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 Winston is an American football quarterback. He achieved early success at Florida State University, winning the Heisman Trophy as a freshman and leading his team to a national championship. Winston was drafted first overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2015.

Sections (5)

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

2012: Redshirted During College Football Season

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

December 14, 2013: Won the Heisman Trophy

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. He was only the second freshman to win the award.

2013: Played Baseball for Florida State

In 2013, Jameis Winston played baseball as an outfielder and pitcher for the Florida State Seminoles, batting .235 with a .723 on-base plus slugging in 119 at-bats and a 3.00 earned run average in 27 innings pitched.

2013: Named Starting Quarterback for Florida State

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 a victory over the University of Pittsburgh.

January 6, 2014: Florida State defeated Auburn in the 2014 BCS National Championship Game

On January 6, 2014, Jameis Winston's 20th birthday, Florida State defeated Auburn 34–31 in the 2014 BCS National Championship Game. Winston was named the Offensive MVP of the game.

2014: Finished Sixth in Heisman Trophy Voting

In 2014, Jameis Winston finished his redshirt sophomore season and finished in sixth place in the Heisman Trophy voting.

2014: BCS National Championship Victory

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

2014: Named Preseason All-American in Baseball

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 the 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 NFL Rookie Record with Five Touchdown Passes

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

2015: Seminoles Played in the 2015 Rose Bowl

After a 13-0 regular season, the Seminoles played in the 2015 Rose Bowl against Oregon. Oregon won the game 59-20 giving Winston his only loss as a starter during his college career.

2015: Entered the NFL Draft

After the 2015 season, Jameis Winston decided to forgo his remaining two years of eligibility and enter the 2015 NFL draft.

2015: Set Franchise Rookie Records

In 2015, Jameis Winston set franchise rookie records in pass attempts, pass completions, passing yards, and passing touchdowns. He was named to the NFL All-Rookie Team for his 2015 season.

2015: Selected First Overall in NFL Draft

In 2015, Jameis Winston was selected first overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFL draft.

2016: Broke Buccaneers' single-season franchise record

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

2016: Broke franchise record for passing touchdowns in a single season

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

2016: Selected to First Pro Bowl Game

In 2016, Jameis Winston was selected to his first Pro Bowl game after Tom Brady elected not to participate, making him the first rookie quarterback in Buccaneers' history to be selected.

2017: Ranked 57th on NFL Top 100 Players

Jameis Winston was ranked 57th by his peers on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2017.

April 17, 2018: Buccaneers Picked Up Fifth-Year Option

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

2018: Played Various Games

In 2018, Jameis Winston played in various games, achieving both highs and lows in his performance. He returned after a suspension, had games with multiple touchdowns and interceptions, and broke the franchise record for passing touchdowns in a career.

2019: Led the League 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 in a season.

2019: Broke Franchise Record for Passing Yards

In 2019, Jameis Winston broke the Buccaneers franchise record for passing yards in a career, but also had games with multiple interceptions. After week 3 loss, Winston passed for 380 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception.

April 28, 2020: Signed with the Saints

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

March 15, 2021: Re-signed with the Saints

On March 15, 2021, Jameis Winston re-signed with the Saints on a one-year deal worth $12 million.

August 27, 2021: Named starting quarterback for the Saints

On August 27, 2021, Jameis Winston was named the starting quarterback for the Saints, taking over from Taysom Hill.

March 21, 2022: Signed contract extension with the Saints

On March 21, 2022, Jameis Winston signed a two-year, $28 million contract extension with the Saints.

March 14, 2023: Re-signed with the Saints

On March 14, 2023, Jameis Winston re-signed with the Saints and appeared in seven games, contributing significantly in two, passing for two touchdowns and three interceptions on the season.