Imagine a world where Jameis Winston never played for the Florida State Seminoles. Instead, he could have been leading the Stanford Cardinal, a powerhouse in football and baseball.
A revelation from Winston himself revealed that the former No. 1 NFL draft pick nearly chose Stanford over FSU, which would have altered the course of his career in college football and the NFL.
Jameis Winston’s Near Stanford Switch
Winston shared on “Pardon My Take” that he was close to choosing Stanford over Florida State.
“Stanford was the dream school that I’ve always thought that I would be at playing baseball and football, because you just think about John Elway, right?” Winston shared. “I was very close to going to Stanford in my mind.”
He admired the dual-sport success and the prestige of Stanford’s programs, both academically and athletically. However, the distance from home ultimately made him choose Florida State instead. Coming from Alabama, Winston preferred the proximity of Tallahassee and the comfort of staying closer to family and friends.
At Florida State, Winston’s college football career skyrocketed. After redshirting in 2012, he became the starter in 2013 and led the team to an undefeated season and a national championship. He finished his Heisman-winning year with 4,057 passing yards, 40 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions, solidifying his place as one of college football’s top quarterbacks.
Winston’s success continued in 2014, with 3,907 passing yards and 25 touchdowns despite a drop in efficiency.
The Future of Jameis Winston in the NFL
After being selected first overall in the 2015 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Winston had a strong start, earning Pro Bowl honors as a rookie. However, his NFL career has been inconsistent, with his time in Tampa Bay marked by a mix of high points and struggles.
After five seasons with the Buccaneers, Winston signed with the New Orleans Saints in 2020, where he spent a year as a backup to Drew Brees. When Brees retired in 2021, Winston got his chance to start again but was derailed by a torn ACL that ended his season early. His 2022 season was also filled with injuries, and by the end of the campaign, Winston was relegated to backup status again.
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Winston’s journey with the Saints saw him struggle with injuries and inconsistency in his play. In 2023, after the Saints signed Derek Carr, Winston became the backup quarterback. His future with the Saints ended as he signed with the Cleveland Browns for the 2024 season.
Now a free agent, Winston is looking for another team, likely as a backup quarterback. Teams such as the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs have shown interest in his services. The future of Winston’s NFL career will depend on which team offers him the best opportunity to contribute and possibly even start again.
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