Chris Godwin broke down in tears after the final practice before game day a moment that left his teammates in stunned silence, and his words brought Buccaneers Nation to tears
Chris Godwin broke down in tears after the final practice before game day – a moment that left his teammates in stunned silence, and his words brought Buccaneers Nation to tears: ‘If this is my last game in Tampa, I want to step on that field with all my heart.’
Tampa Bay, Florida – November 8, 2025
Just hours before the highly anticipated showdown between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the New England Patriots, the atmosphere at AdventHealth Training Center grew heavy with emotion. No one expected the final practice before game day to end in tears — tears from Chris Godwin, a player long known for his toughness and composure.
According to reporters on site, after finishing the warm-up drills, Godwin stopped at midfield, removed his gloves, and sat down, his eyes glistening red. Teammates approached, but no one spoke — they just stood silently, watching their brother shed tears. Then, Godwin rose to his feet, lifted his head, and said with a trembling voice:
“If this is my last game in Tampa, I want to step on that field with all my heart.”
The locker room fell completely silent. Some players, including Mike Evans and Baker Mayfield, walked over and embraced Godwin tightly. “No one said a word — only hugs. You could feel the brotherhood, the family bond in that moment,” a team staff member shared.
But what moved everyone most came afterward. When practice ended, instead of leaving as usual, Godwin returned to the empty field. Alone, he ran ten laps around the sideline, touching the Buccaneers logo at midfield each time. Witnesses said he whispered, “Thank you for everything.”
That moment quickly went viral after a team staffer shared a photo of Godwin under the Tampa sunset. The hashtags #ForTampa and #ThankYouChris soared to the top of social media trends within hours.
Head coach Kellen Moore spoke about it during the post-practice press conference: “Chris is the heart and soul of this team. He fights, he sacrifices, and he loves this place more than anyone I’ve ever coached.”
The upcoming matchup with the Patriots is no longer just a tactical battle — it has become a tribute from the entire team to a man who has given his sweat, his heart, and his soul to this city. And when the whistle blows at Raymond James Stadium, everyone in Tampa Bay will know — whether or not it’s his final game, Chris Godwin has already left his heart on that field.












