The remarkable life of 49ers wide receiver Marquise Goodwin continued on New Year’s day. A few hours after winning the Len Eshmont Award as the most inspiration and courageous player this year, Goodwin was at the airport with no symptoms from the hellacious hit he endured Sunday in Los Angeles when he lost consciousness.
Goodwin said, “If I had a game today, I would definitely play.”
He also didn’t sound like a man who had sustained a serious concussion and who was sent to the hospitals for a CT brain scan. The award and his somewhat miraculous recovery just added to remarkable season where Goodwin nearly gained 1,000 yards receiving and yet lost his father and his infant son at childbirth in a matter of a few weeks.
His dad was homeless in Dallas when he died and Goodwin said father was never the same after he imprisoned for a murder he didn’t commit. When he was finally exonerated, his father emerged from prison with severe mental illness.
Goodwin said he has yet to reflect on his season and also said that he’s endured many trails in his life, and “a lot of pain.”
Goodwin won three awards this season – the Garry Niver Award for professionalism and cooperation with the media, the Eshmont, which is voted on by his teammates and the Ed Block, which is awarded by athletic trainers and given to the player exemplified a commitment to sportsmanship and courage.
