History of Jameis Winston in Timeline
Jameis Winston is an American football quarterback currently playing for the Cleveland Browns. His impressive college career at Florida State University included winning the Heisman Trophy at the youngest age ever and leading his team to victory in the 2014 BCS National Championship Game as a freshman. He was drafted first overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2015 after his sophomore year.
1974: Tom Owen's All-Rookie Team Selection
Tom Owen was selected to the NFL All-Rookie Team in 1974.
1978: Doug Williams' All-Rookie Team Selection
Doug Williams was selected to the NFL All-Rookie Team in 1978.
1991: Brett Favre's Interception in Debut
In 1991, Brett Favre's first pass as a rookie was intercepted and returned for a touchdown, marking the first instance of this occurrence since 1991.
January 6, 1994: Jameis Winston's Birth
Jameis Winston was born on January 6, 1994.
February 3, 2012: Commitment to Florida State University
Jameis Winston committed to Florida State University on February 3, 2012.
December 7, 2012: Sexual Assault Complaint Filed
A sexual assault complaint was filed against Jameis Winston with the Tallahassee Police Department on December 7, 2012.
2012: Josh Freeman's Franchise Passing Record
In 2012, Josh Freeman set the Tampa Bay Buccaneers franchise record for passing yards in a season.
2012: Redshirting Season
Jameis Winston redshirted during the 2012 college football season.
February 2013: Complaint Classified as Open/Inactive
The sexual assault complaint against Winston was initially classified as open/inactive in February 2013, with no charges being filed. The Tallahassee police stated this was due to the accuser breaking off contact with them.
July 2013: Winston Accused of Stealing Soda
In July 2013, a Burger King employee reported Jameis Winston to the police for allegedly stealing soda by using ketchup cups and repeatedly filling a water cup despite being asked to stop.
November 14, 2013: Sexual Assault Investigation Opened
On November 14, 2013, an investigation was opened into a sexual assault allegation against Jameis Winston, originally filed on December 7, 2012.
November 2013: DNA Evidence Collected
In November 2013, a DNA sample was taken from Jameis Winston and was found to match DNA evidence collected from the accuser's underwear.
December 5, 2013: No Charges Filed
State Attorney Willie Meggs announced on December 5, 2013 that no charges would be filed against Winston in the sexual assault case, citing inconsistencies in the accuser's testimony.
December 14, 2013: Heisman Trophy Win
On December 14, 2013, Jameis Winston won the Heisman Trophy, becoming the second freshman and the youngest player to receive the award at the age of 19.
2013: Mike Glennon's All-Rookie Team Selection
Mike Glennon was selected to the NFL All-Rookie Team in 2013.
2013: Freshman Baseball Season
As a freshman in 2013, Jameis Winston played baseball for the Florida State Seminoles, batting .235 with a .723 on-base plus slugging in 119 at-bats. He also pitched, recording a 3.00 earned run average in 27 innings.
2013: College Debut
Jameis Winston made his college debut in 2013, showcasing a strong performance with 25 completions out of 27 passes, four passing touchdowns, and a rushing touchdown, leading his team to a 41-17 victory.
January 6, 2014: BCS National Championship Game Victory and 20th Birthday
On his 20th birthday, January 6, 2014, Jameis Winston led Florida State to a 34-31 victory over Auburn in the BCS National Championship Game, securing the Offensive MVP title with 235 passing yards, two touchdowns, including the game-winning pass.
April 2014: Accuser Files Civil Suit
Winston's accuser filed a civil suit against him in April 2014.
April 16, 2014: New York Times Reports Irregularities in Winston Investigation
On April 16, 2014, The New York Times published a report highlighting irregularities in the sexual assault investigation involving Jameis Winston, including delayed DNA testing and potential conflicts of interest with the investigating officer.
April 29, 2014: Winston Cited for Shoplifting Crab Legs
Jameis Winston was issued an adult civil citation for shoplifting crab legs from a Tallahassee Publix store on April 29, 2014, resulting in community service and a suspension from college baseball activities.
May 2014: Winston Countersues for Defamation
Jameis Winston countersued his accuser for defamation and tortious interference in May 2014.
September 17, 2014: Winston Suspended for Shouting Offensive Phrase
On September 17, 2014, Jameis Winston was suspended for the first half of Florida State's upcoming game against Clemson for shouting an offensive phrase, "Fuck her right in the pussy", while standing on a table at the Florida State University's Student Union.
