Security Antoine Winfield Jr. donates $ 7,815, the amount he was fined for challenging Kansas City Chiefs ‘Tyreek Hill in Super Bowl LV, in support of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Youth Leadership Program at Tampa’s Young Middle Magnet School.
The Buccaneers Foundation is doubling its donation, bringing the total donation to the school to $ 15,630.
“Because it got a lot of media attention, it was out there and I just wanted to run it in a way to make it positive,” Winfield told the team’s website.
Winfield was a mentor to students through the program, part of the Buccaneers social justice initiative. After Winfield was fined, fans asked if they could pay the fine, but he encourages them to donate to the school instead.
“Our district is deeply grateful not only to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but also to Antoine Winfield, Jr. for this monetary donation that will have a profound impact on Young Middle Magnet,” said Hillsborough County superintendent Addison Davis, according to the website. of the team. . “Taking an unfortunate situation and turning it into a positive one is the benchmark for a true champion, and a wonderful example for our students and the entire community.”
Winfield was given an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for making a peace sign in Hill’s face when the Chiefs receiver rose from the field in the fourth quarter with the Buccaneers comfortable in front.
After the Buccaneers’ win 31-9, Winfield told reporters he was only doing the favor to Hill, who he said made a similar gesture to him during the regular season in a match the Chiefs won 27-24 . Hill scored three touchdowns and had received 269 yards on 13 receptions in that game, but was held to seven catches, 73 yards, and no touchdowns in the Super Bowl.
“The taunting, man, it’s something I had to do. When we played them earlier, Hill went up to us. He hit a backflip right in front of my face and gave me the peace sign. So it was only right that I gave him the peace sign back to him. It felt great to be able to do that, “he told reporters.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter contributed to this report.