San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Marquise Goodwin has fought through adversity and personal tragedy while developing into the team’s top receiver. He posted his second 100-yard receiving game in as many weeks, nearly making it three weeks in a row with 99 yards three weeks ago against the Chicago Bears. He is at 897 yards for the season with two games left, putting him on pace for 1,025 yards. The last receiver to have a thousand yard season with the 49ers was Anquan Boldin in 2015.
While Goodwin was fairly public with the tragic loss of his child, he was less revealing about the recent death of his biological father. He posted an RIP message on Instagram but it was requested that he not be asked about it until he was ready. After Sunday’s win over the Titans, Goodwin revealed his biological father had passed away earlier in the week.
The normally upbeat receiver was a little more subdued and reflective in the locker room after the game, sharing how he has not let all of the negatives from the outside affect the way he approaches and plays the game. There was doubt at the beginning of the season regarding Goodwin and the other receivers about their abilities to catch passes with regularity having the most dropped passes in the league. Goodwin explained that if you have never played in the league, it’s difficult to know how hard it is to make every play.
The increase in completion rate is evident since Jimmy Garoppolo has taken over the offense, but receivers claim there’s nothing different about the way he throws the ball. Goodwin, however, has been outspoken about his quarterback’s professionalism.
He’s just very in tune with everybody. It’s crazy. I don’t think I’ve ever played with anybody like him. If you look, my route, it may have been a good route and it may have not, but I don’t have to run a prefect route. He’s a great guy, a great QB, throwing dimes, making plays, extending drives. That’s what you want in a quarterback.
Goodwin explained that with 1:07 left on the clock, down by one point, there was never a sense of panic or worry on the sidelines. He and his teammates knew what to do, they had practiced this situation repeatedly. Garoppolo took the to the field, took control of the huddle, seemingly business as usual and moved down the field with efficiency.
Prior to joining the 49ers, Goodwin’s highest receiving total for any season was 341 yards which he reached last season with the Bills. He knew it was within his abilities to have a 1,000 yard season but it’s never been his goal or end point. (He only needs 103 yards to reach the milestone.) Goodwin says he doesn’t really look at his stats and didn’t even know he was on track until someone else pointed it out to him. The most important thing to him is winning and having fun. He says he could have 10 yards and still be satisfied.
I have, I had 43 yards one year and it didn't determine what kind of player I was to me, because I know what I’m capable of. So getting these oppportunities has been a blessing. I get to showcase my ability and I get to showcase what I’m about.
He did, however, joke that if it was his choice, he would have had a statue built for his quarterback “yesterday.”