GENERAL MANAGER JASON LICHT & WIDE RECEIVER CHRIS GODWIN

(Opening Statement)

Jason Licht: "Thanks for coming today. When it's big deals that surpass a certain dollar amount, I wear a sport coat [laughs]. Man, today is a – when you're able to bring back one of your own as an organization, and now we've done multiple deals with Chris [Godwin], but it's so rewarding. It's such a range of emotions, like a couple nights ago I was pretty stressed out, and then yesterday when we were able to get it done, basically right after noon, it [was] just elation on all of our part. You're such a big part of all of us, of fans, of staff here, players, our families, probably more than you know – just for me. [When] I go home, my kids all ask about you all the time, 'Are we going to get this done?' And so when we get it done, it's personally so satisfying but I also know that such a humble super star that you are, a selfless person – just what you've done for our culture, it just makes it that much more satisfying. Thank you, Chris."

(Opening Statement)

Chris Godwin: "I appreciate you guys coming out as always, and Jason I appreciate those words, man. It truly means a lot to me. Me and Mariah got here when we were just kids. We were just out of college at 20 years old. We didn't know a ton about Tampa but I think we quickly found out that this was a place that we were going to be able to call home and over the eight years since then, we've met a ton of people, we've got to work with a lot of really, really great people that have made our experience so so much better. I think when it comes down to making a tough decision like this, I think those are some of the things that come top of mind. It's family, it's relationships, it's being where you want to be [and] being where people want you. I couldn't be happier to be coming back. We love Tampa, we love it here. It's a great day and I'm really looking forward to creating a lot of great memories and chasing more championships."

(On what it means to still be with the same organization after multiple serious injuries heading into two free agencies)

CG: "It really does mean the world to me because I feel like things like this, they don't just happen. For a guy to have gone through what I've been through and like you said, in two contract years, and be able to get a deal done with the team that they're on, I think, is very, very rare. It speaks to the type of person that I am, to their trust in me, to their belief in me and that I'll put the work in to not only be the player that I was, but to be better and I take that very, very seriously. Every time I come into work, I'm trying to be better than I was the day before and as cliché as that is, I really mean. Mariah can attest to that. Everything I do is around ball. It's trying to be the best that I can be at maximizing my potential because I recognize how rare this opportunity is. When I was a kid, I would dream about these opportunities and I think if you told 14-year-old me that this is where I would be, he'd probably laugh at you because it just doesn't happen this way. It really does mean a lot to me."

(On what it means to be receiving all of these blessings after going through a really tough year with the loss of his father)

CG: "2024 kicked my ass a little bit [laughs] but that's life, right? Me and Mariah, we talked about this a couple of times, just about the duality of life and the peaks and the valleys of it and we got to see it first hand in a span of 12 months, or really 11 months, where I lost my father and it was arguably the lowest day of my life. I spent a lot of time really reflecting about the person that he was, the lessons that he taught me, the things that he had to do for me to be here and then a mere 11 months later, we welcomed the biggest blessing of our lives. All of the things that my dad would tell me, and the love that he poured into me, I can already see it. I see this little boy and I just want to give him the world. When he smiles at me, my heart melts and again, these are all the things that my father kind of poured into me and I can tell. He is our world and so it's a beautiful thing. I'm grateful. I'm unbelievably grateful."

(On where he's at physically and where he expects to be at the start of the season)

CG: "If you ask me, I feel like I'm right where I'm supposed to be. Like you said, it's a different injury than the last one and these things take time, so if there's one thing I've learned is you can't rush a process. You've got to make sure you dot your 'I's and you cross all your 'T's to make sure that you're as good as you can be. That's really what I'm focused on doing. I've never really been somebody that's kind of like put goals down in that way or deadlines because I think you're too focused on the future and you miss the opportunity that you have right now. Throughout your rehab process, you have your peaks, you have your plateaus, you have down days, and if you're so focused on the end goal then you miss the opportunity to work though some of those challenging times."

(On how much it helps to have offensive continuity with QB Baker Mayfield and Offensive Coordinator Josh Grizzard while he is recovering from injury)

CG: "I think it helps just in general. That familiarity with the people that you're working with, it makes a huge difference and that's somebody that … The last couple years we've had new coordinators and they've changed [so] we've had new offenses to learn. It's not an easy thing to do. There's so many intricate and nuanced pieces of an offense that it really helps that we're going to have a lot of familiarity with that and not only in the scheme but in the people that we're working with because they've had a year of working with us and understanding how we are, understanding how we communicate, the terminology, understanding how we see the game and the same thing vice versa. I think it's going to be a big advantage for us – not just me but for us as an offense, so I'm excited about it."

