Aug 22, 2026; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; New York Giants quarterback Jameis Winston (19) throws the football against the Miami Dolphins during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
New York Giants brass has lauded Jameis Winston’s personality and leadership since the moment he walked through their doors last year. Now, they’ve made sure he is not going anywhere for a little while longer.
Big Blue and the veteran backup quarterback have agreed to a two-year, $13 million contract extension, ensuring he remains with the organization through the 2028 season. The final year of his current deal, which expires at the end of the 2026 campaign, remains the same, with a price tag coming in at just over $4 million.
The 32-year-old will remain New York’s No. 2 behind franchise quarterback Jaxson Dart — a vital role considering the second-year passer has been prone to injury and visits to the medical tent during games. The Giants and new head coach John Harbaugh have continued to hammer the notion that Dart has to take his foot off the gas pedal at times to preserve his health, but it appears to be a concept that is easier said than done.
Winston started last season as the backup to Russell Wilson before Dart got the call to take over. Still, he appeared in three games and made two starts, completing 37 of 66 passes for 567 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions.
The former No. 1 pick, who won a national championship with Florida State, is entering his 12th NFL season, previously starting 89 games with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and leading the NFL in passing yards in 2019.
His high standing in the Giants’ locker room was one of the first steps toward reversing a culture that had been rotten for so long under the inept leadership of previous head coaches, most recently Brian Daboll. But with a future Hall of Famer in Harbaugh at the helm, things are finally looking up, and Winston has a part to play in all of it.
“Jameis is a great leader,” running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. said earlier this summer. He’s a great teammate. He’s always there. He’s always helping out; he’s always picking us up, even the [first team]. So I think with Jameis and Jaxson, we have a great quarterback room.”
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