ABAB Pedia

Jameis Winston

Jameis Winston (born January 6, 1994) is an American professional football quarterback for the NFL’s New York Giants. He won the 2013 Heisman Trophy and a national championship at Florida State before becoming the first overall pick in the 2015 NFL draft. He previously played for Tampa Bay, New Orleans and Cleveland and founded the Dream Forever Foundation for youth education and sports programs.

Contents31 sections
Key facts

Birth and Family

Jameis Winston was born in Bessemer, Alabama, to Antonor and Loretta Winston.⁠[1][2]

High School: Football and Baseball

He attended Hueytown High School, playing football and baseball, and was named Alabama’s Gatorade Football Player of the Year in 2011.⁠[1]

Entering Florida State

He entered Florida State University and redshirted his first football season. The Texas Rangers selected him in the 15th round of that year’s MLB draft, but he did not sign.⁠[1][2]

Winning the Heisman Trophy

He became Florida State’s third Heisman Trophy winner. At 19 years and 342 days, he was the youngest recipient at that time.⁠[1]

Winning the National Championship

He led Florida State past Auburn for the 2013 season’s BCS national championship and was named the game’s offensive MVP. He finished that season with 4,057 passing yards and 40 touchdown passes.⁠[3][2]

Civil Citation and Baseball Suspension

He received an adult civil citation for taking supermarket seafood without paying and was suspended from the university’s baseball team, with 20 hours of community service required. The report specifies that he was not arrested in this incident.⁠[4]

College Baseball and Football

In baseball, he made 24 relief appearances with a 1.08 ERA and seven saves. In football, he helped the team reach the inaugural College Football Playoff; across his two college football seasons, he passed for 7,964 yards and 65 touchdowns.⁠[2][5]

Suspension for Campus Conduct

He was disciplined for shouting an obscene phrase on campus. The university expanded his initial half-game suspension to the entire Clemson game, and he publicly apologized for his conduct.⁠[6]

Student-conduct Ruling

A student accused him of sexual assault in 2012; he denied the allegation. Prosecutors filed no criminal charges in 2013, and the university’s 2014 conduct proceedings did not find him responsible for the alleged violations.⁠[7]

First Overall NFL Draft Pick

After declaring for the NFL draft in January, he was selected first overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and signed his contract on May 1.⁠[8]

Pro Bowl Selection

Following a rookie season with 4,042 passing yards and 22 touchdown passes, he replaced Tom Brady on the 2016 Pro Bowl roster, becoming the first Buccaneers rookie quarterback selected.⁠[9]

Civil Settlement

He settled his accuser’s civil lawsuit.⁠[10]

NFL Suspension

The NFL suspended him for three games for misconduct.⁠[11]

Settlement with a Rideshare Driver

An Uber driver accused him of inappropriate physical contact during a 2016 ride, the incident behind his early-season suspension. A November report stated that court filings recorded a settlement agreement between them; its terms were not disclosed.⁠[12]

Supporting Youth Education

He hosted A Night to Achieve Dreams to support the Dream Forever Foundation. Its Dream Rooms program provides technology-learning spaces in schools, beginning at Alexander Elementary School in Tampa.⁠[13]

Leading the League in Passing Yards

He led the NFL with 5,109 passing yards that season, recording 33 touchdown passes and 30 interceptions.⁠[14][15]

Joining the New Orleans Saints

He signed a one-year contract with the New Orleans Saints after five seasons in Tampa Bay. He served as a backup in 2020 and earned the starting role in 2021.⁠[16][17]

Knee Injury

He left the game against Tampa Bay with a knee injury. The next day, coach Sean Payton confirmed a torn anterior cruciate ligament and damage to the medial collateral ligament.⁠[17]

Completing His Degree

Seven years after leaving for the NFL, he completed his Florida State degree in social sciences with a minor in business. His team biography records that he resumed study online after his injury.⁠[18][19]

Signing with Cleveland

He signed a one-year contract with the Cleveland Browns, joining their quarterback group.⁠[20]

Browns Single-game Passing Record

Against Denver, he set a Browns record with 497 passing yards and threw four touchdowns. He also threw three interceptions, two returned for touchdowns, as Cleveland lost 41–32.⁠[21]

