C. J. Goodwin facts for kids
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Goodwin with the Dallas Cowboys in 2024
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| No. 29 – Dallas Cowboys | |||||||||
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| Position: | Cornerback | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | February 4, 1990 Wheeling, West Virginia, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 190 lb (86 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | Linsly School (Wheeling, West Virginia) |
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| College: | Bethany (WV) (2010–2011) Fairmont State (2012) California (PA) (2013) |
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| Undrafted: | 2014 | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
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| Roster status: | Active | ||||||||
| Career NFL statistics as of 2024 | |||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||
Charaun Jareé Goodwin, born on February 4, 1990, is a professional American football player. He plays as a cornerback for the Dallas Cowboys in the National Football League (NFL). C.J. Goodwin started his NFL journey with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2014. Before playing professionally, he was a college athlete, playing both basketball and football.
Contents
Early Life and Sports Beginnings
C.J. Goodwin was born in Wheeling, West Virginia. He went to The Linsly School in his hometown. Interestingly, he didn't start playing football until his last year of high school. He became a starter as a wide receiver. Besides football, C.J. also competed in track and basketball.
College Sports Journey
Playing Basketball at Bethany College
After high school, C.J. Goodwin went to Bethany College. He played basketball for two seasons there. He didn't play football during his time at Bethany. After his second year, he decided to transfer to another school.
Switching to Football at Fairmont State
Goodwin then enrolled at Fairmont State University. One day, he played in a casual basketball game against the school's football coaches. His father and his college roommate, Dewey McDonald (who also became an NFL player), encouraged him to join the football team. He decided to give it a try.
In his first football game, he caught 6 passes for 56 yards. He had a great game against West Liberty University, catching a long 83-yard touchdown pass. He also scored two touchdowns in a game against West Virginia Wesleyan. C.J. finished his first season at Fairmont State with 24 catches and 440 receiving yards. He led the team with an average of 18.3 yards per catch and scored 4 touchdowns.
Finishing College Football at California (PA)
After his coach at Fairmont State left, C.J. Goodwin decided to transfer to California University of Pennsylvania. He wanted to keep playing for his former coach, Mike Lopez. Since he had already graduated from Fairmont, he could play right away without waiting.
At California (PA), C.J. mostly played on special teams. He had 11 catches for 126 yards and one touchdown in 11 games during his senior year.
Professional Football Career
Starting with the Pittsburgh Steelers
After college, C.J. Goodwin hoped to join the NFL in the 2014 NFL draft. He wasn't a well-known player because he came from smaller colleges. However, he had good physical abilities for a wide receiver. Even though he wasn't invited to the main NFL Combine, he showed his skills at a special tryout for the Detroit Lions.
After the draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers gave him a chance. This happened because Mel Blount, a famous former player, suggested it. C.J. had known Blount for years. On June 4, 2014, he signed a three-year contract with the Steelers. He was later released but joined their practice squad.
Playing for the Atlanta Falcons
In November 2015, C.J. Goodwin joined the Atlanta Falcons practice squad. In 2016, he made a big change, switching from playing wide receiver to cornerback. He played in 14 games that year, making 7 tackles and 10 special teams tackles.
Goodwin and the Falcons made it all the way to Super Bowl LI in February 2017. They played against the New England Patriots but lost in overtime. He recorded 2 tackles in that big game. In 2017, he played in 12 games before being released in December.
Short Stays with Other Teams
After leaving the Falcons, C.J. had brief periods with a few other NFL teams.
- He joined the Arizona Cardinals in December 2017 and played in two games.
- In May 2018, he was with the New York Giants for a short time.
- Then, he moved to the San Francisco 49ers in May 2018.
- In August 2018, he signed with the Cincinnati Bengals and was later added to their practice squad.
Joining the Dallas Cowboys
On October 9, 2018, C.J. Goodwin was signed by the Dallas Cowboys. He was placed on injured reserve after breaking his forearm but returned later that season. He played in two games, focusing on special teams.
In 2019, Goodwin played in all 16 games for the first time in his career. He became a very important player on the Cowboys' special teams units, leading the team with 10 special teams tackles.
He re-signed with the Cowboys in March 2020. In a memorable game against his former team, the Atlanta Falcons, Goodwin recovered a special "watermelon" onside kick. This play helped the Cowboys make an amazing comeback win. He also played a key role in a win against the Philadelphia Eagles, helping to stop their quarterback.
In March 2021, Goodwin signed a new two-year contract with the Cowboys. He played in all 17 games that season and led the team in special teams tackles for the third year in a row. This was a first for the Cowboys since they started tracking these tackles in 1988.
He continued to play for the Cowboys in 2022, appearing in all 17 games and finishing second in special teams tackles. In March 2023, he re-signed with the Cowboys again. He was placed on injured reserve in October 2023 due to a pectoral injury.
C.J. Goodwin re-signed with the Cowboys in March 2024 and again in March 2025, continuing his career with the team.
Helping Others: The PeGa Foundation
C.J. Goodwin started the PeGa Foundation to honor his late father and mentor, Perry Galloway Jr. This foundation is a non-profit group in his hometown of Wheeling, West Virginia. It helps young people through mentoring. C.J. spends a lot of his free time mentoring kids and speaking to schools and youth groups across the country.
Personal Life
C.J. Goodwin is a father and has a daughter.
