Who Is Chris Godwin's Wife? All About Mariah DelPercio

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver married his high school sweetheart in 2021

Chris Godwin is a Pro Bowl wide receiver who has quickly established himself as one of the most complete pass-catchers in the NFL. In 2021, he was a key player in helping the Tampa Bay Buccaneers secure their second Super Bowl in franchise history in a storybook victory on home turf.

But in a sea of dazzling plays, one of the most memorable moments came after the game. Godwin’s then-fiancée, Mariah DelPercio, rushed onto the field and jumped into his arms to celebrate. DelPercio screamed and appeared to weep as she clung tightly to Godwin’s neck in disbelief.

“This is crazy. We’re the best in the world,” a dazed Godwin said before DelPercio suggested they lay in the growing bed of confetti. The pair laughed giddily as they plopped onto the ground. The duo had been waiting for this moment since they were high school sweethearts in Delaware, where Godwin played football on her dad’s team. They continued their romance at Penn State University and DelPercio was by Godwin’s side when he was selected by the Bucs in the third round with the 84th overall pick in the 2017 draft. The duo got married in 2021.

“You did it,” she said in an Instagram post after Godwin signed a three-year deal worth $60 million in 2022. “You told me you would since I met you at 13. On draft day you told me, ‘It doesn’t matter where I get picked. I only need a chance. I’m gonna win a Super Bowl & I’m gonna make it to a second contract in the league.' "

“You did exactly what you said you would do,” DelPercio continued. “What a ridiculous privilege it is to watch every minute of this story & take part in it with you.”

So who is Chris Godwin's wife? Here's everything to know about Mariah DelPercio and her relationship with the NFL star.

She started dating Godwin in high school

Godwin and DelPercio met as teens at Middletown High School in Delaware. As they prepared for their 2021 wedding, DelPercio reminisced about the early days of the couple’s relationship in an Instagram Story post.

“I’m just having a moment because these two kids who used to fall asleep on the phone with each other every night before waking up to go to their freshman high school classes together are planning their wedding right now,” she recalled.

“This love & this life we’re building together will be the greatest thing we’ve ever built,” DelPercio added.

She and Godwin got married in 2021

A little over a year after Godwin proposed in Cape Town, South Africa, the couple got married in a Malibu ceremony in May 2021. Godwin posted a photo from the nuptials on Instagram along with a sweet note to his wife.

“Every day since freshman year of high school, when we were up & when we were down, you’ve been by my side," he wrote. "We push each other to be better & we support each other no matter what. There’s no better way to spend the rest of my life than with you!"

She is from a football family

Middletown High School won the 2007, 2011 and 2012 DIAA Division I state championships under Mariah's father, Mark. Among the DelPercio patriarch’s star players was Godwin. In fact, Godwin and Mark were on a visit to a football camp at the University of Delaware when the then 15-year-old asked the coach for permission to date his daughter.

Mariah’s two brothers, Vincent and Anthony, also played for their dad and with Godwin at Middletown. Vincent, a quarterback, graduated in 2016. All-State receiver Anthony graduated the following spring in 2017. Anthony maintains a close relationship with his brother-in-law whom he describes as an intense competitor during family game nights.

“Me and my sister … we like to talk in general, but then we like to talk our shit during games,” Anthony said in a 2021 interview with The Athletic. “If we’re winning, we’ll let you know that we’re winning. And Chris doesn’t like that.”

When Godwin fell behind, instead of getting angry, he mentally plotted how to catch up and ultimately win. “He’ll start to lock in,” Anthony explained. “His eyes are just laser-focused on everybody, watching everybody’s little move to see what he needs to do to beat everybody. You can see the gears shifting in his head, figuring out ways to beat people.”

She went to college in Pennsylvania

Godwin and DelPercio both enrolled at Penn State University after graduating from high school. According to her LinkedIn profile, Mariah majored in nutritional sciences with a focus on dietetics. It’s unclear when she completed the program, but Mariah also expressed interest in pursuing a dietetic internship and earning a Master's of Science post-graduation.

She is the co-founder of a foundation

After Godwin was drafted and they relocated to Tampa in early 2018, DelPercio started volunteering at the Humane Society of Tampa Bay, where she quickly developed a passion for animal rescue.

The Team Godwin Foundation, which Godwin and DelPercio co-founded, aims to spread awareness about the merits of dog adoption as well as spaying and neutering.

Godwin made the decision to support the cause after hearing about his wife's advocacy for animals.

“With the help of Mariah, Chris’ eyes were opened to the need for support, advocacy, compassion and financial assistance in the animal rescue community,” the couple shared on the foundation’s website. “He knew they could use their platforms to bring light to animal rescue and make a real difference. Chris’ love for rescue dogs has grown exponentially and he hopes Team Godwin Foundation grows to the same magnitude.”

She shares two pets with her husband

Godwin and his wife bought their pomeranian-husky mix, Ghost, in 2017. However, following DelPercio’s volunteer work at the Humane Society of Tampa Bay, the couple made the decision to adopt their next pet. Ziggy, their American Staffordshire Terrier, is a rescue who joined the family in 2018.

"Through [Mariah] being there and getting to see the work that gets put in and just the situation that a lot of these homeless dogs are in, and hearing the stories that she would tell me, we felt like that that was an area that we could come in and make a difference, and felt like there weren't really too many people that were focused on the homeless dog population," Godwin explained in a PEOPLE interview.

"And so many of us have dogs in our homes, and we understand the joy that comes with that,” he added. “So once we understood the problem, we knew from that point on that we would never buy a dog."

She is a fitness enthusiast

Despite coming from a family of athletes, DelPercio admitted she was “never good at sports growing up.” But a gym membership was her gateway to a passion for bodybuilding and a personal trainer certification. DelPercio’s commitment to wellness has become a bonding experience for her and Godwin.

“When my boyfriend and I first moved to Tampa, Florida, for Chris's training, his coaches were saying he had an unfair advantage, because he was married to a personal trainer,” she revealed in a profile with FRÉ skincare. “The truth is we love working out together. We motivate each other. There are so many couples where only one partner works out and the other sits at home. But for us, it’s so fun to push each other, motivate each other, and teach each other."

DelPercio added, “Fitness is such a big part of our lives, because it’s literally what we both do all day long. It’s cool that we can combine our two fitness worlds.”

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