(On what the decision-making process was and why he potentially turned down more money to stay in Tampa)

CG: "I think, what it boiled down to, honestly, was family and just staying true to who I am. I feel like nine out of ten people in this position wouldn't necessarily have made the decision that I did but I don't do the things that I do based on what other people would do. I trust my gut and I stay true to who I am. One thing I've never done is made any decisions solely based on the money. I think I'm fortunate enough to be in this position and to be here at this table again. That's a position that not many people have had. I recognize that and I'm fortunate in that way, so for me, I had to do what was best for myself, I had to do what was best for our family. I had to do what we were the most comfortable with, but also, I work with a lot of great people and those things really are big factors. Enjoying where you work plays a big part in this. Enjoying coming to work, enjoying going in and putting in the time, because this game is way too tough to just be out there winging it. Obviously, I've gone through two big injuries now, training camp here is not easy, the NFL is not easy by any means. We're the best in the world – 32 teams of the best in the world at what we do, so you have to really enjoy doing it or it's not going to work the same way that it needs to, so there were a lot of things that factored into it but those are some of the top ones."

(On how rare it is to have a player like WR Chris Godwin turning down other higher offers to stay with this organization)

JL: "It definitely is rare. Chris is a rare person though. Like I said before, we use the word upstairs, 'humble superstar,' and we're fortunate to have two at that position – today is Chris's day but I know Mike [Evans] and you are so close – you know, Nelson [Luis] showed me a stat – they're already fifth best all time duo in terms of receiving yards. I'm sure you know that but you don't boast about it. Sixth in touchdowns, but that will go up this year. I'd like to challenge anybody to say that, take the combination of talent, and the character, the selflessness of a duo that's the best in NFL history and will probably never be repeated. That's just the type of person Chris is. I know you left what some would say [is] generational money, and people always give us kudos for betting on Chris during his injuries but he and Mariah, they bet on us, and we're going to do everything that we can to make it right for you and chase another ring."

(On how much emphasis he puts on looking for good character in a player as much as the talent and the Buccaneers regularly resigning players instead of looking elsewhere)

JL: "Well, I don't want to give away our secrets but we put a lot of emphasis on it and we have great scouts. Rob McCartney and Mike Biehl do a great job helping the scouts filter the character. When we meet with the prospects, we have a group, they meet with all the scouts, they'll go to the coaches and then they'll come into my office when they come through here and then I'll have Rob and Mike Biehl with me. One of the questions – we always open it up to them at the end – we meet with them for an hour or so and then say, 'Do you have any questions for us?' 'Yeah, what can I do to be successful? What are some things I can do?' And they always point to me because the shpiel I always give is, 'You be like Chris Godwin.' When Chris was a rookie, I went over to him during OTA's, and you've probably heard this story before but I said, 'Hey, do you have everything taken care of? You can stay in the hotel through training camp.' And he said, 'No, I've got my apartment. I've got my car, I have everything squared away. I know where I'm going to take care of this, I have my insurance.' [He] had it all taken care of before rookie mini camp and I said, 'Well you're the first person [laughs]. You can stay for free in the hotel.' And he says, 'No, I don't want to even think about it. All I want to focus on is football.' And that's the kind of person we want."

(On the Buccaneers showing their trust guaranteeing his next two years and what that does for his confidence and ability to make a full recovery)

CG: "I think it definitely aids in that. Like you said, I'm fully confident in my ability to make that come back. Unfortunately or fortunately, I've had the opportunity to do it once before, but it's just like anything else. If I just focus on my process and actually get better each day, it will take care of itself. I think the beautiful thing is the way this team is set up. We have a ton of playmakers all over the field and I think we had a really good view of that when I got hurt, when Mike [Evans] got hurt and we were still one of the best offenses in the league. To me, I look at that as there's a world of opportunities out there and not just for myself but for all of us. When we're all healthy, we're going to be a hell of an offense to try to deal with and that excites me."

(On where he is in terms of milestones in his injury recovery)

CG: "To be honest, I like to keep a lot of those things to the vest. Like I said, I'm right where I need to be and I'm excited about that. In the beginning of the process, you spend a lot on your back and so the fact that I'm here standing up – that's a blessing for me. I love all those little victories and I'm just excited about this opportunity."

