Chris Godwin Bio
Chris Godwin, full name Rod Christopher Godwin Jr., is an American professional football wide receiver for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 feet 1 inch tall and listed at 209 pounds, he has been a featured pass catcher for the Buccaneers since being selected in the third round of the 2017 NFL draft. He is best known for helping Tampa Bay capture a Super Bowl championship in their victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV.
Born and raised in Middletown, Delaware, Godwin starred in college at Penn State before quickly developing into one of the most reliable receivers in the NFC. He earned a Pro Bowl selection in 2019 and signed a long-term extension in 2025 that keeps him in Tampa Bay through 2028.
Early Life and Background
Chris Godwin was born on February 27, 1996, in Middletown, Delaware, where he grew up as a fan of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers despite living far from the Gulf Coast. He attended Middletown High School and played wide receiver and kick returner for the Cavaliers, helping the program compile a 41-7 record over four seasons and capture two state championships.
As a senior, Godwin posted 1,150 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns and was named Delaware Gatorade Player of the Year. He was selected to the 2013 Under Armour All-American Game and was an All-State pick as a sophomore, junior, and senior. Rated a four-star recruit by every major scouting service, he was ranked the top player in Delaware and among the top 30 wide receiver prospects nationally.
Path to American Football
Godwin signed with Penn State, where he made an immediate impact by appearing in all 13 games during his freshman year in 2014 and earning Big Ten All-Freshman Team honors. He broke out as a sophomore in 2015, recording 1,101 receiving yards and five touchdowns, and followed that with a 2016 campaign in which he was named Third-team All-Big Ten.
After a career-high 187 receiving yards and two touchdowns in a Rose Bowl loss to USC, Godwin announced in January 2017 that he would forgo his senior season and enter the NFL draft. He impressed at the 2017 NFL Combine with one of the top vertical jumps and 40-yard dash times among receivers, and he led all participants with 19 bench press reps and a 4.0-second 20-yard shuttle.
Chris Godwin Career
Early Career (2017-2018)
Selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the 84th overall pick in the 2017 NFL draft, Godwin opened his rookie season behind established receivers DeSean Jackson and Mike Evans. He broke through late in the year, capping the regular season with nine catches for 111 yards and a touchdown against the New Orleans Saints, a performance that earned him NFC Offensive Player of the Week.
In his second season in 2018, Godwin became a consistent red-zone threat, hauling in a receiving touchdown in each of the first three games and finishing the year with 59 receptions for 842 yards and seven touchdowns. Those numbers set the stage for his breakout 2019 campaign.
NFL Breakthrough (2019-2020)
The 2019 season marked Godwin’s arrival as an elite receiver. He set career highs with 86 receptions for 1,333 yards and nine touchdowns, recorded a career-long 71-yard touchdown catch against the Atlanta Falcons, and was named to the 2020 Pro Bowl and Second-team All-Pro. He was also voted 38th on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2020 list.
In 2020, Godwin gave up jersey number 12 to new quarterback Tom Brady and switched to number 14. He fought through injuries to play 12 regular-season games and post 65 receptions for 840 yards and seven touchdowns, then helped Tampa Bay win three road playoff games. In Super Bowl LV, he caught two passes for nine yards as the Buccaneers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 31-9 to win the franchise’s second Super Bowl title.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Era (2021-Present)
After Tampa Bay placed the franchise tag on him in March 2021, Godwin signed a three-year, $60 million extension a year later with $40 million guaranteed. He set a franchise record with 15 receptions in a single game against the Atlanta Falcons in 2021, but that season ended prematurely when he tore his ACL and sprained his MCL in Week 15.
Godwin rebounded with back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in 2022 and 2023, starting all 17 games in the latter. A left ankle dislocation suffered in Week 7 of 2024 ended that season after just seven games. On March 11, 2025, he signed a three-year, $66 million extension to remain with the Buccaneers through 2028, and he later announced plans to add Godwin Jr. to his jersey name to honor his late father.
