Career Timeline of Jameis Winston: Major Achievements and Milestones

Discover the career path of Jameis Winston, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Jameis Lanaed Winston is an American football quarterback currently playing for the New York Giants. He achieved early success at Florida State University, winning the Heisman Trophy as the youngest player ever and leading the Seminoles to a BCS National Championship in 2014. Winston was then drafted first overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2015 NFL Draft.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

2012: Redshirt Season

In 2012, Jameis Winston redshirted during the college football season behind senior quarterback EJ Manuel.

December 14, 2013: Heisman Trophy Win

On December 14, 2013, Jameis Winston won the Heisman Trophy, becoming the youngest player to win the award at 19 years and 342 days old.

2013: Played Baseball at Florida State

In 2013, Jameis Winston played as an outfielder and pitcher for the Florida State Seminoles baseball team, batting .235 with a .723 on-base plus slugging.

2013: Named Starting Quarterback

Prior to the 2013 season, Jameis Winston was named Florida State's starting quarterback. In his college debut in 2013, he led his team to victory over the University of Pittsburgh.

January 6, 2014: BCS National Championship Victory and Offensive MVP

On January 6, 2014, Jameis Winston, on his 20th birthday, led Florida State to a 34-31 victory over Auburn in the 2014 BCS National Championship Game and was named the Offensive MVP.

2014: BCS National Championship Victory

In 2014, Jameis Winston led the Florida State Seminoles to victory in the BCS National Championship Game.

2014: Redshirt Sophomore Season

In 2014, Jameis Winston started 13 games during his redshirt sophomore season. He finished sixth in Heisman Trophy voting.

2014: Preseason All-American

Prior to the 2014 season, Jameis Winston was named a preseason All-American by Baseball America as a 3rd-team utility player.

May 1, 2015: Signed with Tampa Bay Buccaneers

On May 1, 2015, Jameis Winston signed a four-year, $23.35 million contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, including a $16.7 million signing bonus.

November 22, 2015: Tied Rookie and Franchise Record

On November 22, 2015, Jameis Winston tied an NFL rookie and Buccaneers franchise record with five touchdown passes against the Philadelphia Eagles.

2015: Rose Bowl Loss and NFL Draft Entry

After a loss in the 2015 Rose Bowl, Jameis Winston decided to enter the 2015 NFL draft, forgoing his remaining college eligibility.

2015: NFL Draft Entry

In 2015, Jameis Winston decided to forgo his remaining college eligibility and entered the NFL draft.

2015: NFL All-Rookie Team Selection

In 2015, Jameis Winston was named to the NFL All-Rookie Team and set multiple franchise rookie records for the Buccaneers.

2016: Breaking Buccaneers' Single-Season Passing Record

In 2016, Jameis Winston broke the Buccaneers' single-season franchise record for passing yards that he set previously, becoming the first quarterback in franchise history to pass for over 4,100 yards in a season.

2016: Breaking Franchise Record for Passing Touchdowns

In 2016, Jameis Winston broke the franchise record for passing touchdowns in a single season that he set previously, becoming the first quarterback in franchise history to throw 30 passing touchdowns in a single season.

2016: Pro Bowl Selection

In 2016, Jameis Winston was selected to his first Pro Bowl game after Tom Brady opted out, making him the first rookie quarterback in Buccaneers' history to be selected.

2017: Shoulder Injury and Altercation

In 2017, Jameis Winston suffered a sprained AC joint in his right shoulder and was later fined for an altercation with Saints rookie Marshon Lattimore. Despite the injury, he reached 10,000 career passing yards.

2017: Ranked 57th on NFL Top 100 Players

In 2017, Jameis Winston was ranked 57th by his peers on the NFL Top 100 Players after leading the Buccaneers to their first winning season in six years.

April 17, 2018: Fifth-Year Option Picked Up

On April 17, 2018, the Buccaneers picked up the fifth-year option on Jameis Winston's contract.

2018: Season Performance and Franchise Records

During the 2018 season, Jameis Winston broke the franchise record for passing touchdowns in a career and for completions in a career, but his performance was inconsistent, and he was benched at times.

2019: Passing Yards Record and Offensive Player of the Week

During the 2019 season, Jameis Winston broke the Buccaneers franchise record for passing yards in a career and was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week after a game against the Los Angeles Rams.

2019: League Leader in Passing Yards and Interceptions

During the 2019 season, Jameis Winston led the league in passing yards but also led in interceptions, setting an NFL record for interceptions returned for touchdowns that year.

April 28, 2020: Signing with the Saints

On April 28, 2020, Jameis Winston signed a one-year contract with the Saints with a value of $1.1 million including his base salary of $952,000 and a signing bonus of $148,000 with a possible $3.4 million in incentives.