He might be the entrenched backup to Derek Carr, but Jameis Winston isn’t letting that stop him from being a good teammate.
Before the New Orleans Saints squared off with the Carolina Panthers on Monday Night Football, Winston hung around the outside of the New Orleans locker room for a very important reason. He wanted to give encouragement to every person who walked by, showing what it means to have a positive attitude and still be a great leader even though you’re not a starter.
This is precisely the kind of selfless mentality we could all learn a thing or two from. Some things are just bigger than our ambitions — like supporting your friends and colleagues (as captured by ESPN in a TikTok):
#Saints QB Jameis Winston shook the hands of every player and staff member before he entered the locker room tonight..
He also apparently does this every game dating all the way back to college at FSU.
Jameis Winston is a true leader and a pro’s pro even as the backup. A+… pic.twitter.com/kTAVvaemU4
— JPAFootball (@jasrifootball) September 19, 2023
I doubt it’s expressly because of Winston’s energy, but the Saints are 2-0 for the first time in 10 years. At the very least, perennial Pro Bowl defensive end Cam Jordan endorsed Winston’s mindset and professionalism:
Yup he’s always there… the want to win and motivation and inspiration that is Jameis Winston always phenomenal teammate& is willing to serve and lead in whatever role he’s given on/off the field https://t.co/6rnk36stH8
— Cam Jordan (@camjordan94) September 19, 2023
I don’t know if New Orleans is necessarily good, but I do know that positive attitudes like Winston’s can only contribute to a healthy, happy, and winning culture.