A former college wide receiver turned long snapper, James Winchester has won three Super Bowls and appeared in five with the Kansas City Chiefs.
James Winchester took an unconventional path to becoming one of the NFL's most trusted long snappers, converting from receiver at Oklahoma before finding a home in Kansas City. He has been a fixture of the Chiefs' championship run for over a decade.
Path to the league
Winchester played wide receiver at Oklahoma before transitioning to long snapping. He signed with the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent in 2013 but was cut in roster cutdowns, and the Kansas City Chiefs signed him in March 2015.
Career highlights
Winchester has been remarkably durable, going a full decade without missing a game for the Chiefs. He is a three-time Super Bowl champion, winning Super Bowls LIV, LVII and LVIII, and he became the first long snapper in NFL history to appear in five Super Bowls.
2025 season recap
Winchester continued his run as one of the league's most reliable specialists in 2025, playing all 17 games for Kansas City. The Chiefs re-signed him to a one-year deal in March 2026 to keep the longtime veteran in the fold.
Sources
- Wikipedia: James Winchester (American football)
- Pro Football Reference: James Winchester
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Long Snapper
- Group
- specialTeam
- College
- Oklahoma
- Hometown
- Washington, OK, USA
- Age
- 37
- Status
- active