(On being the physical player that he is and the key to overcoming injuries while still having physical production)

CG: "It's definitely not easy to do coming off of an injury but I don't think it's easy to do in general. When I get on the field, I don't think about any of that. I'm not approaching any of those moments as like, 'How is this going to feel because of what I've been through?' I'm there to do my job and when the quarterback – when Baker [Mayfield] throws me the ball, he's trusting me to make the play. The organization is trusting me to make the plays that I make so when I go out there I'm really just trying to be the best that I can be. That's how I've always approached the game. I'm always trying to be better than I was the previous year, the previous week, the previous game and that's always served me right so for me, I don't see any reason to change that mentality despite any injury."

(On his teammates referring to him as a leader and what inspires him to take on that role on the team)

CG: "I think it's just who I am as a person. I don't think I've ever walked in any where I was like, 'I'm a leader.' I think I'm just a genuine person and I try to help people wherever I see that I can. There have been a lot of people that have poured into me over the course of my life and my career and have given me small and large bits of advice that have impacted me in a way that's gotten me to this point and the way I see it is, you never really know what piece of advice is going to impact somebody's life. I look at specifically our young receivers and they give me a ton of hope and inspiration because I see myself in them. They're freshly here and trying to make a name for themselves. They're trying to carve out a career, trying to take advantage of an opportunity. When I see them working on things, and I feel like I can say something to help, I want to give them that advice, because again the things that people poured into me, I don't see as like advice that I just hold secret. To me, that's how you further the game. Somebody gives you advice, you apply it. When the opportunity comes for you to give it to somebody else, you pass that along, and then they apply it, and then the cycle continues itself. That's how I've always viewed it."

(On new Offensive Coordinator Josh Grizzard and the development of WR Jalen McMillan)

CG: "Two great guys. Firstly, 'Grizz' (Josh Grizzard) has been a phenomenal addition to our team. I think I realized that very early on – you can see that throughout the OTA process. He's incredibly smart. I think he's somebody that I don't think he has much of an ego about him, and for an intelligent guy like him to not have an ego, that means that he's open to ideas from other people. This game is largely a collaborative effort. If you can take bits and pieces from the rest of your coaching staff, from players, even from other teams, and apply it in the right way, I think that's how you create something special. There's no doubt in my mind that he's going to be incredibly successful because of the way he approaches it. Every time I see 'Grizz,' I feel like I'm like, 'Have you gone home?' He just loves ball and you can tell that he really, really puts his all into it. So, those are kind of guys that you want to be around; those are the kind of guys you want to work with. As far as Jalen [McMillan] goes, the way that he turned it on at the end of the season, it was amazing. It was crazy to see. I feel like I've never seen anybody have so many wide-open touchdowns. It was unreal to see his growth from the beginning of the season to the end, and his level of comfort…It was very cool. I'm extremely excited about his future, about what he can turn into, because he's really a great kid. I say kid like I'm old, I'm 29 years old, what am I talking about? [laughs] He's a great guy. It's funny, when he got here, one of the first things he said to me was, 'I can't believe I'm on a team with Chris Godwin.' I was like, 'What are you talking about? I feel like I just got here.' I'm a kid just like him. He was just so eager and [was] asking me questions. Again, like I was saying earlier, I'm happy to give advice. To see him be able to bloom the way he did at the end of the year, it really makes me excited for the contributions that he can give this upcoming season."

(On whether or not Godwin contributed to McMillan's rookie season success, as McMillan has said)

CG: "I would say I'm a small part of it. I felt kind of that responsibility, for a young guy in our room…Again, he was ascending, and I saw the work that he was putting in. I felt like sometimes, you just need to know that somebody believes in you. I know he has a bunch of people in his corner – he has a great family, the coaching staff [believes] in him. I wanted him to know that, even from afar, I was watching and still supporting him. I'm pleased with how Jalen has been progressing. He's a great guy and I'm excited about him."