Driving Style and Strengths
Chris Godwin is widely regarded as one of the NFL’s most precise route runners, with the footwork and short-area quickness to win consistently against both press coverage and zone looks. He excels in the slot and on intermediate crossers, using strong hands and a sturdy frame to convert in traffic. His chemistry with quarterbacks Jameis Winston and later Tom Brady highlighted his ability to read leverage, sit in soft spots of the defense, and deliver in the red zone.
Notable Events and Milestones
Godwin’s signature moments include a 12-catch, 172-yard, two-touchdown performance against the Los Angeles Rams in 2019, his franchise-record 15-reception game in 2021, and his two-catch contribution in the Buccaneers’ Super Bowl LV victory. He became the first Buccaneers receiver to post back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in nearly a decade and reached 600 career receptions in 2025.
Chris Godwin Career Wins
Chris Godwin’s most celebrated team victory is Super Bowl LV, in which the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 31-9 to claim the franchise’s second Lombardi Trophy. He also helped Tampa Bay win three consecutive road playoff games that postseason, including the NFC Championship at Green Bay, and contributed to numerous regular-season wins highlighted by explosive individual performances.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Highlights
As a Buccaneer, Godwin has posted three 1,000-yard receiving seasons in 2019, 2022, and 2023, along with a 1,103-yard effort in the injury-shortened 2021 campaign. He caught his first career playoff touchdown in the 2020 Wild Card win over Washington and added a receiving score in the 2023 Wild Card victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.
His rookie milestone was a 111-yard, one-touchdown finale against the New Orleans Saints in 2017, and his most recent productive showing was a 360-yard, two-touchdown 2025 season following his ankle recovery. Through 2025, his career totals include 612 receptions for 7,626 yards and 41 receiving touchdowns.
Other Wins and Performances
At Penn State, Godwin was part of winning efforts in the 2014 and 2016 seasons, including a dominant TaxSlayer Bowl performance against Georgia in which he posted 133 receiving yards. His high school Cavaliers captured two Delaware state championships during his four varsity years.
| Series | Wins | Top Tens | Poles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers (NFL) | Playoff: Super Bowl LV champion | Pro Bowl: 2019 | Draft: 2017, 3rd round, 84th pick |
| Penn State Nittany Lions (NCAA) | TaxSlayer Bowl appearance | Big Ten All-Freshman 2014; Third-team All-Big Ten 2016 | 2017 NFL Combine leader in bench press and 20-yard shuttle |
Chris Godwin Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Chris Godwin, whose full name is Rod Christopher Godwin Jr., comes from a close Delaware family with deep roots in the Middletown community. He is widely known for honoring his late father through his plan to wear Godwin Jr. on the back of his Buccaneers jersey beginning in 2025.
Personal Life
Chris Godwin married his high school sweetheart, Mariah DelPercio, in 2021. In 2019, the couple launched the Team Godwin Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting pets in need by providing financial assistance to local shelter and rescue groups. The Godwins remain active in their community and continue to be involved in charitable work in the Tampa Bay area.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season represented a reset year for Chris Godwin as he returned from the ankle dislocation that ended his 2024 campaign after seven games. He signed a three-year, $66 million extension in March to remain the focal point of the Buccaneers’ passing attack, and he adjusted his jersey nameplate to Godwin Jr. midseason to honor his late father.
On the field, Godwin finished the 2025 regular season with 33 receptions for 360 yards and two touchdowns, contributing as a complementary piece alongside the Buccaneers’ younger receivers while continuing to serve as a steady veteran presence in the locker room. His production was carefully managed as he worked his way back to full strength following surgery.
Looking ahead, Godwin’s contract keeps him under team control through 2028, giving Tampa Bay a long-term veteran leader in the receiver room. With his health expected to continue improving, he is positioned to take on a larger role in 2026 and remain a central figure in the Buccaneers’ offensive game plan.
