Receiver Goodwin plays after losing newborn son
After Marquise Goodwin scored on an 83-yard touchdown catch Sunday, he knelt in the end zone, head buried in the turf, for an unusually long time. Following his team’s 31-21 win over the Giants, the 49ers wide receiver explained why that was such an emotional moment for him by sharing some tragic news.
In an Instagram post, Goodwin said that he and his wife had lost their prematurely born child that very morning. He said of his wife, Morgan Goodwin-Snow, “The pain (physically, mentally, & emotionally) that she has endured is unbelievable.”
Goodwin told his social-media followers that the baby boy was delivered at 4 a.m. Sunday after “some complications.” He added that he was “grateful for the experience and grateful that God blessed me with a wife as courageous and resilient as Morgan.”
According to the baby registry website The Bump, the Goodwins’ due date was Feb. 3. In September, the fifth-year NFL veteran shared a photo of him and his wife kissing while holding an ultrasound image.
Goodwin, 26, and his 24-yearold wife are both former track stars at the University of Texas, where he also played football for the Longhorns. In a lengthy post of her own on Instagram, Goodwin-Snow said, “This whole week has taken an emotional toll on my husband and I, struggling to keep our healthy baby safe in my womb. However, God had other plans for us.”
“Despite our loss, my hubby kept grinding, scored his son a touchdown & got our first ‘W’ of the season,” Goodwin-Snow added. “He had a wonderful game today.
“I appreciate everyone who kept us in their prayers and constantly checked in on us. This was truly an amazing experience and it was also a tragic experience. But that’s okay because we won’t stop fighting and we won’t give up on what God has in store for us.”
Current and former NFL players shared their sadness at the news and sent condolences to the Goodwins. Former wide receiver Stevie Johnson, a former teammate of Goodwin’s with the Bills, said on Twitter he was “praying for you and your fam,” adding “We send you all our love and support.”
“Blessings to this family,” tweeted former defensive end Ronald Talley. “God bless you my brother,” tweeted former running back Josh Harris.