Joining the New York Giants

He signed with the New York Giants as a free agent, following spells with the Buccaneers, Saints and Browns.⁠[19]

Florida State Athletics Hall of Fame

Florida State inducted him into its 2025 athletics Hall of Fame, recognizing his national championship, Heisman Trophy and college performance.⁠[5]

Catching a Touchdown Pass

Against Detroit, he caught a 33-yard touchdown pass from receiver Gunner Olszewski, becoming the first Giants quarterback to catch a touchdown pass since at least 1940.⁠[19]

School of Hard Knocks Interview Published

In the channel’s New York street interview, he recalled earning about $25 million in his draft year and initially living on endorsement income while preserving his playing salary. He discussed faith, gratitude and his father’s emphasis on education and persistence. The original video, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmDeNuTUetE (opens in a new window), features him from approximately 13:16; the income figure is his own account.⁠[22]

World Cup Correspondent

He served as a FOX Sports World Cup correspondent.⁠[23]

Giants Contract Extension

The Giants announced a two-year extension, keeping him under contract through 2028.⁠[24]

Named the Starting Quarterback

The Giants announced that Winston would start after Jaxson Dart’s knee injury ruled him out for the rest of the regular season. Coach John Harbaugh said the offense would be planned around Winston’s strengths.⁠[25]

Family and Community Work

He and his wife, Breion Allen, have two children. His Dream Forever Foundation works with financially disadvantaged young people through technology education, mentoring, leadership activities and football camps.⁠[19][26]

Public Accounts and Programs

Sources

  1. Jameis Winston — Heisman Winner (opens in a new window)
  2. Jameis Winston — 2014 Baseball Roster (opens in a new window)
  3. Florida State’s Resurgent 2013 Championship Season (opens in a new window)
  4. Heisman Trophy Winner Jameis Winston Cited for Shoplifting (opens in a new window)
  5. Jameis Winston — Florida State Athletics Hall of Fame, 2025 (opens in a new window)
  6. Florida State Suspends Jameis Winston for Entire Clemson Game (opens in a new window)
  7. Florida State Quarterback Jameis Winston Cleared in Code of Conduct Case (opens in a new window)
  8. Timeline: Jameis Winston’s Offseason (opens in a new window)
  9. Jameis Winston Headed to Pro Bowl! (opens in a new window)
  10. Jameis Winston, Sexual Assault Accuser Settle Federal Lawsuit (opens in a new window)
  11. Buccaneers’ Jameis Winston Suspended Three Games (opens in a new window)
  12. Report: Buccaneers’ Jameis Winston Reaches Settlement with Uber Driver (opens in a new window)
  13. A Night to Achieve Dreams Personal for Bucs Jameis Winston (opens in a new window)
  14. 2019 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Season (opens in a new window)
  15. Jameis Winston’s 2019 Year in Review (opens in a new window)
  16. Caroline Gonzalez and John DeShazier Break Down the Jameis Winston Signing (opens in a new window)
  17. Jameis Winston Tore Knee Ligaments During New Orleans Saints Victory over Tampa Bay (opens in a new window)
  18. New Orleans Saints Quarterback Jameis Winston Graduates from Florida State University (opens in a new window)
  19. Jameis Winston — New York Giants Player Biography (opens in a new window)
  20. Browns Sign QB Jameis Winston (opens in a new window)
  21. McMillian’s Pick-6 Helps Broncos Spoil Career Nights by Winston and Jeudy (opens in a new window)
  22. Asking NY Billionaires How They Got Rich! (opens in a new window)
  23. Jameis Winston Joins FOX Sports for 2026 World Cup (opens in a new window)
  24. QB Jameis Winston, OL Jon Runyan Jr. Sign 2-year Extensions (opens in a new window)
  25. Jaxson Dart to Miss Rest of Regular Season; Jameis Winston to Start (opens in a new window)
  26. Dream Forever Foundation (opens in a new window)
  27. Jameis Winston (@Jaboowins) — X (opens in a new window)
  28. Jameis Winston — YouTube (opens in a new window)
  29. About — Jameis Winston (opens in a new window)