Marquise Goodwin’s perseverance does not go unrecognized by team.
SANTA CLARA >> Wide receiver Marquise Goodwin’s perseverance through personal tragedy this season won him the admiration of his 49ers teammates and a pair of team awards announced Monday.
Goodwin, who lost his newborn son and also his father in a four-week span, won the Len Eshmont Award and the Ed Block Courage Award.
The Eshmont, given annually to the player who “best exemplifies the inspirational and courageous play of Len Eshmont,” is considered the most prestigious honor voted on by the players. Eshmont, a member of the original 1946 49ers team, died of hepatitis at age 39 in 1957.
“It’s an honor the receive such an award like that, especially when it’s voted on by your peers, the people you come to work with each day,” Goodwin said Monday on a conference call. “It shows how much they think of you. I’m honored to be the recipient of this year’s award.”
The Block Award is given to the player “that exemplified a commitment to sportsmanship and courage.”
Goodwin, 27, joined the 49ers as a free agent last spring after four undistinguished seasons with the Buffalo Bills. He led the 49ers in receiving yards with 962 on 52 catches. The first of his two touchdowns came on Nov. 12, the day he played within hours of his prematurely born son’s death.
His father died Dec. 11. “I’ve had to be resilient my whole life,” Goodwin said. “I’ve always had things traumatic happen, and I’ve always had to overcome and endure a lot of things. So I feel like it would have been too much right to have a good season and (for) nothing to go on. I’m definitely blessed to still be alive and still kicking.”
Goodwin sustained a concussion in Sunday’s seasonending victory, absorbing a hit that sent him to the hospital. Goodwin said Monday he felt “wonderful” and had no lingering symptoms.
“My main concern was to get one of the nurses to put the game on, on their phone so I could watch it and see how the team was doing,” Goodwin said with a laugh.
“I’m a blessed man. I came out symptom-free after being knocked unconscious. I feel wonderful today. If I had a game, if I had to play this week, I definitely would play.”
Other team award winners announced Monday:
Fullback Kyle Juszczyk won the Bill Walsh Award for the player “who has best represented the standard of professional excellence established by Walsh.”
Center Daniel Kilgore won the Bobb McKittrick Award for the “offensive lineman who best represents the courage, intensity and sacrifice displayed by the longtime offensive line coach.”
Defensive lineman DeForest Buckner won the Hazeltine Iron Man Award, given “to the most courageous and inspirational defensive player as voted upon by the defensive coaches.”
Defensive back Adrian Colbert won the Thomas Herrion Memorial Award as the “rookie or first-year player who best represents the dream of Thomas Herrion... (who) has taken advantage of every opportunity, turned it into a positive situation and made their dream turn into a reality.”
Kicker Robbie Gould won the Perry/Yonamine Award for exhibiting “an exceptional commitment to promoting unity within the team and in their community.”