Marquise Goodwin
An elite athlete who sprinted and jumped in the Olympics before catching passes as a blazing-fast deep threat in the NFL.
Born 1990 (age 36)·American football player·Birthday: November 19·Millennials
Biography
Marquise Goodwin's story is one of breathtaking dual-sport excellence. At the University of Texas, he wasn't just a football player; he was a national champion long jumper, his speed translating seamlessly to the track. He made the 2012 U.S. Olympic team, finishing tenth in London, a feat that underscored his world-class athleticism. The Buffalo Bills drafted him for that very speed, envisioning a weapon who could stretch any defense. His NFL career was a rollercoaster of spectacular deep touchdowns and challenging injuries, with stops in San Francisco, Philadelphia, Chicago, and Seattle. Beyond the stats, Goodwin's resilience shone through personal tragedy, and his courageous openness about loss and mental health added a profound layer to his identity as an athlete who consistently defied single-sport definition.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Marquise was born in 1990, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Marquise Was Born
The biggest hits of 1990
#1 Movie
Home Alone
Best Picture
Dances with Wolves
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Marquise's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1990Born
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1995Started school
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2003Became a teenager
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2006Could drive
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2008Could vote
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2011Turned 21
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2020Turned 30
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 36 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Competed in the long jump for the United States at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.
- Won the NCAA national championship in the long jump in 2012 while at the University of Texas.
- Recorded a career-long 83-yard touchdown reception for the San Francisco 49ers in 2017.
- Won the Jon Cornish Trophy in 2018 as the top Canadian-born player in NCAA football.
Did You Know?
He and his wife, Morgan, lost their newborn son, Marquise Jr., in 2017; he later dedicated a touchdown to him in an emotional moment.
He was a three-time Texas state champion in the long jump in high school.
He officially retired from the NFL in 2024 to focus on his family and other ventures.
“I'm not just a football player. I'm an Olympian, I'm a father, I'm a husband. I'm so much more.”
