New York Giants quarterback Jameis Winston has been around the league for a decade now. Drafted 1st overall in the 2015 NFL Draft, the Florida State product went on to spend time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New Orleans Saints, Cleveland Browns, and now the Giants.
However, just like many rookies, he too had a hilarious “welcome to the NFL” moment.
Giants QB Jameis Winston’s Hilarious ‘Welcome to the NFL’ Moment
Winston was drafted into a challenging situation in 2015, as he inherited an offense that had gone 2-14 the previous season under head coach Lovie Smith. Offensive coordinator Jeff Tedford was fired, and Dirk Koetter was hired to coordinate the offense run by the rookie Winston.
However, the changes didn’t amount to much in terms of performance, and the chaotic season included an unfortunate moment that the quarterback still looks back on with amusement.
“I have an iconic ‘welcome to the NFL’ moment — well, I have two,” he said on the ‘New Heights‘ show. “My very first pass in the NFL was a touchdown. A lot of people can never say that, yes. It was a Coty Sensabaugh pick-6. So, my very first pass… that’s my ‘welcome to the NFL’ moment. This is the craziest thing, right?”
While hosts Jason and Travis Kelce burst out laughing at the twist in Winston’s story, Travis also mentioned that his first career pass, albeit as a tight end, was also an interception. In 2017, Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid called a gadget play that saw Travis become the passer. However, his throw downfield resulted in a turnover, as he was picked off.
Winston Had a Rough Ride at the Bucs
Winston had a struggling start to his time in the NFL, which is typically the case for top draft picks who are selected by struggling teams. Not only was his first career pass a pick-6, but it also formed part of a series of 15 across 16 games. Koetter had a hard time scheming up a system for the rookie to succeed.
Smith was fired after 2015, and Koetter was promoted to head coach, signaling a new chapter in Tampa. Todd Monken was hired as the new OC, and the team finally saw a turn in fortunes. For the first time in five years, it recorded a winning season at 9-7, despite missing the playoffs. This season, the Bucs ranked 21st in PFSN’s NFL Offense Impact Metric.
The upswing, however, was short-lived, as they collapsed back down to 5-11 the following season, which was a theme that continued through 2019, when Tampa decided it was time to move in a different direction at quarterback.
