When safety Antoine Winfield Jr. was suspended with nine other football players by the University of Minnesota in an alleged sexual assault case in late 2016 — and before the university overturned that suspension and reinstated Winfield, along with five other players who were cleared of any wrongdoing — his father, former Vikings cornerback Antoine Winfield, wanted him to leave the university. His son heavily considered that advice.
“He wanted me to leave, but it was ultimately my decision to stay here,” said Winfield Jr., who made his choice after the Gophers fired Tracy Claeys and hired P.J. Fleck in January of 2017. “It was definitely some thought. I was thinking about it. But we got the new head coach, talked to Coach Fleck and got on board with him.”
