Antoine Winfield

Games and Starts

128 games/112 starts; 56 games/54 starts as a Viking

Professional Biography

Regarded as one of the hardest-hitting and best tackling CBs in the NFL…Raised the Vikings’ defensive energy by example…One of the Vikings most highly sought after free agents in recent memory, signed with the Vikings on 3/8/04 after spending 5 seasons with the Buffalo Bills…Reunited with Vikings’ LB coach Fred Pagac, who was the Buckeyes’ defensive coordinator during his time there…Teammate of DT Pat Williams in Buffalo.

NFL History

•    Battled injuries throughout the 2007, missing 6 games due to injury.
•    Only played in 10 games, still posted 67 tackles, an average of 6.7 tackles that led Vikings DBs.
•    Has a career average of 6 tackles per game, amassing 763 tackles in 128 games.
•    Key part of the Vikings scoring 6 TDs on INT returns during the 2007 season to tie a Vikings record.
•    Has 17 takeaways since joining the Vikings as a free agent in 2004, 12 INTs and 5 FRs.
•    Scored 2nd career INT return TD on his 1st INT of the 2007 season, a 14-yarder vs. Atlanta (9/9).
•    Snared 18th career regular-season INT vs. Atlanta (9/9) and picked off Joey Harrington for the 4th consecutive season, giving him 4 of his 18 picks off Harrington, the most of any NFL QB.
•    Has 13 regular season and playoff INTs since joining the Vikings, with the Vikings winning 9 of the 13 games he has snared a pick.
•    Forced a fumble on Cowboys WR Patrick Crayton @ Dallas (10/21) that was recovered by LB Ben Leber and lateraled to fellow CB Cedric Griffin who went on to score a TD on the play.

College Information

Won the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation's outstanding defensive back following his senior season, becoming the first Ohio State player to ever earn the honor...Earned All-America honors following his junior and senior seasons...Two-time All-Big Ten selection...Finished college career with 278 total tackles (224 solos)...First non-linebacker in school history (only 5th player ever) to top 200 career tackles...Played in all 50 games and started 29 in four seasons...Named Ohio State's defensive player of the year as a senior...As a junior, became the first Ohio State defensive back selected as team MVP.

Personal Biography

Majored in communications at OSU…In 2002, served as the Bills team spokesman for the "Wear your Helmet" bike helmet safety program…Winfield and wife, Erniece, have two sons, Antoine Jr. and Austin…Named all-state and Division I Defensive Player of the Year as a senior at Garfield High in his hometown of Akron…In addition to safety, rushed for 1,069 yards on 150 carries (7.1 average) as a senior…Helped lead the team to 3 Akron city titles and a 10-1 mark as a senior.