December 21, 2014: Winston Cleared of Student Conduct Code Violation
On December 21, 2014, Jameis Winston was cleared of violating the student conduct code in the sexual assault allegation against him by retired Florida Supreme Court Justice Major B. Harding.
2014: BCS National Championship Victory
Jameis Winston led the Florida State Seminoles to victory in the 2014 BCS National Championship Game.
2014: Preseason All-American Recognition
In 2014, Jameis Winston received preseason All-American recognition from Baseball America, being named to the 3rd-team as a utility player.
2014: Redshirt Sophomore Season and Heisman Trophy Voting
During his redshirt sophomore season in 2014, Winston started in 13 games, missing one due to suspension. He concluded the season with a conference-leading 3,907 passing yards and 25 touchdowns, ultimately securing sixth place in the Heisman Trophy voting.
May 1, 2015: Signing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
On May 1, 2015, Jameis Winston signed a four-year, $23.35 million contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, which included a $16.7 million signing bonus. This contract restricted him from participating in any other sport besides football.
September 2015: Court Dismisses Tortious Interference Claim
In September 2015, a federal judge dismissed Winston's tortious interference claim against his accuser but allowed his defamation claim to proceed.
November 2015: Winston Threatens Suit Over Documentary
In November 2015, Jameis Winston threatened to sue CNN if they aired "The Hunting Ground", a documentary that included allegations against him.
November 22, 2015: Five Touchdown Passes
On November 22, 2015, Jameis Winston tied an NFL rookie record, and Buccaneers franchise record, by throwing five touchdown passes in a game against the Philadelphia Eagles.
2015: Record-Setting Rookie Season and All-Rookie Team Selection
Jameis Winston concluded his rookie season in 2015 with franchise records in pass attempts, pass completions, passing yards, and passing touchdowns. He fell 23 yards short of Josh Freeman's franchise record set in 2012. Winston also became the third rookie quarterback to surpass 4,000 passing yards in a single season and was named to the NFL All-Rookie Team, the fourth Buccaneers quarterback to receive this honor.
2015: NFL Draft Selection
Jameis Winston was selected first overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2015 NFL draft.
2015: Rose Bowl Appearance and Only Loss as a Starter
In 2015, Jameis Winston and the Seminoles played in the Rose Bowl, a College Football Playoff semifinal game, where they faced a 59-20 loss to Oregon, marking Winston's sole defeat as a starter during his college career.
2015: Entry into the 2015 NFL Draft
After the 2014 season, Jameis Winston decided to enter the 2015 NFL draft, forgoing his remaining two years of college eligibility.
December 2016: Civil Claims Settled Out of Court
In December 2016, the civil claims between Jameis Winston and his accuser were settled out of court, months before the case was scheduled to go to trial.
2016: Florida State University Settles Title IX Lawsuit
In 2016, Florida State University paid $950,000 to settle a Title IX lawsuit filed by Winston's accuser, who alleged that the university mishandled her complaint. FSU also agreed to implement sexual awareness programs for five years without admitting liability.
2016: Jameis Winston's Record-Breaking Season
In 2016, Jameis Winston had a record-breaking season for the Buccaneers. He became the first quarterback in franchise history to pass for 100 touchdowns in a career and broke the franchise record for career passing attempts. However, he also threw a career-high five interceptions in a game against the Panthers. Despite some setbacks, he led the Buccaneers to a victory over the Cardinals and continued to break franchise records throughout the season.
2016: Alleged Groping Incident Involving Winston
In 2016, Jameis Winston was accused of groping a female Uber driver while his former teammate, Ronald Darby, was also present in the vehicle. Darby defended Winston against these accusations, but the NFL investigation found evidence supporting the Uber driver's claims.
2016: Historic Achievements and a Difficult Finish
Jameis Winston made history in 2016, becoming the first quarterback in NFL history with consecutive games of 450 passing yards. He broke several franchise records for the Buccaneers, including most passing touchdowns in a single season and passing yards in a season. He also became the eighth quarterback in NFL history to throw for 5,000 yards in a single season, a first for a Buccaneers quarterback. However, the season ended on a sour note with a game-ending interception in overtime against the Falcons. Despite his achievements, Winston also threw 30 interceptions, a record for a quarterback with at least 30 touchdowns in a season.
2016: First Pro Bowl Selection
Jameis Winston was selected to his first Pro Bowl in 2016, following Tom Brady's decision to withdraw after the AFC Championship game. This made Winston the first rookie quarterback in Buccaneers history to receive this honor.
