Antoine Winfield Jr.

ACQUIRED BY BUCS:

Selected in the second round (45th overall) of the 2020 NFL Draft by the Buccaneers.

ACQUIRED BY BUCS:

Selected in the second round (45th overall) of the 2020 NFL Draft by the Buccaneers.

AWARDS & ACCOLADES:

Super Bowl LV Champion.

2021 Pro Bowl Selection

2023 AP First-Team All-Pro Selection

2023 Pro Football Focus First-Team All-Pro

2023 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Walter Payton Man of the Year Award Nominee

1x NFC Defensive Player of the Month (December/January, 2023)

2x NFC Defensive Player of the Week (Week 13, 2023; Week 18, 2023)

NFC Defensive Rookie Of The Month (September 2020)

PFWA All-Rookie Team Selection

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:

Has started all 59 regular season games he has played in, totaling 381 tackles (18 for loss), 27 passes defensed, 21 quarterback hits, 15.0 sacks, 11 forced fumbles, eight fumble recoveries and seven interceptions (returned 89 yards).

Started all eight postseason contests he has played in, recording 44 tackles (three for loss), three quarterback hits, three passes defensed, one interception, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.

Since entering the league in 2020, Winfield has five strip-sacks, the most by a defensive back during that span, and his 15.0 sacks since 2020 are the most by any defensive back during that span.

Winfield's 21 quarterback hits since the beginning of the 2020 season are second-most among defensive backs over that span.

Is one of two defensive backs since 2000 to record two-or-more sacks, two-or-more passes defensed and one- or-more forced fumble in each of their first three seasons (Also, Jamal Adams).

His 15.0 sacks rank second all-time in franchise history for sacks by a defensive back and are the most by a safety.

In 2023, joined Pro Football Hall of Famer Brian Dawkins (2002) as the only defensive backs with 3.0+ sacks, 3+ forced fumbles and 3+ fumble recoveries in a single season since 2000.

In 2023, became the first defensive back since data became available (1999) with 5.0+ sacks and five-or-more forced fumbles in a single season.

In 2023, became 1-of-4 players since 2000 with 5.0+ sacks, five-or-more takeaways and five-or-more forced fumbles in a single season, joining T.J. Watt (2019), Justin Tuck (2010) and Terrell Suggs (2003).

Since data became available (1999), Winfield's 2023 season marked the first time a player has put forth a season with 100-or-more tackles and at least three sacks, interceptions, forced fumbles and fumble recoveries.

Tampa Bay's 2020 defense led the league in rushing yards allowed per game (80.6) and yards allowed per rush (3.60), while ranking sixth in yards allowed per play (5.12), sixth in yards allowed per game (327.1), ranking tied for second in tackles for loss (91), tied for fourth in sacks (48.0) and tied for fifth in takeaways (25).

Among NFL rookies in 2020, ranked fifth in tackles (91), tied for third in sacks (3.0), tied for fifth in passes defensed (six), tied for fifth in forced fumbles (two), tied for sixth in fumble recoveries and tied for eighth in interceptions (one).

Winfield - who recorded an interception in Super Bowl LV - became just the seventh rookie or first-year player in NFL history to record an interception in the Super Bowl and the first since Malcolm Butler in Super Bowl XLIX.

Notched first career interception at Las Vegas (10/25/20).

Tallied a career-high 11 tackles against Carolina (9/20/20). Later matched vs. Minnesota (12/13/20).

Recorded first career sack and forced fumble against Carolina (9/20/20).

Started in NFL debut at New Orleans (9/13/20).

2023 HIGHLIGHTS:

Was named a team captain for the 2023 season.

Amassed 122 tackles (six for loss), 12 passes defensed, eight quarterback hits, 6.0 sacks, six forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries and three interceptions.

Finished the year with a share of the league lead in both forced fumbles and fumble recoveries, joining Haason Reddick (2022) as the only players to accomplish that feat since at least 2000.

Among defensive backs in 2023, Winfield Jr. finished first in sacks (6.0), first in forced fumbles (six), first in fumble recoveries (four), tied for third in takeaways (seven) and third in quarterback hits (eight).

Winfield Jr. earned a 91.2 grade from Pro Football Focus in 2023, putting him as the league's highest graded safety.

In the Week 1 victory at Minnesota, finished with eight tackles, 1.0 sack, two quarterback hits, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one pass defensed.

In Week 1, logged a strip sack of Kirk Cousins to record his 10th career sack, which are most by a safety in franchise history and most by a defensive back since he entered the league in 2020.

