He’s back, and if you listen to Chris Godwin, he might just be better than ever.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers made the return of Godwin official with a series of social media posts hyping his return to the lineup after almost one full year away from football for the NFL All-Pro wide receiver.
Godwin missed the last 13 regular season games and one playoff game after suffering a gruesome, dislocated left ankle in a Monday Night Football loss to the Baltimore Ravens on October 21, 2024.
“BACK TO WORK,” the Buccaneers wrote on their official X account just hours before their Week 4 game against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 4.
Another post from the Buccaneers official account showed a video of Godwin’s highlights with his voice in the background.
“I’ll put the work in to not only be the player that I was, but to be better and I take that very, very seriously,” Godwin said. “I recognize how rare this opportunity is … I’m look forward to creating a lot more great memories and chasing more championships.”
Both the Buccaneers and Eagles are 3-0 headed into the game, with the Buccaneers engineering 3 fourth quarter comebacks in their first 3 games.
Godwin’s Return Not One Moment Too Soon
The Buccaneers getting Godwin back right now might seem like manna from heaven for their fans — Tampa Bay has never been more desperate for help in the wide receivers room than they are right now.
Godwin’s return comes one week after NFL All-Pro Mike Evans suffered a hamstring injury that will reportedly keep him out for up to a month.
In the preseason, another starting wide receiver went down with an injury when Jalen McMillan sprained his neck against the Pittsburgh Steelers on August 16. McMillan, who scored 7 touchdowns over the last 5 weeks of the 2024 regular season, will miss at least the first 8 games.
One bonus for the Buccaneers has been the play of rookie wide receiver and 2025 first round pick (No. 19 overall) Emeka Egbuka, who has been a revelation with 3 touchdowns in his first 3 games.
One Massive Change in Godwin’s Life Since Injury
Another video from the Buccaneers showed what has been the biggest change in his life since his injury. Godwin and his wife, Mariah, welcome their first child, son Ace Kahlo Godwin, on January 2, 2025.
Godwin Posts on The Players Tribune Before Return
Godwin’s media blitz for his return included an article on The Players Tribune that gave some extra insight into his process of getting back on the field — an article title “Half Man, Half Monster” published just one hour before kickoff.
Godwin reportedly turned down an offer from the New England Patriots that was between $90 million to $100 million to return the Buccaneers on a 3-year, $66 million contract.
“And this past offseason, with my contract being up and thinking about a life somewhere else, it just didn’t work in my head,” Godwin wrote. “I tried to think on it. I did. I pictured myself in other jerseys. Thought about Mariah and Ace walking around different cities. Heard from my agent about all the money I could make somewhere else … This isn’t about all that. This decision to be a Buc was about me, about my family — about my love for Tampa. I wanted to be here, more than anything else. Simple as that.”
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