(On what it means to have the entire starting lineup back from last year's offensive unit, and how stressful the contract negotiation with WR Chris Godwin was)

JL: "It's very exciting to have everybody back. Even though we still have a lot of offseason to go – the draft, there's a lot of time before the season starts to make some additions, too…That was very important to all of us, to have some continuity, starting with Todd [Bowles] hiring Josh [Grizzard] and us keeping our coaches – the offensive line coaches, everybody, [wide] receivers coach…I could name them all. We're so lucky to have all of them. We're very excited about that…[The negotiations] all have a unique aspect to them, but any time you're invested…There are certain players on this team right now [with] Lavonte [David], Mike [Evans] and Chris [Godwin] that I would put on the Mount Rushmore right now of having been here for eight years or longer and are pivotal to the culture of our team. When you have players like that and there's a little angst that you're not going to be able to keep them or you're hoping you can, it takes on a little bit of – I hate to admit it – but you get a little bit emotional about it and a little bit extra stressed. I'm supposed to stand here before fans and say I don't get stressed and that I have ice in my veins but I don't. It's an emotional time. It took everything out of me to not be texting Chris [Godwin]. It would be like texting your girlfriend when you're in college. My wife had to say, 'Don't push him, don't push him!' Anyway when it got over with, it was an awesome moment. They take on a life of their own, but any time it's a person like Chris, it's a little bit extra."

(On reuniting with QB Baker Mayfield)

CG: "I would say that was one of the major factors for us. I've been fortunate enough to be able to build a great relationship with 'Bake.' You guys have seen him over the last two years – he's a great guy. What you guys see, that is who he is, which is why a lot of us gravitate towards him so much. He's one of the guys. He had an unbelievable season last year and those are the types of things we believe that he'll continue to do. For me, having a quarterback that you trust, obviously that plays a big factor. I would say yeah, that played a role."

(On the team's rushing attack)

CG: "An offense without a running game…It's very tough to be a successful offense without a running game. When you're one dimensional, regardless of how talented you are at quarterback and at [wide] receiver, it makes it extremely tough. If you ask me, we have one of the best running games in the league."

(On General Manager Jason Licht having drafted the two most prolific wide receivers in Buccaneers history)

CG: "As a staff, they do a really, really good job of evaluating talent. Again, you see it [with] how many guys are drafted here and continue to be here long term. It's a very tough thing to do, clearly. Everybody doesn't hit on their draft picks. I think it just speaks to the level of detail that the staff goes through [and] the types of people that they're also looking for, as well, that have to fit a certain mold. I think I was telling [my wife] this not too long ago, but I feel like we're going to look back on this time period – specific to your question, me and Mike [Evans] – a decade from now and realize how special of a time it was, because, to your point, it's very rare to have two guys that operate the way that we do with the abilities that we have and to be on the same team for this long. It's something that I'm extremely proud of and something that I'm extremely fortunate to be a part of. I've told Mike that a bunch of times – it's been an honor to be his running mate for the last eight years and now we get to continue to do it. Again, always grateful."

(On potentially being able to become among the first players to win multiple championships with the Buccaneers, and how hungry he is for the chance at another Super Bowl)

CG: "I'm extremely hungry for it. To me, it does not make sense to do this if you're not in it to win a championship. Again, it's way too difficult. We put way too much in it, we spend way too much time away from our families, we put our bodies through way too much to be in this to not try to win a championship. Everything that we do is in pursuit of that. To be able to accomplish that, obviously, it would mean the world to us. The first one was amazing. The boat parade? Pretty sick. I would love to do that again. And also, just to have a lot of guys – not just the ones that have experienced it, but the guys that haven't gotten to experience it, you know? Baker Mayfield works his [tail] off. I would love for him to be able to experience winning a Super Bowl and the things that come with that… That would be something to see, huh? The trophy would be in the water and he might dive after it, too [laughs]. Again, that is always the goal. That's always the focus. After we agreed on the deal, Jason texted me congratulating me and welcoming me back and I was like, 'Let's go chase this thing again.' That was my exact sentiment because that is my focus."

(On the conversations he had with QB Baker Mayfield after agreeing to return to the Buccaneers)

CG: "It was, as Baker [Mayfield] likes to say, 'Excellent news for his team and him.' That's a little joke that he has running…He facetimed me and [he was] overjoyed. He happened to be with Tristan [Wirfs] too, which was unsurprising. We all got to chat a little bit…It was great news for all involved. I'm happy to be here, I'm glad that they're happy to have me here, glad that my teammates feel the way that they do about me. [Those are] a lot of things that I really care about."

(On what Godwin has learned about himself though this rehab process)

CG: "Every one is very different. I don't know if I've necessarily learned a ton about myself, more so, as I've been saying, this has been a patient season in my life. Between going through this rehab and having a newborn [baby], you can't rush anything. Despite whatever you think is going to happen or what you want to happen, you have to be patient. You have to be where your feet are and experience whatever you're going through now. I like to look at things as helping you for the future. Whatever tough thing I'm going through now is going to help me with some kind of adversity down the road. That's been true most of my life. That's how I continue to approach it."

-BUCCANEERS-