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C.J. Goodwin Retires After 12 Years as a Special‑Teams Ace

Reported in late June 2026, the move follows Goodwin’s rise from a Division‑II walk‑on to a reliable depth defender and core special‑teams player.

Overview

  • Reports in late June 2026 say Goodwin has retired, bringing to a close a reported 12‑year NFL career that began after he went undrafted in 2014.
  • Goodwin’s path was unconventional: he played little high‑school football, began college as a basketball player at Bethany, walked on at Fairmont State, earned a scholarship, and signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers as an undrafted free agent.
  • He moved from wide receiver to cornerback in Atlanta, made his NFL debut in 2016 during the FalconsSuper Bowl run, and then lived the journeyman life with stops in Arizona, New York, San Francisco and Cincinnati before joining the Cowboys.
  • Known primarily for special‑teams play with Dallas, Goodwin finished with career totals reported as 94 tackles, two passes defensed, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery while serving as a steady roster depth piece.
  • His career mixed availability and recovery from injuries—an early forearm break in Dallas and a 2023 season‑ending pectoral injury—and it highlights how versatility and special‑teams value can sustain long NFL careers for small‑school, undrafted players.