Injury or even dunking his phone in water for a teammate cannot keep Chris Godwin away from the Buccaneers locker room. Drafted out of Penn State in 2017, Godwin has remained loyal to Tampa Bay since day one. Drafted out of Penn State in 2017, Godwin has remained loyal to Tampa Bay since day one. Back then, he signed a three-year deal worth $66 million, with $44 million guaranteed, cementing his value. His 2024 season began strongly, but just 7 weeks into it was later marred by a brutal injury, a dislocated ankle. Still, Godwin’s commitment never wavered. Despite setbacks, he remains a key figure for the Buccaneers and a name held in respect across the NFL. And that’s for a very good reason.

Chris Godwin made a move that caught the league off guard and started churning the rumour mills. While speaking on The Pat McAfee Show during the first day of free agency, NFL insider Ian Rapoport revealed the wideout had strong demand. “From my understanding, Chris Godwin left about $20M on the table. I know New England was in on him pretty heavy. . .he clearly liked where he was in Tampa Bay,” Rapoport said. Months later, Godwin finally addressed the noise in a recent interview, putting speculation to rest and confirming his loyalty to the Bucs.

According to a recent X post, he left a significant amount of money behind. The post highlighted, “Good story from @DanPompei here on @Buccaneers WR Chris Godwin—who confirms he left a LOT of money on the table to stay in Tampa. Per Godwin, the @Patriots offered him $30 million per before he signed a three-year, $66 million deal with the Bucs.”

Godwin addressed the situation clearly during a press meeting earlier. “I think what it boiled down to, honestly, was family and just staying true to who I am,” he said. “I feel like nine out of 10 people in this position wouldn’t have necessarily made this decision that I did, but I don’t do the things I do based on what other people would do. I trust my gut, I stay true to who I am. And one thing I’ve never done is make any decisions solely based on the money.” His words made it clear that loyalty and identity mattered more than a payday.

The Patriots’ interest likely stemmed from an attempt to boost their roster. Despite offers from five teams, Chris Godwin called Tampa “the perfect place for me and who I am.” Four other teams pursued the wideout hard, with the Patriots and Steelers making aggressive pushes. Even as the Buccaneers were tight on cap space after giving Mike Evans a deal worth over $25 million in 2025, they managed to bring Godwin back on a smaller contract. Still, the decision was not easy. “I mean, to be honest, I feel like we were really close (to leaving),” Godwin said on NFL Network’s The Insiders. “When it comes to a situation like that, you have to really, really consider it. Me and (his wife) Mariah, we had some really tough conversations.”

But none of these reasons were enough to deter him from his team. Then the Patriots came hard, offering an average of $30 million per year on a multiyear deal, he says. And it’s possible there was more juice to be squeezed there. The Buccaneers’ offer was for three years at $66 million, averaging $22 million per season. This amount would have quickly added up over time. 

With this decision, the entire NFL world is wondering why Godwin would leave behind generational wealth. The answer to this lies in the locker room.

Why Chris Godwin Chose Tampa Over a Bigger Payday

General manager Jason Licht has worked wonders keeping Tampa Bay’s core intact. He believes trust must be earned again each season. “People always give us credit for betting on Chris during his injuries,” Licht told the Tampa Bay Times. “But he and Mariah bet on us and we’re going to do everything we can to make sure that we make it right for you and chase another ring.” Licht admitted the stress of waiting was real. “You’re supposed to stand here before fans and say I don’t get stressed and I have ice in my veins. But I don’t. It’s an emotional time.”

All this goes to show that Godwin built strong bonds in the locker room. His loyalty has paid off on the field as well. From his rookie year, he was treated like family. Mike Evans welcomed him as a teammate, not a threat. During Godwin’s first season as a starter, he recorded 19 more catches and 176 more receiving yards than Evans.

At that point, Evans was already a three-time Pro Bowler with five straight 1,000-yard seasons. “Not a single time throughout that year did Mike mention anything to me or anybody about the targets I was getting and the success that I was having,” said Godwin. “You would expect some kind of animosity, like, ‘Hey, if I’m your guy, why is he getting all of that?’” Fans get to see a rare glimpse behind the curtains of the locker room.

For Godwin, that bond is for life. He hopes to keep suiting up alongside Evans. Keeping him on a team-friendly deal allows Licht to make smart roster moves as Tampa aims for a fifth straight NFC South title.