Selected in the second round (45th overall) of the 2020 NFL Draft by the Buccaneers.
Super Bowl LV Champion. x 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
Has started all 68 regular season games he has played in, totaling 441 tackles (20 for loss), 30 passes defensed, 25 quarterback hits, 17.0 sacks, 11 forced fumbles, nine fumble recoveries (one returned for a touchdown) and seven interceptions (returned 89 yards).
Started all nine postseason contests he has played in, recording 51 tackles (three for loss), three quarterback hits, three passes defensed, two forced fumbles, one interception and one fumble recovery.
Since entering the league in 2020, Winfield leads all defensive backs in quarterback hits (25), sacks (17.0) and strip sacks (6).
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 17.0 sacks rank second all-time in franchise history for sacks by a defensive back (trailing only Rondé Barber) 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).
Was named a team captain for the 2024 season.
Started at safety in the Week 1 victory over the Washington Commanders, playing all 59 defensive snaps and finishing with seven tackles.
Was inactive for Weeks 2-5.
Returned from injury for the Week 6 win at New Orleans, playing 56-of-70 defensive snaps and totaling four tackles, one quarterback hit, one pass defensed, and one fumble recovery which he returned 58 yards for a touchdown.
Winfield's 58-yard scoop-and-score in the Week 6 win at New Orleans marked his first career defensive touchdown of any kind.
In Week 7 vs. Baltimore, played all 59 defensive snaps and recorded a team-leading 10 tackles (one for loss), one quarterback hit and 1.0 sack.
Played all 62 defensive snaps in Week 8 vs. Atlanta, finishing with seven tackles.
In Week 9 at Kansas City, played 84- of-85 defensive snaps and recorded a then-season-high and team-leading 12 tackles.
Played all 64 defensive snaps in Week 10 vs. San Francisco, logging eight tackles and one pass defensed.
Generated a 60% pressure rate in Week 10, forcing quarterback pressures on three of his five blitzes.
In the Week 12 win over the New York Giants, played all 59 defensive snaps and recorded six tackles (one for loss), one quarterback hit, one pass defensed and 1.0 sack.
Winfield Jr.'s sack in Week 12 marked the 17th of his career — the most by a defensive back in franchise history. With the sack, he tied Keith Bostic for the 14th-most sacks by a defensive back since sacks became an official stat in 1982.
In the Week 13 win at Carolina, played all 70 defensive snaps and totaled six tackles and one quarterback hit.
In the Week 14 win over Las Vegas, played 16 defensive snaps before leaving with injury.
Was inactive for Weeks 15-18
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.
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.
