Super Bowl Champ has Roots in Orchard Park Schools

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[email protected] — from the Washington Football Team vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers at FedEx Field, Landover, Maryland, January 9, 2021 (All-Pro Reels Photography)

Photo from opschools.org

Antoine Winfield is a former Buffalo Bill who played on the same team as Drew Bledsoe in 2003. Winfield’s son, Antoine Winfield Jr., attended kindergarten at South Davis Elementary during the 2003-2004 school year. Winfield Jr. is now a Super Bowl champion with a stellar Buccaneers team and has established a name for himself over the past year. Last season, he recorded 64 tackles, two forced fumbles, and one interception. If this weren’t enough, his in-game rivalry with Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill has taken the NFL by storm. 

In the week 12 matchup against the Chiefs, Hill celebrated his 75-yard catch-and-run with a peace sign in Winfield’s direction. As the two teams met up again in Super Bowl 55, Winfield returned the gesture. With about four minutes to go, Quarterback Patrick Mahomes threw to a semi-open Tyreek Hill. The pass was broken up by Winfield, and as Hill got up from the ground, there was a peace sign three feet from his face. Unfortunately for the Bucs, the referee was there and gave him a taunting penalty. With the game coming to a close, the penalty made no difference in the game’s outcome. However, two weeks later ESPN’s Adam Schefter broke the news that Winfield would be fined $7,815 for the gesture. This drew laughs and groans from fans all over. 

With the Buccaneers signing much of their team to small deals over the off-season, general manager Jason Licht had work to do. By restructuring the contracts of Tom Brady and franchise tagging wide receiver Chris Godwin, the team was able to bring back all 22 of their starters, which has ensured another year of prosperity for Tampa. This is incredible, because the team not only recently won the Super Bowl, but in that, they have to pay at least two future Hall of Fame members in Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski. With the local-star Antoine Winfield Jr. in place, the Buccaneers’ secondary is set for success in the coming years.