What Happened to Jameis Lanaed Winston?
Jameis Winston is an American professional football quarterback who rose to prominence winning the Heisman Trophy and a national championship at Florida State. After being drafted first overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he led the league in passing yards in 2019 but also in interceptions. He has since played for the New Orleans Saints, Cleveland Browns, and is currently a backup quarterback for the New York Giants, while also developing a burgeoning career as a FOX Sports correspondent for events like the FIFA World Cup.
Quick Answer
Jameis Winston is currently a backup quarterback for the New York Giants, having signed a two-year deal in March 2025. In the 2024 season, he played for the Cleveland Browns, stepping in as a starter due to injury. Beyond football, Winston has embarked on a career as a FOX Sports correspondent, notably covering the FIFA World Cup in 2026.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline13 events
Wins Heisman Trophy and BCS National Championship
As a freshman at Florida State, Winston became the youngest player to win the Heisman Trophy and led his team to victory in the 2014 BCS National Championship Game.
Drafted 1st Overall by Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Winston was selected as the first overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Named Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year and Pro Bowler
In his rookie season, Winston set several franchise rookie records for the Buccaneers, earning him Pro Bowl honors and the Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year award.
Leads NFL in Passing Yards and Interceptions
Winston led the NFL with 5,109 passing yards and 33 touchdowns but also set an NFL record with 30 interceptions and seven interceptions returned for touchdowns.
Signs with New Orleans Saints
After his rookie contract with the Buccaneers expired, Winston signed a one-year contract with the New Orleans Saints, initially serving as a backup.
Named Saints Starting Quarterback
Winston was named the starting quarterback for the New Orleans Saints over Taysom Hill after Drew Brees' retirement.
Suffers Season-Ending ACL/MCL Tear
Winston's 2021 season was cut short in Week 8 after suffering a torn ACL and MCL against his former team, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Signs with Cleveland Browns
Winston signed a one-year deal with the Cleveland Browns to serve as the backup quarterback to Deshaun Watson.
Starts for Browns after Watson's Injury
After Deshaun Watson suffered a season-ending Achilles tear, Winston took over as the starting quarterback for the Browns, leading them to a 29-24 victory over the Baltimore Ravens in his first start.
Sets Browns Franchise Record for Passing Yards in a Game
Winston threw for 497 yards in a game against the Denver Broncos, surpassing Josh McCown's record for most passing yards in a single game for the Browns.
Signs Two-Year Deal with New York Giants
Winston signed a two-year, $8 million contract with the New York Giants, joining their quarterback room.
Named Giants Starting Quarterback for Week 11
Winston was named the starting quarterback for the Giants' Week 11 matchup against the Green Bay Packers after Jaxson Dart suffered a concussion and Russell Wilson was demoted.
Works as FOX Sports FIFA World Cup Correspondent
Winston is actively serving as a FOX Sports correspondent for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, gaining attention for his engaging personality and interactions with fans.
🔍Deep Dive Analysis
Jameis Winston's football journey began with immense promise at Florida State University, where he became the youngest player to win the Heisman Trophy in 2013 and led the Seminoles to a BCS National Championship. His collegiate success positioned him as the first overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
His tenure with the Buccaneers was marked by both flashes of brilliance and significant turnover issues. He set numerous franchise rookie records and led the league in passing yards in 2019 with 5,109 yards and 33 touchdowns. However, that same season, he also set an NFL record for interceptions returned for touchdowns and led the league with 30 interceptions, ultimately leading to his departure from Tampa Bay after the 2019 season.
In 2020, Winston signed with the New Orleans Saints, initially serving as a backup to Drew Brees. He earned the starting role in 2021 but suffered a season-ending ACL and MCL tear in Week 8. He re-signed with the Saints in 2022 and 2023, primarily serving as a backup due to injuries and the team acquiring Derek Carr.
The 2024 season saw Winston sign a one-year, $4 million deal with the Cleveland Browns to back up Deshaun Watson. When Watson suffered an Achilles tear in Week 7, Winston stepped in as the starter, leading the Browns to a 2-2 record in his first four starts and throwing for 334 yards and three touchdowns in his debut against the Baltimore Ravens. He even set a Browns franchise record with 497 passing yards in a loss to the Denver Broncos. However, his starting stint was eventually cut short, and the Browns turned to another quarterback later in the season.
As of March 2025, Winston signed a two-year, $8 million deal with the New York Giants. He began the 2025 season as the third-string quarterback behind Russell Wilson and rookie Jaxson Dart but was named the starter for Week 11 after Dart suffered a concussion and Wilson was demoted. Heading into the 2026 season, Winston remains with the Giants as a premium backup to Jaxson Dart, providing a veteran presence and leadership in the locker room. In a notable development outside of football, Winston has also cultivated a career as a FOX Sports correspondent, covering events such as the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where his personality and post-game gestures garnered significant attention.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Jameis Lanaed Winston made different choices?