A What-If Night For Chris Godwin
February 8th, 2026
Chris Godwin
Joe wonders what is going through Chris Godwin’s head today.
The iconic Bucs receiver is about to embark on his 10th season in Tampa. He’ll be in the Buccaneers Ring of Honor one day. But Year 9 for Godwin in Tampa was a question mark. Significantly injured as 2025 free agency approached last March, Godwin briefly hit the open market.
Bucs officials were nervous.
Many reports had the Patriots and new head coach Mike Vrabel offering Godwin $30 million annually on a multi-year deal, far more than the Bucs put on the bargaining table.
Obviously, Godwin re-signed in Tampa. He didn’t reference the Patriots specifically, but Godwin publicly acknowledged the free agency reports and talked about how money isn’t everything and staying put was more important to him than chasing a fatter check.
Today, those same Patriots are in the Super Bowl.
They’re also in the Super Bowl with a hearty helping hand from 2025 free agent receiver Stefon Diggs, who played in every game and racked up 1,013 yards on 85 receptions. The 32-year-old potential Hall of Famer also has 11 catches in this postseason. (If you don’t believe Diggs is a candidate for Canton, then you haven’t looked at his numbers.)
Godwin is a live-in-the moment kind of guy, but he’s still human. At some point today, doesn’t Godwin have to have at least one thought about what his season might have looked like in New England?
Joe also wonders if Godwin passed on the Patriots, in part, because the team was coming off a four-win season. Regardless, today’s Super Bowl matchup is a good lesson in how no NFL team is that far away from greatness.