Somehow, some way, Jordan Dangerfield reached up while on his back on the 15-yard line and caught a shoe.
And yes, that shoe belonged to a leaping C.J. Goodwin. The Linsly graduate (Class of 2008), was the key player in a trick play against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Nov. 8 in Dallas. Cedrick Wilson fielded a Steelers punt on the Dallas seven-yard line and took a few steps to his right before twisting left and throwing the ball to Goodwin.
After catching the football, No. 29 raced down the left sideline until attempting to leap over Dangerfield. Goodwin, who starred as a special teamer for the Cowboys in 2020, was credited with an 83-yard return.
“As far as that play against the Steelers, I have to be honest; I was dead tired at the end of that play,” he said. “I had to run back 40 yards on that play and then catch the ball and then go as fast as I could downfield. At least I got 83 yards before the Steelers kind of caught up with me. The fans were cool, but my family and friends gave me a tough time for not getting into the end zone. But hey, I almost made it.
“It’s a play I’ll never forget; that’s for sure,” Goodwin said. “It made the list for one of the team’s top plays, too, so I’ll take that. As far as getting into the end zone, just know I’ll get there before I’m done. I promise you that.”
Average Age in the NFL
Goodwin was born on Feb. 4, 1990, in Wheeling, and that means in a little more than two weeks the professional football player will be 31 years old.
Granted, he didn’t crack into the NFL until he joined the Atlanta Falcons in 2015 at the age of 25, but the average age in the league is 26, and the average career extends a little more than three years, according to NFL.com.
That is why Goodwin, as far as his future is concerned, is very realistic.
“I know my coaches had a lot of nice things to say about me this season, and I hope that means they will want me again for next season,” he said. “I played most special teams this year, and it was a lot of fun, but I got to play a little defense, too, and I got to make that play against the Steelers. I just did what I do best and that’s chasing someone down.
“Right now, I’m not signed for next season, and I am a restricted free agent,” Goodwin continued. “The talks in Dallas are going well, and I would really like to remain with the Cowboys. I’m now considered one of the best special team players in the league, so if it’s not Dallas, I think another team may pick me up. I know I can play in the league for a couple more seasons, and that’s why I started my off-season workouts pretty soon after our season ended.”
The Cowboys finished the 2020 season with a 6-10 record and a third-place finish in the NFC East after losing starting quarterback Dak Prescott to a fractured ankle during the fifth game of the season.
“It was a tough season for us, but it was a tough season for the majority of the teams in the league,” Goodwin said. “A lot of teams lost key players like we did, but when it’s your quarterback, you really have to rally around his replacement, and that’s what we did. I think it may have made us closer, too, and even though the record was what it was, there were a lot of players who got better.”
Three Games Remain
The 2020 NFL season has been different from any other in the league’s history, and that’s because Covid-19 forced the cancelation of the preseason, forced the regular season to begin late, and several games had to be rescheduled because of coronavirus protocol.
But now that the Division Championships took place this past weekend, football fans know that Green Bay defeated the Rams (32-18), Buffalo beat Baltimore (17-3), the Chiefs outlasted the Browns (22-17), and Tom Brady and the Buccaneers ended the Saints’ season with a 30-20 victory. Those results determined the matchups in the conference championships, and Goodwin believes the two battles scheduled for this Sunday are going to be shootouts.
“These games are going to be great, and I think they’re going to be great for America,” he said. “It’s been a tough year for everyone. Nothing has been normal, so I think we all need these conference championships, and no matter who wins, the Super Bowl is going to be awesome.”
NFC Championship
Buccaneers (11-5) at Packers (13-3)
“Aaron Rodgers has something to prove,” Goodwin said. “He’s the reason why I like the Packers against Tom Brady and the Buccaneers. Now, Tom Brady is the truth. He’s accomplished a lot, and he’s no slouch; that’s for sure. But Rodgers is a monster, and he’s got Davante Adams, and that guy is a top tier receiver. I know it’s going to be a good game, but I like the Packers to win the NFC Championship.”
AFC Championship
Bills (13-3) at Chiefs (14-2)
“This game … it just depends. It depends on Patrick Mahomes and whether or not he can play. When a player gets a concussion these days in the NFL, it’s no joke. If Mahomes plays, I give the edge to the Chiefs, but I really like the way the Bills have been playing. I am actually rooting for the Bills because they are the underdogs,” Goodwin said. “If Mahomes doesn’t play, I think the Bills can beat them for sure. I think the Bills would give the Chiefs a game even with Mahomes on the offense. But again, it’s going to be a really great game.”
The Super Bowl – February 7 in Tampa, Fla.
Packers vs. Bills
“If it’s the Packers and the Bills in the Super Bowl, I’m sticking with Aaron Rodgers. He’s actually my favorite player in the league. He’s fun to watch, and he’s faster than you think,” Goodwin said. “I played against him when I was with the Falcons, and he took off, and I literally had to sprint to force him out of bounds. Ever since that play, Aaron Rodgers has been my guy, and he’s surrounded with a lot of talent; that’s for sure.”
Or:
Packers vs. Chiefs
“I think this is the matchup most people want in the Super Bowl. People want to see those two quarterbacks duke it out,” Goodwin explained. “But again, I’m going with Aaron Rodgers to go all the way and to hoist that trophy again. I know the Chiefs are the defending champs, but Rodgers and the Packers have had a really great season, and they seem unstoppable right now.”
