Chris Godwin says giving up No. 12 to Tom Brady 'bothered him' at first

Chris Godwin has worn No. 12 for as long as he can remember, but that's going to change this coming season as he was forced to give up the number to one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time in Tom Brady.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver was happy to give up his number to Brady in the end, but initially, he wasn't too thrilled about it.

“I have been (wearing No. 12) since high school and it means a lot to me,” Godwin said on a Twitter livestream with The Checkdown. “At first it bothered me a little bit, it was kind of getting at me because it is part of my identity, but when the GOAT comes calling, you kind of concede to him.”

Both players have strong ties to the No. 12. Brady wore it for 20 years with the New England Patriots while winning six Super Bowl titles and setting various records along the way. He also trademarked "TB12" and sells t-shirts, supplements and more under his brand. 

While Godwin wore No. 12 during his first three seasons in Tampa, he also wore it through high school and college. It's a very special number to him, and Brady can't say he wore the number during his collegiate career as he wore No. 10 at the University of Michigan.

Now that Brady has the No. 12, Godwin has chosen to wear No. 14 for the 2020 campaign. While it initially bothered him to give Brady his longtime jersey number, the two seem to be getting along just fine in Tampa. Both players have been working out together in preparation for the upcoming season despite the NFLPA suggesting players hold off from training with others. 

While Brady is defying the NFLPA's suggestion amid surging coronavirus cases in Florida, it appears he, like everyone in the Buccaneers organization, has to win a Super Bowl title on their mind. 

“Like I said, hopefully, I can get a ring or two or three out of [giving 12 to Brady]. I was more than happy to do it. I have a new persona for me, 1-4. We’re going to move forward and make something special with it.”

Godwin, 24, reeled in 86 receptions for 1,333 yards and nine touchdowns last season with Jameis Winston at the helm of the Buccaneers offense. While 2019 was his best year, the sky's the limit with Brady now slinging the ball to him and other receivers such as Mike Evans and Rob Gronkowski.