Antoine Winfield Jr.
S
#31
Experience: 7 years
Height: 5-9
Age: 28
Weight: 203 lbs
College: Minnesota
Preseason
| WK | Game Date | OPP | RESULT | Total | Solo | AST | SCK | SFTY | PDEF | INT | YDS | AVG | LNG | TDS | FF | FR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 08/28/2026 | @Jaguars | L 0 - 19 | |||||||||||||
| 2 | 08/22/2026 | Chiefs | W 16 - 15 | |||||||||||||
| 1 | 08/14/2026 | @Jets | W 24 - 16 |
Biography
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.
2x Pro Bowl Selection (2021, 2025).
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).
2020 PFWA All-Rookie Team selection.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
Has started all 85 regular season games he has played in, totaling 534 tackles (24 for loss), 38 passes defensed, 29 quarterback hits, 18.0 sacks, 12 forced fumbles, 10 fumble recoveries (one returned for a touchdown) and nine interceptions (returned 94 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 sacks (18.0) and strip sacks (7), while ranking second in quarterback hits (29).
His 18.0 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.
Became the second defensive back 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).
Was a key contributor to Tampa Bay's 2020 defense, which 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).
2025 HIGHLIGHTS:
Was named a team captain for the 2025 season.
Started at safety and played 74-of-76 defensive snaps in the Week 1 victory in Atlanta, recording four tackles and one pass defensed. Forced a pass breakup near the Atlanta goal line with 16 seconds remaining to preserve a Tampa Bay victory.
In the Week 2 win at Houston, started at safety and played all 49 defensive snaps, totaling four tackles. According to Next Gen Stats, Winfield allowed just one reception on two targets for a total of two yards, generating a 56.3 passer rating when targeted in Week 2.
Started at safety and played all 69 defensive snaps in the Week 3 win over the New York Jets, recording three tackles (two for loss), two quarterback hits and a strip sack of Jets QB Tyrod Taylor.
Winfield Jr.'s strip sack in Week 3 marked the seventh of his career — the second most by any safety since the year 2000 at the time.
Started at safety and played 56-of-57 defensive snaps in Week 4 vs. Philadelphia, recording four tackles (one for loss).
In the Week 5 win at Seattle, started at safety and played 59-of-61 defensive snaps, contributing three tackles and one pass defensed. Recorded one interception that was negated by a penalty.
Started at safety in the Week 6 win over the 49ers, playing all 69 defensive snaps and finishing with a team-high nine tackles.
In Week 7 at Detroit, started at safety and played 67-of-68 defensive snaps, tallying eight tackles.
Started at safety and played all 72 defensive snaps in the Week 8 win at New Orleans, totaling six tackles, one pass defensed, one fumble recovery and one interception.
Winfield Jr.'s fumble recovery in Week 8 was the 10th of his career, making himjust the 12th defensive back since 2000 with at least 10+ career forced fumbles and 10+ career fumble recoveries.
Winfield Jr.'s two takeaways in Week 8 were tied for the most in a single game by any player through Week 8 of the 2025 season. It marked the first time a Buccaneers player recorded multiple takeaways in a game since he also recorded the feat on 12/24/23 vs. Jacksonville.
Started at safety and played all 61 defensive snaps in Week 10 vs. New England, tallying one tackle (that went for loss) and one pass defensed.
In Week 11 at Buffalo, started at safety and played all 56 defensive snaps, totaling six tackles and one pass defensed.
Winfield Jr.'s three straight games with a pass defensed from Weeks 8-11 was tied for the longest such stretch of his career (also, Weeks 11-13, 2021).
Per Pro Football Focus, Winfield Jr. was Tampa Bay's highest-graded defensive player in Week 11, earning a 72.7 overall grade.
Started at safety and played all 56 defensive snaps in Week 12 at the Los Angeles Rams. Finished with a team-lead-tying eight tackles.
In the Week 13 win over Arizona, started at safety and contributed seven tackles, one quarterback hit, one pass defensed and one interception. The interception was his second of the season and the ninth of his career.
Started at safety and played all 58 defensive snaps in Week 14 vs. New Orleans, producing five tackles and one pass defensed.
In Week 15 vs. Atlanta, started at safety and played all 71 defensive snaps, pacing the Tampa Bay defense with 13 tackles — his most in a game this season and most since Week 11 of the 2023 season at San Francisco (16).
Started at safety in Week 16 at Carolina, playing all 54 defensive snaps and tallying two tackles.
In Week 17 at Miami, started at safety and played all 55 defensive snaps, logging seven tackles.
Started at safety in the Week 18 win over Carolina, contributing three tackles and one pass defensed. His pass defensed in Week 18 marked his eighth of the season — his second-highest in a single season of his career.
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 the 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 76-yard punt return 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 breakups 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 was 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.