Tod Goodwin

Charles R. "Tod" Goodwin (December 5, 1911 – January 7, 1997) was an American athlete who played football collegiately at West Virginia University. Playing the position of end, Goodwin spent the 1935 and 1936 season playing professional football for the New York Football Giants.

Goodwin was the NFL leader in receptions with 26 in 1935, which earned him second-team honors on the 1935 All-Pro Team. As of 2026, he is the only New York Giant who has led the NFL in pass receptions.

Biography Early life

Charles R. Goodwin, known to family and friends as "Tod," was born December 5, 1911, in Wheeling, West Virginia. He grew up in Bellaire, Ohio, attending Bellaire High School in that city. He had over 309 receiving yards and scored 66 points in his high school career.

College career

Goodwin played football collegiately at West Virginia University (WVU), where the end gained a reputation both for superlative pass-catching skills and for an exuberant confidence that offended the sensibilities of some traditionalists.

Professional career

Goodwin signed to play with the New York Football Giants of the National Football League in 1935, the last year before institution of the NFL draft. The jocular and gregarious Goodwin was popular among his teammates, earning the nicknames "Dingbat," "Baby Face," and "Mouth" from his Giants comrades. Goodwin's reception total was a new league record, albeit short-lived, as in 1936 it was surpassed by future Hall of Famer Don Hutson of the Green Bay Packers. The effort was good enough for Goodwin to be named as a second-team member of the 1935 All-Pro Team.