As a true freshman at Minnesota in 2016, Winfield Jr. played in 12 games and made nine starts. During the season, he had 52 tackles, one interception and one fumble recovered for a touchdown.[4] He played in the first four games in 2017 before suffering an injury that caused him to miss the rest of the season.[5] He finished the season with 20 tackles and a sack. Winfield Jr. again played in only four games in 2018, recording 17 tackles and an interception.[6] He returned from the injuries in 2019 and was named a finalist for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy.[7][8] In the 2019 season, his seven interceptions led the Big Ten Conference.[9] After being named a first-team All American and Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year during the 2019 season, Winfield announced that he would forgo his final two years of eligibility and declared for the 2020 NFL draft.[10][11]
On July 29, 2020, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed Winfield to a four-year, $7.30 million contract that includes $3.81 million guaranteed and a signing bonus of $2.87 million.[15][16]
Throughout training camp, Winfield competed against veteran Mike Edwards to be the starting strong safety.[17] Head coach Bruce Arians named Winfield the starting strong safety to begin the regular season, alongside free safety Jordan Whitehead.[18]
He made his professional regular season debut in the Buccaneers' Week 1 season-opener during a 34–23 loss at the New Orleans Saints, recording six combined tackles (three solo) and a pass deflection.[19] The following week, Winfield started in the Buccaneers' Week 2 matchup against the Carolina Panthers and recorded 11 combined tackles (eight solo) and made his first career sack on Teddy Bridgewater, causing a fumble, that was ultimately recovered by linebacker Jason Pierre-Paul as they defeated the Carolina Panthers 31–17.[20] He was named the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month for September (23 total tackles, two pass deflections, two sacks, and a forced fumble from Weeks 1–3).[21] On October 25, 2020, Winfield made two combined tackles (one solo), a pass deflection, and had his first career interception after a pass by Derek Carr to wide receiver Nelson Agholor was broken up by safety Mike Edwards and caught by Winfield during the fourth quarter of a 45–20 win at the Las Vegas Raiders.[22] In Week 14, Winfield led the team with a season-high 12 combined tackles (ten solo) and had a sack on Kirk Cousins during a 26–14 win against the Minnesota Vikings.[23] He was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team.[24] He finished his rookie campaign in 2020 with a total of 94 combined tackles (64 solo), six pass deflections, three sacks, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and one interception while starting all 16 games.[25]
2020 NFL Playoffs
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers finished the 2020 NFL season second in the NFC South with an 11–5 record to earn a Wildcard spot. On January 9, 2021, Winfield started in his first career playoff appearance and recorded six combined tackles during a 31–23 victory at the Washington Football Team in the In the Wild Card Game.[26] On January 17, 2021, Winfield had six combined tackles (five solo) and forced a fumble by tight end Jared Cook that was recovered by Devin White as the Buccaneers earned a 30–20 victory at the New Orleans Saints in the Divisional Round.[27] During practice prior to the National Football Conference (NFC) Championship Winfield sustained an ankle injury and was subsequently inactive as the Buccaneers defeated the Green Bay Packers 31–26.
Super Bowl LV
On February 7, 2021, Winfield returned from injury and started in Super Bowl LV, recording six combined tackles (four solo) and intercepted a pass thrown by Patrick Mahomes as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 31–9 to earn Winfield his first Super Bowl ring.[28]
Defensive coordinator Todd Bowles retained Winfield and Jordan Whitehead as the starting safeties to begin the regular season in 2021. In Week 4, he recorded seven combined tackles (five solo), forced a fumble, deflected a pass, and had an interception during a 19–17 victory at the New England Patriots. He was sidelined for two games (Weeks 5–6) after suffering a concussion.[29] In Week 10, he collected a season-high 11 combined tackles (seven solo) and forced a fumble during a 19–29 loss at the Washington Football Team. Winfield was inactive for another two games (Weeks 15–16) after sustaining a liafranc sprain.[30]
Winfield Jr. (right) playing against the Washington Football Team in 2021.
