Antoine Winfield Antoine D . Winfield ( born June 24 , 1977 ) is a retired American football cornerback who played 15 years in the National Football League ( NFL ) . He played college football for Ohio State University , earning All - American honors and winning the Jim Thorpe Award . He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the first round of the 1999 NFL Draft . He played five seasons for the Bills and nine seasons for the Minnesota Vikings . He was a three - time Pro Bowl selection as a member of the Vikings . Early years . Winfield was born in Akron , Ohio . He attended Garfield High School in his hometown of Akron . College career . Winfield attended Ohio State University , where he played for the Ohio State Buckeyes football team from 1995 to 1998 . As a senior in 1998 , he was a consensus first - team All - American , and won the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation ' s top defensive back . Professional career . Buffalo Bills . The Buffalo Bills selected Winfield in the first round ( 23rd overall pick ) of the 1999 NFL Draft , and he played for the Bills from to . As a rookie , Winfield played in all 16 games . In the season opener , a 31 - 14 loss to the Indianapolis Colts , Winfield intercepted a pass from Peyton Manning and returned the interception for 3 yards . In Week 4 ( October 4 ) , Winfield recorded five special teams tackles in a 23 - 18 victory . Winfield got his second interception of the season in the Week 10 ( November 14 ) 23 - 3 win over Miami with a 10 - yard return . After Ken Irvin suffered an injury during the Week 15 ( December 19 ) game against the Arizona Cardinals , Winfield took over and recorded three tackles and three hurries . For the final two regular season games of 1999 , Winfield started for Irvin and perform 13 solo tackles in the Week 17 game against Indianapolis , the last game of the regular season . As a starter in the , a 22 - 16 loss to eventual Super Bowl XXXIV runners - up Tennessee Titans and the Bills ' last playoff appearance as of the 2013 season , Winfield recorded 6 tackles , intercepted one pass from Tennessee Titans quarterback Steve McNair , and returned the interception for 8 yards . Winfield started all 16 games for the first time in 2001 . In 2003 , Winfield had 107 tackles , his highest single - season number of tackles as of the 2011 season . Minnesota Vikings . As a free agent , Winfield signed a six - year deal with the Minnesota Vikings on March 5 , 2004 . In the Vikings ' 30 - 27 win over the New Orleans Saints on Week 5 ( October 6 ) of 2008 , a " Monday Night Football " game , Winfield returned a blocked field goal attempt by Martin Gramatica 59 yards for a touchdown . Additionally , Winfield had 8 tackles and one deflected pass that game . Winfield finished 2008 with 95 total tackles , 2 sacks , 5 passes defended , and one interception . On July 23 , 2009 the Vikings signed Winfield to a new five - year , $ 36 million contract . The deal includes $ 16 . 1 million in guarantees . He made his second straight Pro Bowl in 2010 after replacing injured Dominique Rodgers - Cromartie . After making the 2010 Pro Bowl squad , he made an interception that led to a touchdown in an NFC 55 - 41 victory . He has 14 interceptions while with the Vikings , along with three touchdowns . He is regarded as one of the most physical corners in the league , known for his bone - jarring hits , and was ranked by Peter King of " Sports Illustrated " as the 31st best player in the NFL . He made his first Pro Bowl in 2008 . Winfield was the only player on the Vikings ' active 2012 roster who played during the 1990s . Winfield was released by the Minnesota Vikings on March 12th , 2013 in a move to clear $ 7 . 25 million in salary cap space . Seattle Seahawks . Winfield signed with the Seattle Seahawks on April 17 , 2013 to a one year , $ 3 million contract . He was released from the team during final cuts on August 31 , 2013 . Retirement . Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll announced on Twitter on August 31 , 2013 Winfield was retiring .