FILE – Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Antoine Winfield Jr. (31) leaves the field following warmups before an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Dec. 24, 2023, in Tampa, Fla. All-Pro safety Winfield has agreed to a four-year, $84 million contract with the Buccaneers that makes him the highest-paid defensive back in the NFL. The team announced an agreement Monday, May 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Peter Joneleit, File)

Antoine Winfield, Jr.

The NFL’s highest-paid defensive back was all smiles and full of gratitude while discussing his historic deal for the first time onMonday afternoon.
Tampa Bay Bucs star safety Antoine Winfield, Jr. is no stranger to success. Following his father’s footsteps to the league, the 25- year-old said he’s dreamed of playing professional football and to still be in Tampa — the only place he wanted to be — is a dream come true.
“It’s been a dream ever since I was a young kid,” Winfield, Jr. said, grinning ear-to-ear. “And to still be here, in Tampa Bay—the only place I really wanted to be at — it’s a huge blessing. And I really appreciate everybody that’s worked on the contract.”
“I also want to say thank you to all my teammates that I’ve played with over the last four years and for, you know, making it possible for me to be here because you know, I’m not the only one that’s out in the field, out there playing,”headed.
The Buccaneers and Winfield, Jr. agreed to the historic four year, $84.1 million deal on May 13, making it the “first time in modern NFL history that a safety has set this mark.”