He finished the 2021 NFL season with 88 combined tackles (62 solo), two sacks, six pass deflections, two interceptions, two forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries in 13 games and starts.[31] The Tampa Bay Buccaneers finished the 2021 NFL season with a 13–4 record and clinched a playoff berth atop the NFC South.
On January 16, 2022, Winfield recorded five combined tackles (three solo) and a sack on Jalen Hurts during a 31–15 victory against the Philadelphia Eagles in the Wild Card Game..[32] On January 23, 2022, Winfield recorded nine total tackles and a forced fumble, but gave up a key 44-yard reception to Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp late in the fourth quarter which put Rams kicker Matt Gay in range to convert a game winning 30-yard field goal, as the Rams defeated the Buccaneers 30–27 to eliminate them from the playoffs during the Divisional Round.[33]
On March 30, 2022, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers promoted defensive coordinator Todd Bowles to head coach after Bruce Arians retired and shifted to a senior football consultant role.[36] Winfield and Mike Edwards returned as the starting safeties to begin the season. On September 11, 2022, Winfield started in the Buccaneers' season-opener and made six combined tackles (five solo), deflected a pass, and intercepted a pass thrown by Dak Prescott to Noah Brown during a 19–3 victory at the Dallas Cowboys. He missed two consecutive games (Weeks 8–9) due to a concussion. Winfield was inactive for another two games (Weeks 13–14) after injuring his ankle. In Week 14, he racked up a season-high 13 combined tackles (ten solo) as the Buccaneers 17–30 lost at the Atlanta Falcons. He completed the 2022 NFL season with 80 combined tackles (64 solo), a career-high four sacks, one interception, three passes defended, and one forced fumble in 13 games and 13 starts.[37]
Head coach Todd Bowles named Winfield the starting free safety, alongside strong safety Keanu Neal to begin the regular season. On November 18, 2023, Winfield collected a career-high 16 combined tackles (ten solo) during a 27–14 loss at the San Francisco 49ers. In Week 13, Winfield recorded eight combined tackles (six solo), a career-high three pass deflections, one sack, and intercepted a pass by Bryce Young during a 21–18 win over the Carolina Panthers, earning NFC Defensive Player of the Week.[38] In Week 18, he recorded five tackles, one sack, and a touchdown-saving forced fumble in a 9–0 win over the Panthers, earning his second Player of the Week award of the season.[39] He finished the season with a career-high 122 combined tackles (76 solo), six sacks, three interceptions, 12 passes defended, six forced fumbles, and four fumble recoveries.[40]
On March 5, 2024, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers placed the franchise tag on Winfield that was an offer of one-year, $17.12 million.[41][16]
On May 13, 2024, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed Winfield to a four-year, $84.10 million contract extension that includes $45.00 million guaranteed upon signing and an initial signing bonus of $20.00 million, making him the highest paid defensive back in league history.[42][16]
He entered training camp projected to remain as the starting free safety. Head coach Todd Bowles chose Winfield to start alongside strong safety Jordan Whitehead to start the season.[43] Winfield injured his ankle and was sidelined for four consecutive games (Weeks 2–5).[44] On October 13, 2024, Winfield returned from his injury and made four solo tackles while also scoring a touchdown after Tykee Smith caused wide receiver Chris Olave to fumble leading to a recovery by Winfield and a 56-yard return as the Buccaneers routed the New Orleans Saints 51–27.[45] In Week 9, he collected a season-high 12 combined tackles (five solo) during a 30–24 loss at the Kansas City Chiefs. After injuring his ankle, Winfield would subsequently miss the last four games (Weeks 15–18) of the 2024 NFL season. He ended the season with a total of 60 combined tackles (34 solo), three pass deflections, two sacks, one fumble recovery, and a touchdown in nine games and nine starts.[46]
Winfield's father, Antoine Sr., played in the NFL for 14 seasons with the Buffalo Bills and the Minnesota Vikings.[47] Antoine Jr., was born in Columbus, Ohio while his father attended Ohio State University. His mother, Erniece Winfield, also attended Ohio State.[48][49]
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