2012-GameRelease-Divisional

Center Stage
By Alex Espinoza, 49ers.com
Player Feature Story
It may be hard to picture now, but imagine a young Jonathan Goodwin with big, framed glasses and a hitop
fade haircut.
That’s how his brother remembers him.
Five years Jonathan’s senior, Harold Goodwin has also carved out a football life of his own since those
humble days in South Carolina.
It’s the middle of the season now, so contact between the two brothers isn’t as frequent. But when the
49ers host the Pittsburgh Steelers Monday night at Candlestick Park, there will certainly be a pre-game
embrace between the brothers Goodwin.
Nowadays, Harold Goodwin spends his Sundays up in the coaches’ box, peering down onto the field as
an offensive assistant coach for the Steelers. Jonathan Goodwin, on the other hand, is on the field as a
10-year veteran with one Super Bowl ring and trip to the Pro Bowl under his belt.
But it likely wouldn’t have been possible without his older brother, who will gladly tell you all about it.
“He won’t admit to it, but I got the athletic genes,” Harold Goodwin said with a laugh. “Athleticism comes
from me; you can tell him I said that.”
Kidding aside, Harold Goodwin was something of an inspiration for his kid brother growing up. And his kid
brother wasn’t always called Jonathan, either. Certain days when he got mad, Jonathan Goodwin turned
so red that his family started calling him the “Red Lobster.”
The “Red Lobster” has since cooled down in his 33 years. You’d be hard-pressed to ever find Jonathan
Goodwin flustered these days.
He’s been described by coordinator Greg Roman as the “cool-hand Luke” of the 49ers offensive line,
made an instant impact since signing a free-agent deal this offseason and commanded the respect of his
teammates inside the locker room.
And he hasn’t had to say much to do it.
“He is a steady ‘Rock of Gibraltar’ type guy,” Roman said. “He doesn’t say a whole lot, in terms of being
vocal all the time, but you want to talk about a smart guy; he’s kind of like E.F. Hutton in a sense that
when he talks, people listen.”
It only makes sense that Jonathan Goodwin landed with the 49ers, following five successful seasons with
the New Orleans Saints. He had a choice to make: stay with the franchise that helped shape his career or
leave for new pastures. Despite flip-flopping twice on the day he signed his contract, Jonathan Goodwin
was ultimately lured to the left coast by the 49ers.
“Matter of fact, (49ers General Manager) Trent (Baalke) recently gave me some grief about how hard I
made him work,” Jonathan Goodwin said.
Through 13 games this season, it’s clear Baalke did his homework. Jonathan Goodwin has become a
pillar of the 49ers offensive line, paving the way for the league’s 7th ranked rushing attack.
In a symbolic display, 49ers quarterback Alex Smith literally leans on Jonathan Goodwin in the offensive
huddles during games.