With his performance in Week 1, he became the first defensive back to record a sack, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in the same game since Jamal Adams did so on Nov. 10, 2019 vs. the N.Y. Giants.

He was the only NFC defensive back with a sack in Week 1 and the only NFC defensive back with multiple quarterback hits.

In the Week 2 victory over Chicago, played all 53 defensive snaps and finished with three tackles and a then-career-high two passes defensed.

Played all 78 defensive snaps in Week 4 vs. Philadelphia, finishing with 11 tackles.

In the Week 4 victory at New Orleans, played all 65 defensive snaps and finished with nine tackles (two for loss), 1.0 sack, one quarterback hit, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one pass defensed. He became the first person to record such a stat line since Bobby Wagner in 2018.

Through five weeks,Winfield had become the first player since Justin Houston in 2018 to record multiple games in a single season with five-or-more tackles, at least 1.0 sack, plus a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

According to Pro Football Focus, Winfield was Tampa Bay's highest graded defender in Week 4, logging a 91.6 grade.

In Week 6 vs. Detroit, played all 70 defensive snaps and finished with four tackles.

In Week 7 vs. Atlanta, played 64-of-65 defensive snaps and finished with seven tackles, one pass defensed and one forced fumble.

Winfield's forced fumble in Week 7 came when he punched the ball out of Falcons QB Desmond Ridder's hand at the 1-yard line, resulting in a touchback after the ball bounced through the end zone.

Winfield's forced fumble in Week 7 was his third fumble of the season, establishing a new career high and at the time tied for the most in the NFL in 2023.

Through Week 7, Winfield's eight career forced fumbles were tied for second most among defensive backs over that span.

In Week 8 at Buffalo, played all 69 defensive snaps and finished with four tackles and one pass defensed.

Played all 72 defensive snaps in Week 9 at Houston, finishing with three tackles and one fumble recovery.

According to Pro Football Focus, was Tampa Bay's highest-graded defensive starter in Week 9, earning a 73.1 grade.

Winfield's fumble recovery in Week 9 was his third of the season, tied for most in the NFL at the time.

In the Week 10 victory over Tennessee, played all 63 defensive snaps and finished with three tackles, one quarterback hit, one pass defensed and one interception which he returned for 28 yards.

Winfield's pass defensed in Week 10 marked his seventh of the season, establishing a new career high.

In Week 11 at San Francisco, played all 60 defensive snaps and finished with a then-career-high 16 tackles.

Played 72-of-73 defensive snaps in Week 12 at Indianapolis and finished with 10 tackles and one pass defensed.

In the Week 13 victory over Carolina, played 71-of-72 defensive snaps and finished with a game-high eight tackles (two for loss), a then-career-high three passes defensed, 1.0 sack, one quarterback hit and one interception.

With Winfield's Week 13 performance, he became just the third player since data became available (1999) to record his stat line or better in a single game, joining Cleveland's Joe Schobert in Week 11 of the 2019 season against Pittsburgh and Cincinnati's Vincent Rey in Week 10 of the 2013 season against Baltimore.

Winfield's quarterback hit in Week 13 was his 18th since the start of the 2020 season, at the time tied with Seattle's Jamal Adams for the most among defensive backs over that stretch.

In Week 13, Winfield became the first defensive back since Hall of Famer Brian Dawkins and Roy Williams in 2002 with three-or-more forced fumbles, three-or- more fumble recoveries, two-or-more interceptions and 2.0-or-more sacks in a single season.

According to Pro Football Focus, Winfield was Tampa Bay's highest-graded player in Week 13, earning a 93.8 overall grade. His 93.8 grade was the highest grade he had earned in his career up to that point.

In the Week 14 victory over Atlanta, played all 72 defensive snaps and finished with eight tackles, one quarterback hit, 1.0 sack and one forced fumble. Recorded a strip sack of Desmond Ridder that resulted in a safety.

Through 14 weeks, Winfield's four forced fumbles were tied for third-most in the NFL.

With his forced fumble in Week 14, he joined Marshon Lattimore in 2018 as the only defensive backs with 4+ forced fumbles and 3+ fumble recoveries in a single season since 2010.

With his sack in Week 14, Winfield joined Pro Football Hall of Famer Brian Dawkins (2002) as the only defensive backs with 3.0+ sacks, 3+ forced fumbles and 3+ fumble recoveries in a single season since 2000.

Winfield's sack in Week 14 gave him 13.0 sacks across his first four seasons, surpassing Bill Bates for the second- most sacks by a defensive back across their first four seasons since 1982 when sacks became an official stat.

In the Week 15 victory at Green Bay, he played all 60 defensive snaps and led the team with 10 tackles, adding a forced fumble.

