’s being at rock bottom for me. So, it’s humbling to be in this position to make this money, and do for my family and the people I care about like I do.”
“Scratch dropping a ball in a game, scratch missing a big block for a touchdown. I know what it’s like to not eat at night. I know what it’s like to see my mom have to go to the hospital because of domestic violence.”
-Marquise Goodwin @kron4news #NFL #49ersCamp pic.twitter.com/Bg0s2VosFs— Kim Smith (@KimSmithTV) July 27, 2018
There are several videos showing Goodwin’s goodwill since he joined the 49ers. Last August, during a training camp session, he encouraged a boy in a wheelchair by sharing his sister’s story.
An incredible exchange between @flashg88dwin and Austin DeMello from @MakeAWish.
Video from @49ers Brick by Brick series. pic.twitter.com/fhMTSyiP6V— Rob Lowder (@Rob_Lowder) August 25, 2017
Kudos to Goodwin for using his platform to promote positivity.