“Unwavering Faith, Ultimate Belief, Dependence on the Lord.” These were Jameis Winston’s comments before his first start at quarterback since 2022. On October 20th, 2024, 30-year-old Jameis Winston got an opportunity to show once more that he has the talent and the determination required to be a starting quarterback in the National Football League.
Initially inactive as the emergency quarterback for the week 7 matchup, Jameis Winston would be put into the game after a season-ending Achilles injury to quarterback Deshaun Watson and an injury to the backup Dorian Thompson-Robinson. Winston did what he could as he was thrust into the game while being down by 15 against the Bengals. Winston would throw a touchdown and convert a 2-point conversion with under two minutes left in the game to bring the deficit to 7, but unfortunately, it would be too late for the Browns as Winston wouldn’t get the chance to tie the game.
Winston was declared the starting quarterback for the Browns week 8 matchup against the 5-2 Baltimore Ravens. In his first start since 2022, Winston led the 1-6 Browns to shock the Ravens in a 29-24 win against the rushing duo of Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry, as he threw for 334 passing yards and three touchdowns.
Jameis Winston grew up in a small Alabama town called Hueytown, with a population of only 16,000 people. Winston attended Hueytown High School, where he played football and baseball. While playing football in high school, Winston won the Gatorade Player of the Year Recognition for the state of Alabama. He was considered one of if not the best of the top recruits in the nation, as he was also drafted straight out of high school by the Texas Rangers in the 2012 MLB draft. Even though the Rangers proposed that he could play football for Florida State as well as work out for them, Winston decided not to sign with the Rangers, and he pursued football for the Seminoles instead.
Winston had an outstanding career at Florida State. In his freshman year of football, Winston had about as decorated of a season as a college quarterback can have. At only 19 years old, Winston led Florida State to an undefeated record of 14-0 and defeated #2 Auburn in the National Championship game 34-31. As well as winning the National Championship, Winston was the Heisman Trophy winner in 2013 with 40 passing touchdowns and 4,057 passing yards. Winston played one more season of college football for the Seminoles before he declared for the 2015 NFL Draft.
“With the first pick of the 2015 NFL Draft, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers select Jameis Winson quarterback Florida State” With these words, Jameis Winston was now a Tampa Bay Buccaneer. Surrounded by friends and family and being drafted by an NFL team is what Winston worked so hard for, it’s what he turned down an MLB contract for, turning down instant gratifications and believing.
During Winston’s rookie year in the NFL, he had a record of 6-10 while throwing for 4,042 passing yards, 22 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions. Winston’s only season with the Buccaneers where he had a winning record was during the 2016-2017 season, in which he threw for 4,092 yards, 28 touchdowns,s, and 18 interceptions as turnovers continued to be an issue. 2019 was Winston’s most productive season with 5,109, 33 touchdowns, and 30 interceptions. Winston had multiple games in that season where he was throwing four interceptions per game.
The Buccaneers moved on from Jameis Winston after the 2019 season, and Winston would go on to have a four-year stint with the Saints. During Winston’s four years in New Orleans, he backed up Drew Brees, and once Brees retired, he fought for and won the starting job for the Saints.
After starting seven games for the Saints in 2021, Winston suffered an ACL tear which ended his season. Prior to his injury, Winston showed improvement in ball security as he threw for 14 touchdowns and only three interceptions in seven games. Winston won the starting job for the 2022 season but could only play three games due to a variety of injuries which included back fractures that Winston attempted to play through.
In 2023 the Saints moved on from Winston due to injuries, as they acquired Derek Carr to be their starting quarterback. After being replaced by Carr, Winston made the move to Cleveland to back up quarterback Deshaun Watson for a fresh start and a chance to get playing time. Winston got the opportunity that he was waiting for, as he is now the starting quarterback for the Browns for the foreseeable future, it’s just up to him to make the most of it.
Jameis Winston continues to be one of the most recognizable and entertaining characters in the National Football League. It seems that no matter where Winston goes, he brings enthusiasm, determination, joy, and most importantly “Unwavering Faith, Ultimate Belief, Dependence on the Lord”.