Winfield's forced fumble in Week 15 was his fifth of the season and the 10th of his career in the regular season. Through 15 weeks, his five forced fumbles were tied for second in the NFL.

With his forced fumble in Week 15, he became 1-of-6 defensive backs since 2000 with 10-or-more forced fumbles over the player's first four career seasons.

According to Pro Football Focus, was Tampa Bay's highest-graded defensive player in Week 15, earning an 82.9 overall grade.

In the Week 16 win over Jacksonville, played all 66 defensive snaps and recorded three tackles (one for loss), 1.0 sack, one interception, one fumble recovery, one quarterback hit and one pass defensed.

With his stat line in Week 16, Winfield Jr. became the second player in the NFL in 2023 to record a game with 1.0+ sacks, an interception and a fumble recovery, joining Buffalo's Terrel Bernard in Week 3. He became the first Buccaneer to accomplish the feat since Geno Hayes did so in Week 15 of the 2009 season.

As of Week 16,Winfield Jr. and Pittsburgh's Alex Highsmith were the only players in the NFL to record multiple games with a sack and an interception.

In Week 16, Winfield Jr. became the first defensive back since Pro Football Hall of Famer John Lynch (117 in 1999) to record 110+ tackles in a season for Tampa Bay.

In Week 17 vs. New Orleans, played all 70 defensive snaps and finished with seven tackles.

In the Week 18 victory at Carolina, played all 52 defensive snaps and logged five tackles (one for loss), one quarterback hit, 1.0 sack and one forced fumble.

His forced fumble was his sixth of the season, knocking it out of the hands of Panthers WR D.J. Chark at the 1-yard line, resulting in a Buccaneers recovery and a touchback.

Joined Haason Reddick (2022) as the only players since fumble data became available in 1993 to hold at least a share of the league lead in both forced fumbles and opponent fumble recoveries.

In 2023, became the first defensive back since 2000 with 6.0+ sacks and six-or- more forced fumbles in a season.

In 2023, became the fourth defensive back since 1982 with six-or-more games with a sack in a single season, joining Jamal Adams (2020), Dave Duerson (1986) and Roman Harper (2011).

In the Wild Card round victory over Philadelphia, he recorded three tackles and one pass defensed. Contributed to a defense that helped produce the largest yardage disparity in a postseason game in franchise history (+150).

In the Divisional round contest at Detroit, played 72-of-73 defensive snaps and recorded two tackles and one quarterback hit.

COLLEGE:

Started 33 career games at Minnesota (2016-19), totaling 177 tackles (seven for loss), with nine interceptions (returned 180 yards, two touchdowns), 4.0 sacks, three fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles. Also returned a punt for a touchdown and blocked a field goal.

Earned unanimous All-American honors as a redshirt sophomore (2019), leading the Gophers with 88 tackles (3.5 for loss) and 3.0 sacks, while tying the modern era school record with seven interceptions, the fourth-most in the NCAA. Returned one interception for a touchdown.

Also selected All-Big Ten first team and named Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year while being named a finalist for the Bronko Nagurski Award, given annually to the best defensive player in the nation.

Named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week following game against Fresno State, in which he notched four tackles, one sack and recorded an interception in the end zone to seal the win in double overtime.

Named National and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week after registering 11 tackles and two interceptions against Penn State.

In 2018, played in four games before missing the remainder of the season. During those four games, recorded
a punt returned 76 yards for a touchdown against New Mexico State, a game-sealing end zone interception against Fresno State and a fumble recovery against Miami (OH).

Limited to four games in 2017, but recorded a sack, two pass breakup and a blocked field goal against Buffalo.

As a freshman in 2016, played in 12 games, with nine starts, tallying 52 tackles, one fumble recovery and an interception, returned 82 yards for a touchdown.

A three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection (2017-19) and a CoSida Academic All-District selection in 2019. Also named Big Ten Distinguished Scholar in both 2018 and 2019.

Majored in business & marketing education.

PERSONAL/COMMUNITY:

Attended The Woodlands High School (The Woodlands, Texas).

Named Montgomery County Player of the Year as a senior.

Son of Antoine and Erniece Winfield.

Father, Antoine, played defensive back at Ohio State, earning Jim Thorpe award as the nation's top defensive back in 1998. He was then a first-round draft selection by the Buffalo Bills and went on to play 14 seasons in the NFL with the Bills and the Minnesota Vikings, earning three Pro Bowl selections.

Has two brothers, Austin and Ethan. Austin is a defensive back for the Gophers.

In 2020, supported Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital as part of the NFL's My Cause, My Cleats initiative.