Marquise Goodwin is one of the few people in the National Football League (NFL) to juggle playing in the league and track and have found success at both. The former Olympic gold medalist won two collegiate national championships in the long jump, represented the United States in many international competitions, and now makes a living in the NFL as a wide receiver/kick return for the San Francisco 49ers.
Family – parents, siblings
Marquise Goodwin is the son of Tamina Goodwin, a beautician. He has a sister, Deja, 10 months his junior, who has cerebral palsy and was not expected to live longer than 6 months. She was born three months early and is underdeveloped. Due to the neurological disorder, Deja has virtually no control over her muscles, and although she can see, she is still considered legally blind.
Before his rookie season, Marquise Goodwin dedicated his NFL career to his sister and said she was his main motivation. The player was raised exclusively by his mother as his father who was not married to his mother was not in the life of him and his sister.
The family made news in August 2018 when Marquise bought a new home for his mother and sister after he signed a $20 million contract extension with the San Francisco 49ers. The emotionally charged scene was captured on video and posted to Goodwin’s Instagram page. The short video showed his mum and sister blindfolded as he leads them to the house. He immediately removed the blindfold from his mother’s eyes, she burst into tears and hugged her son in gratitude.
Marquise Goodwin’s wife
Marquise Goodwin is married to MorganGoodwin-Snow. She was born Morgan Sannette Goodwin on July 26, 1993 in Atlanta, Georgia and, like her husband, is also an athlete. Morgan, a hurdler specializing in the 60-meter and 100-meter hurdles, has represented the United States at the international level.
The following year, she won two gold medals at the World Junior Athletics Championships and in 2013 won that year’s Big 12 Outdoor Championships in the 100m hurdles. In 2015, she also won the Big 12 indoor championship in the 60m hurdles. As a sophomore, she was a 9-time All-American.
Despite her charming college record, Morgan’s attempt to make the 2016 US Olympic team’s 100-meter hurdles was a failure when she finished 14th.
Marquise Goodwin and his wife met at the University of Texas, where they were both track stars. According to the soccer player, when he met Morgan, he knew she was the perfect girl because she was in college, she was an athlete, and they shared the same morals and beliefs.
The couple married in February 2016 and until now their faith and love for each other has kept them strong.
His son
What would have ended in celebration for the couple became sad when they lost their first baby on November 12, 2017. The boy, who the couple would have named Marquise Jr., died after Morgan suffered complications that resulted in preterm labor at 19 weeks and subsequent death of the child.
The incident was expectedly heartbreaking for the couple. According to the Marquise, one thing he wanted more than anything in the world was to give up his life to have him. “Imagine you want something that is more than anything else in the world and you get it and it’s just taken from you,” Marquise said.
However, he explains on his Instagram bio, which reads, “The rewards outweigh the pain.” After his son’s death, the wide receiver said that despite the pain, he still believes God had something bigger and better in store.
Just hours after the death of his baby, Francisco 49ers wide receiver appeared in the game against the New York Giants, scoring an 83-yard touchdown. Only two of his team-mates knew of his loss and it was after the game that he and his wife let the world know of their pain via a social media post. The player revealed that it was his wife who encouraged him to play.
Other facts
- Marquise was born on November 19, 1990 in Lubbock, Texas with the middle name Derell.
- He attended Rowlett High School in Austin, where he played high school football and competed on the school’s track and field team.
- He drove the third-fastest 40 times ever with the NFL Scouting Combine and was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the third round of the 2013 NFL draft.
- The talented player stands at 5 feet 9 inches (1.75 m) and weighs 180 pounds (82 kg).
- Adrian Colbert, Goodwin’s teammate from San Francisco, is his cousin.
- Five weeks after losing his son, Marquise also lost his birth father.