Not many athletes have ingratiated themselves with a city the way Jameis Winston did with New Orleans during his time with the Saints. Despite starting his career as a rival with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Winston joined the Saints in 2023 and dove head first into the culture of the city. He understood that if you love New Orleans, it would love you back.
Unfortunately, after four seasons with the Saints, his time as a player in the city has ended, as he signed with the Cleveland Browns. However, his love for New Orleans and its people isn’t going anywhere. He made that clear in a statement posted to his social media accounts.
Captioned, “Thank You NOLA” with a heart and a Dream Forever hashtag, Winston posted a video that contained some of his highs while repping the Black & Gold. In the second half of the video, Winston read the farewell note that he wrote to New Orleans.
Thank you NOLA ❤️ #DreamForever pic.twitter.com/KcxDek6oab
— Jameis Winston (@Jaboowins) March 20, 2024
Jameis Winston: I love you New Orleans
Winston went to the start, saying he got his first win in the Superdome, so it’s always been a special place for him. He went on to thank everyone that made his four years special, from teammates and coaches to support staff, and of course, all of the fans. Going away from football, Winston explained that he was grateful he was able to witness the festivals, Mardi Gras, the second lines, the music, the food, and all the culture that makes New Orleans uniquely special.
He ended his statement by saying that he loves New Orleans through and through, and that the city hasn’t seen the last of Jaboo.
Oftentimes, it’s easy to gloss over these kind of statements, but Winston’s actions over the last four years are proof that he meant every word. Winston started just 10 games over the last four seasons, but he still had a special bond with the community. That’s because he was really out in the city. Whether it was at a basketball game, a festival, or a church, there were countless instances of Winston moving through New Orleans, and it was always all love.