C.J. Goodwin Bio
Charaun Jareé Goodwin, known professionally as C.J. Goodwin, is an American professional football cornerback for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League. Standing 6 ft 3 in and weighing 190 lb, he works primarily as a special teams ace and reserve defensive back. He signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers as an undrafted free agent in 2014 after a college path that included stints at three different schools. Over more than a decade in professional football, he has become one of the most respected special teams players in the league.
Early Life and Background
Charaun Jareé Goodwin was born on February 4, 1990, in Wheeling, West Virginia, to Yvette Goodwin-Rowe and Perry Galloway Jr. He grew up in the Ohio Valley region and attended The Linsly School in Wheeling, where he did not play football until his senior year. In that final prep season, he earned a starting role at wide receiver, and he also competed in track and basketball. His athletic foundation made him a late-blooming football prospect.
Goodwin worked as a farmhand for Pro Football Hall of Famer Mel Blount for seven years during his youth, attending the same high school as Blount’s son. That connection would later play a defining role in his professional career. His late father, Perry Galloway Jr., would also become a central figure in both his athletic journey and his later charitable work.
Path to American Football
After high school, Goodwin attended Bethany College, where he played basketball for the Bethany Bison for two seasons and did not play football. Following his sophomore year, he transferred to Fairmont State University and joined the Fairmont State Fighting Falcons football team on the urging of his father and his college roommate, future NFL player Dewey McDonald. He made an immediate impact as a wide receiver, opening his career with six catches for 56 yards against Clarion and later hauling in an 83-yard touchdown against West Liberty University during a game against his cousin, Daree’ Goodwin.
After walking on, his successful first season earned him a scholarship. Following the dismissal of head coach Mike Lopez, Goodwin transferred to California University of Pennsylvania to play for Lopez again. Because he had already graduated from Fairmont, he was eligible to play immediately for the California Vulcans, finishing his senior season with 11 receptions, 126 receiving yards, and one touchdown. He entered the 2014 NFL draft as an undrafted free agent, eventually signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers on June 4, 2014.
C.J. Goodwin Career
Early Career (2014–2015)
Goodwin’s first NFL opportunity came with the Pittsburgh Steelers, who signed him to a three-year undrafted rookie free agent contract in June 2014. He was released in late August, added to the practice squad five days later, and was waived again at the end of the 2015 preseason. On November 3, 2015, he joined the Atlanta Falcons’ practice squad, beginning a stretch of rapid team changes that would define his early career. During the Falcons’ 2016 training camp, he converted from wide receiver to cornerback, a switch that ultimately extended his NFL longevity.
That 2016 season marked his real arrival. Goodwin played in 14 games with one start, recording 7 defensive tackles, 2 passes defensed, and 10 special teams tackles. He helped the Falcons reach Super Bowl LI, a 34–28 overtime loss to the New England Patriots, where he contributed 2 defensive tackles and 1 special teams tackle. In 2017, he appeared in 12 games with 5 defensive tackles and 3 special teams tackles before being waived on December 14.
Atlanta and Arizona Stints (2015–2018)
On December 15, 2017, Goodwin was claimed off waivers by the Arizona Cardinals, where he played in the final two games of the season and recorded one special teams tackle. He was released by Arizona on May 1, 2018, beginning a whirlwind stretch of roster moves. He was claimed off waivers by the New York Giants on May 2, 2018, waived on May 14, claimed by the San Francisco 49ers on May 15, and waived on July 31. He signed with the Cincinnati Bengals on August 4, 2018, and was waived on September 1 before being re-signed to their practice squad the next day.
Throughout this stretch, Goodwin established himself as a reliable special teams contributor, even as teams shuffled him on and off rosters.
Dallas Cowboys Era (2018–Present)
On October 9, 2018, the Dallas Cowboys signed Goodwin off the Bengals’ practice squad. He was placed on injured reserve on October 26 after surgery for a broken forearm, then activated on December 24 to play gunner on special teams. He appeared in two games and finished the year with one special teams tackle, returning for the season finale and the playoffs.
In 2019, he appeared in all 16 games for the first time in his career, registering 2 defensive tackles and a team-leading 10 special teams tackles, including 3 against the Chicago Bears. On March 30, 2020, he re-signed with Dallas, was released in a planned maneuver, and was re-signed two days later. That season, he recovered an onside kick in the closing minutes against his former Atlanta Falcons teammates to set up the game-winning field goal in a 40–39 comeback win, a play dubbed the watermelon kick. He re-signed with the Cowboys on a two-year contract in March 2021, appearing in all 17 games with 10 special teams tackles, becoming the first player in franchise history to lead the team in that category for three consecutive seasons.
After being waived and re-signed to the practice squad in August 2022, he appeared in all 17 games and finished second on the team in special teams tackles behind Luke Gifford. In 2023, he re-signed on a one-year deal, was released on August 29, re-signed to the practice squad, and was promoted to the active roster on September 23 before being placed on injured reserve on October 16 with a pectoral injury. He re-signed with the Cowboys on March 14, 2024.
Driving Style and Strengths
Goodwin’s value is built on size, special teams discipline, and positional flexibility. At 6 ft 3 in and 190 lb, he has the frame of a wide receiver and the footwork of a cornerback, allowing him to play both ways and excel on coverage units. He has emerged as a trusted gunner and core special teams performer who can also contribute as a spy defender in key matchups.
Notable Events and Milestones
Goodwin reached Super Bowl LI with Atlanta in 2017 and played a key role in Dallas’s 40–39 comeback win over Atlanta in 2020 with his onside kick recovery. He became the first player in Cowboys history to lead the team in special teams tackles for three straight seasons, a milestone achieved in 2021.
C.J. Goodwin Career Wins
Although a cornerback and special teams ace rather than a primary pass rusher, Goodwin has compiled a steady, durable body of work across more than a decade in professional football. His biggest team result was reaching Super Bowl LI with the Atlanta Falcons, where he recorded defensive and special teams tackles. His signature individual moment came with the watermelon kick recovery for Dallas in 2020, one of the most dramatic regular season plays of his career.
Team and Series Highlights
Goodwin’s career NFL totals include 94 total tackles, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, and 2 pass deflections. He led Dallas in special teams tackles in 2019 and 2021, finished second in 2022, and has consistently ranked among the team’s top special teams players. His Super Bowl appearance with Atlanta in 2017 stands as his only championship game to date.
C.J. Goodwin Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Goodwin’s family roots are in Wheeling, West Virginia. His late father, Perry Galloway Jr., was a key figure in his athletic journey, encouraging him to join the Fairmont State football team and later serving as the inspiration for the PeGa Foundation, which Goodwin established to honor him. His mother, Yvette Goodwin-Rowe, also raised him in Wheeling.
Personal Life
Goodwin is the father of a daughter. Off the field, he founded the PeGa Foundation, a nonprofit mentoring organization in Wheeling, West Virginia, named in honor of his late father. He spends his free time mentoring youth, speaking to schools, and volunteering with youth groups across the country.
2025 Season Performance
On March 4, 2025, Goodwin re-signed with the Dallas Cowboys on a one-year contract, continuing a tenure that began in 2018. He was released during final roster cuts but was re-signed to the active roster on August 27, 2025, in a familiar planned maneuver. His veteran presence on special teams remains his clearest path to contributing for Dallas.
Heading into 2025, Goodwin is positioned once again as a core special teams player and reserve cornerback. His experience as a gunner and coverage unit leader makes him a stabilizing figure for the Cowboys’ special teams coordinator. With another full season of availability, he will look to extend his streak as one of the league’s most reliable special teams aces.