Over the summer, San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Marquise Goodwin ended up in the news for all the right reasons. In early July, he posted some video to Instagram showing him surprising his mom and sister with a new house. Naturally his mom and sister were stunned and emotional when he took their blindfolds off.
Goodwin met with 49ers media on Friday following practice, and he was asked about the decision and what it was like when he unveiled the home to them. Goodwin offered up a fantastic response.
Surprising my mom and sister with a house was the biggest thing to date that I’ve done in my life, besides getting married to my best friend. It’s something that I’ve always dreamt about. I’ve got chills on my arms because it’s real. Growing up, young African American, impoverished, not really having the same opportunities as some of my teammates, some of the guys I grew up with. But, growing up I always wanted to get my mom a house. Being on Section 8 housing, having to move each year, house to house, city to city, it’s like no stability.
And so I wanted to just do something special for my mom that she would remember forever, and appreciate forever. And let her know that she had some sort of security. And 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. Having to depend on governmental funding, it can be tough at times. Being blessed enough to do that for my mom and my sister, it means the world to me.
The reported followed up asking him what his mom has meant to him in his journey through life, and he offered up an equally emotional response.
My momma meant the world to me in my journey. Without my mom I wouldn’t be here. The opportunities that I’ve had, I’m 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, and so, that’s why I’m 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 means scratch dropping the 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 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 to do for my family and the people that I care about like I do.
Goodwin had a breakout season last year, but it was also a rough one. He and his wife lost their unborn first child due to complications, and later his own father passed away. The idea of “battling through adversity” is an overused cliche in sports, which is a shame, because I can’t think of it being any more applicable than to Goodwin last season.
I can’t imagine any 49ers fan who is not a fan at this point, and from a fan perspective, he might be my favorite 49er at the moment. He broke through last year, and is in position to build on that this year after an offseason of work with Jimmy Garoppolo. I look forward to seeing what Goodwin does in his second year with the team.