Most of the buzz around Chris Godwin this offseason has surrounded his return from injury.
But there’ll be something else to note about Godwin when he’s back on the field for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this fall.
He’ll still be rocking his No. 14, but above it, his jersey will now read ‘Godwin Jr.’ when it used to just say ‘Godwin.’
That’s in honor of his dad, who died in 2024.
Godwin explained the move on the Bucs’ social media platforms on Thursday:
“As a kid I enjoyed an amazing relationship with my dad, Rod Christopher Godwin, Sr. From youth football throughout high school, I always knew that he was there because I would hear him yelling in support of his son. He instilled in me early that I could achieve anything I wanted if I worked hard enough and treated people with respect. I always appreciated and valued the immeasurable impact he had on my life, and I made sure to let him know that every day, not just on Father’s Day. I lost my Pops in January of 2024, and Father’s Day last year was a time of reflection and introspection.
“This year, Father’s Day represents a full circle moment in my life journey as I get to celebrate being a first-time dad with my son, Ace. Fatherhood has already been an unbelievable experience and has changed me in so many ways, I can only hope that Ace feels the same way about me as I do about my dad.
“As a professional athlete, you are always recognized for the name on the front of your jersey, but I also play for the name that’s printed on the back. That’s why I’ve chosen to add “Jr.” to my name in honor of the man who gave so unselfishly of himself to others and helped mold me into who I am today.”
That’s really special.
NFL players often add Sr. to the back of their jerseys as their careers go along and they have children named after themselves, but this reverse move doesn’t happen a ton.
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It’s a great way for Godwin to recognize what his dad meant to him.
To have the announcement in the week leading up to Father’s Day is special, as well.
The Buccaneers continue to have a strong 1-2 WR punch with Mike Evans and Godwin, and now they’ve added Emeka Egbuka to the mix from Ohio State. Things are going well in the Tampa Bay receiver room.
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