Each season, the San Francisco 49ers chapter of the Pro Football Writers of America present a player with the Garry Niver Award, which goes to the individual who best represents professionalism and cooperation with the media.
This year, the award went to Marquise Goodwin. On Wednesday, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area presented the award to the 49ers wide receiver and Cam Inman of Bay Area News Group caught it on video, which you can watch below.
#49ers @flashg88dwin presented with the Garry Niver Award by @MaioccoNBCS on behalf of San Francisco 49ers chapter of @PFWAwriters, represents professionalism and cooperation with media pic.twitter.com/knpXAIJ7fM
— Cam Inman (@CamInman) December 27, 2017
Goodwin, who was thrust into the role of the 49ers' number one receiver due to an injury to Pierre Garçon, has faced a great deal of adversity this season. He and his wife lost a child in November, and he recently lost his father.
Despite the challenges, Goodwin has continued to improve as the season went on and has surpassed fan expectations. Through 15 games this season, he has 54 receptions for 934 yards and a touchdown. Goodwin is just 66 receiving yards shy of his first 1,000-yard season.
This season is Goodwin's first with the 49ers, who signed the five-year veteran to a two-year, $6 million contract on March 9. He spent the previous five seasons with Buffalo.
According to Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee, center Daniel Kilgore and safety Eric Reid were runners-up for the award.
Last year's Garry Niver Award went to safety Antoine Bethea, who is now with the Arizona Cardinals.