Inside linebacker Lavonte David has lengthy been the usual of what it means to be a Buccaneer, however extensive receiver Chris Godwin is one other participant in that dialog.
The Bucs’ star extensive receiver has given it his all to get well from two severe accidents and has taken much less cash to stay in Tampa Bay. What has contributed to Godwin sticking round is the mutual belief between him and the group. Chatting with the media after agreeing to his three-year, $66 million deal earlier this week, he was past grateful for a way issues have labored out and is assured in with the ability to come again robust in 2025.
Chris Godwin: “2024 Kicked My Ass A Little Bit”
Chris Godwin didn’t have the simplest go of issues in 2024.
Regardless of beginning off the season on a profession tempo in former offensive coordinator Liam Coen’s offense, all of it got here to a screeching halt when Godwin dislocated his ankle on Monday Night time Soccer towards the Ravens. That, paired with additionally dropping his father, made it a troublesome yr for him on and off the sphere.
Together with his household in attendance at his press convention this week, Godwin acknowledged they helped make all of the arduous instances price it.
Actually appreciated the framing of this pic from the Bucs’ Kyle Zedaker, taken at Chris Godwin’s press convention Tuesday and displaying him taking a look at spouse Mariah and son Ace within the entrance row. Proud man throughout. pic.twitter.com/LJy3MNagnN
Bucs WR Chris Godwin – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
“2024 kicked my ass a little bit [laughs] but that’s life, right?” Godwin stated. “Me and [my wife] Mariah, we talked about this a few instances, simply concerning the duality of life and the peaks and the valleys of it and we acquired to see it first hand in a span of 12 months, or actually 11 months, the place I misplaced my father and it was arguably the bottom day of my life.
“I spent a lot of time really reflecting about the person that he was, the lessons that he taught me, the things that he had to do for me to be here and then a mere 11 months later, we welcomed the biggest blessing of our lives… I’m grateful. I’m unbelievably grateful.”
Bucs Are Assured That Chris Godwin Regains His Type
The Bucs selected to completely assure the primary two years of Chris Godwin’s contract, placing belief in his means to bounce again from a severe harm – once more. Though entrance workplace decision-makers usually take emotion out of the equation when evaluating whether or not or to not preserve or let go of a participant, normal supervisor Jason Licht admitted it was particular retaining Godwin round.
Bucs GM Jason Licht and WRs Mike Evans and Chris Godwin – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
“[The negotiations] all have a unique aspect to them,” Licht stated. “Any time you’re invested… there are particular gamers on this crew proper now [with] Lavonte [David], Mike [Evans] and Chris [Godwin] that I’d placed on the Mount Rushmore proper now of getting been right here for eight years or longer and are pivotal to the tradition of our crew. When you will have gamers like that and there’s slightly angst that you just’re not going to have the ability to preserve them otherwise you’re hoping you possibly can, it takes on slightly little bit of – I hate to confess it – however you get slightly bit emotional about it and slightly bit further careworn.
“I’m supposed to stand here before fans and say I don’t get stressed and that I have ice in my veins but I don’t. It’s an emotional time. It took everything out of me to not be texting Chris [Godwin]. It would be like texting your girlfriend when you’re in college. My wife had to say, ‘Don’t push him, don’t push him!’ Anyway when it got over with, it was an awesome moment. They take on a life of their own, but any time it’s a person like Chris, it’s a little bit extra.”
Godwin returned after struggling a torn ACL in 2021 to publish a 1,000-yard season in 2022 and did the identical in 2023. It took a while for him to regain his prior explosiveness, however he appeared nearly as good as ever through the seven video games he performed in final season, hauling in 50 receptions for 576 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns. “CG” was nicely on his method for a fair larger payday than the one he acquired, however re-upping on his newest deal permits him to play in new offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard’s offense, which he’s enthusiastic about.
“I’m fully confident in my ability to make that come back,” Godwin stated. “Sadly or fortuitously, I’ve had the chance to do it as soon as earlier than, however it’s identical to anything. If I simply concentrate on my course of and truly get higher every day, it’ll maintain itself. I believe the attractive factor is the way in which this crew is about up. We now have a ton of playmakers all around the discipline and I believe we had a extremely good view of that once I acquired harm, when Mike [Evans] acquired harm and we have been nonetheless top-of-the-line offenses within the league.
“To me, I look at that as there’s a world of opportunities out there and not just for myself but for all of us. When we’re all healthy, we’re going to be a hell of an offense to try to deal with and that excites me.”
Maintaining a complete beginning unit intact is a formidable feat, however it’s precisely what the Bucs have achieved after re-signing Godwin and left guard Ben Bredeson. That affords them the uncommon probability to actually choose up the place they left off and get proper again to chasing a Lombardi Trophy.
Bucs WR Chris Godwin – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
“I’m extremely hungry for it,” Godwin stated. “To me, it doesn’t make sense to do that when you’re not in it to win a championship. Once more, it’s method too troublesome. We put method an excessive amount of in it, we spend method an excessive amount of time away from our households, we put our our bodies by method an excessive amount of to be on this to not attempt to win a championship. Every thing that we do is in pursuit of that. To have the ability to accomplish that, clearly, it might imply the world to us.
Chris Godwin is aware of firsthand what it’s like placing his physique by all the pieces in an effort to win. After getting injured final season, he sat within the cart that got here out for him and was seen saying, “Back to work.”
He shared the same response after Jason Licht welcomed him again.
“We agreed on the deal, Jason texted me congratulating me and welcoming me back and I was like, ‘Let’s go chase this thing again.’ That was my exact sentiment because that is my focus.”