November 17, 2017: NFL Investigates Groping Allegation Against Winston
On November 17, 2017, news broke about an NFL investigation into an alleged groping incident involving Jameis Winston and a female Uber driver in 2016. The investigation, which concluded in June 2018, found that Winston touched the driver inappropriately without her consent, leading to a three-game suspension at the start of the 2018 season.
2017: Jameis Winston's Shoulder Injury and Suspension
During the 2017 season, Jameis Winston suffered a shoulder injury that sidelined him for several games. He also faced controversy for an altercation with a Saints player, resulting in a fine. While he achieved the milestone of reaching 10,000 passing yards, the Buccaneers ended the season with a disappointing 5-11 record.
2017: Jameis Winston's Second Season with the Buccaneers
In 2017, Jameis Winston started his second season with the Buccaneers strong, winning NFC Offensive Player of the Week for his performance in Week 1. Despite mid-season struggles, including injuries and a three-game losing streak, the team managed to turn things around and achieve a five-game winning streak. This marked their first such streak since their Super Bowl win. Ultimately, despite a winning season, they missed the playoffs due to a tiebreaker with the Detroit Lions.
April 17, 2018: Buccaneers Pick Up Winston's Contract Option and Suspension
On April 17, 2018, the Buccaneers showed their faith in Jameis Winston by picking up the fifth-year option on his contract. However, this was followed by a three-game suspension announced in June for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy. This stemmed from an incident where he was accused of groping a female Uber driver.
2018: Jameis Winston's Return From Suspension and Franchise Records
Jameis Winston's 2018 season began with a three-game suspension. Upon returning, he faced ups and downs, including being benched at times. However, he managed to break the Buccaneers' franchise record for passing touchdowns in a career. He also set a new franchise record for completions in a career, surpassing Josh Freeman's previous mark. Despite these accomplishments, the Buccaneers struggled with inconsistency.
2018: Winston Suspended for Three Games
Following an NFL investigation into a 2016 groping allegation, Jameis Winston was suspended for the first three games of the 2018 season. The investigation found evidence supporting the Uber driver's account that Winston had touched her inappropriately without her consent.
2019: Leading the League in Passing Yards and Interceptions
Jameis Winston led the NFL in passing yards but also in interceptions during the 2019 season. Notably, he set the NFL season record for interceptions returned for touchdowns.
2019: New Coach, Franchise Records, and Inconsistent Performances
The 2019 season brought a new coach for the Buccaneers, Bruce Arians. Jameis Winston continued his trend of breaking franchise records, this time surpassing Vinny Testaverde for career passing yards. However, his performance remained inconsistent, with a mix of strong outings and games plagued by interceptions. Notably, he earned NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors after a strong performance against the Rams in Week 4.
2019: Winston Plays Through Injuries
Throughout the 2019 season, Jameis Winston played despite dealing with a knee injury and a broken thumb.
February 28, 2020: Winston Undergoes Surgeries, Departs Buccaneers
On February 28, 2020, it was revealed that Jameis Winston had undergone surgery to repair a torn meniscus and had also undergone LASIK surgery. It was also revealed that he had been playing through a knee injury and a broken thumb for the entire 2019 season. The Buccaneers chose not to re-sign Winston, replacing him with Tom Brady.
March 27, 2020: Winston Marries Breion Allen
Jameis Winston married Breion Allen in a private ceremony at their home on March 27, 2020.
April 28, 2020: Winston Signs With Saints
Jameis Winston signed a one-year, $1.1 million contract with the New Orleans Saints on April 28, 2020.
December 20, 2020: Winston Placed on COVID-19 List
Jameis Winston was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list on December 20, 2020, before being reactivated four days later.
March 15, 2021: Winston Re-Signs With Saints
Jameis Winston re-signed with the New Orleans Saints on March 15, 2021, for a one-year, $12 million deal.
August 27, 2021: Winston Named Saints Starting Quarterback
Jameis Winston was named the starting quarterback for the Saints on August 27, 2021.
March 21, 2022: Winston Extends Contract with Saints
On March 21, 2022, Jameis Winston signed a two-year, $28 million contract extension with the New Orleans Saints.
March 14, 2023: Winston Re-Signs With Saints, Limited Appearances
On March 14, 2023, Jameis Winston re-signed with the Saints but only appeared in seven games, playing significantly in only two.
March 20, 2024: Winston Signs with Browns
Jameis Winston signed a one-year contract with the Cleveland Browns on March 20, 2024.