Marquise Goodwin Explains Why He’s Opting Out of NFL 2020 Season
Marquise Goodwin, an Eagles wide receiver has opted out of the 2020 NFL season due to concerns regarding COVID-19. Goodwin said that his family is at the top of his mind, as his wife, Morgan, gave birth to a baby girl back in February, after suffering multiple miscarriages.
Goodwin took to Instagram to explain his decision to opt-out of the season. The “husband, father, son, brother, and football player” wrote, ” [NFL] Before I get into the specifics, hear me out. It is truly a blessing and privilege to be able to play football, a game that I love so much and have been blessed to play since the age of 9. The NFL Organization provides my family and I with many opportunities that wouldn’t have presented itself in other industries,” Goodwin said.
“Traveling to several States multiple times a year and internationally to play on foreign soil has allowed me to gain an appreciation for different cultures and a wider world view perspective. The NFL Football organization has allowed me to create a platform I always dreamed of and it allows me to reach numerous people on different stages of life.”
“Three years ago, I made a decision that affected my whole life. I chose to leave my wife at the hospital after prematurely birthing our first baby boy (due to incompetent cervix) which resulted in a fatality, to play in a football game. I felt like I had to prove to my coaches and new team that I was dedicated to winning and I wouldn’t let anything keep me from the goal, not even my family,” he continued.
“The following year in the same month, same week, our lives took another traumatic turn. Two weeks after learning her abdominal cerclage was failing, my wife called me shortly after we landed and arrived to our team hotel in Tampa, Florida to inform me she was having painful contractions, and my grandma (who flew up to help take care of Morgan while I would go to work and away games) had to rush her to the emergency room,” he said.
“Here we are again in the same predicament as a year ago, except I was almost 3,000 miles away this time. Anxiety weighed heavily on me because I once again had to decide – will I choose to play a game again like everyone may expect me to, or do I go home and tend to my ailing wife? After much prayer and discussion, I told our team GM that I absolutely had to fly back and take care of my wife, in attempt to honor my wedding vows that I made to both her, myself, and God. ”
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