Chiefs dominate list of players with most wins since ‘16. One almost gave up on NFL
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- Oklahoma walk-on receiver who filled in as college long snapper, later NFL snapper.
- Worked for an oil and gas company while attending specialist camps 2013–15.
- Signed by Chiefs in 2015, has had a lengthy tenure and is open to return.
The list of NFL long snappers who played wide receiver in college might have just one name.
James Winchester.
Winchester, the Chiefs’ long snapper, was a walk-on wide receiver at the University of Oklahoma, where his father was part of a national championship team in 1985.
After an injury to the Sooners’ long snapper, Winchester filled in briefly, but lacked one key physical attribute: He wasn’t big enough.
When his college career ended, Winchester wasn’t drafted but did get an invitation to the Chiefs’ 2012 rookie minicamp. Alas, after a few days in Kansas City, Winchester was let go by the Chiefs.
Needing to pay the bills, Winchester got a job with an oil and gas company, but continued honing his football craft on the side. He went to a specialists camp in 2013, ‘14 and ‘15. He had a brief stint with the Eagles in the preseason in 2013.
After no NFL offers came in 2014, Winchester thought about ditching his football dreams. But he went to that specialists camp one last time in 2015. It was there he was spotted by Brock Olivo and signed with the Chiefs. That was a life-changing break, as Winchester recounted on the Auto Hauler podcast.
The Chiefs went 11-5 in 2015 and made the playoffs. Over the ensuing 10 years, only one player in the NFL has piled up more victories than Winchester.
Ahead of the final week of the 2025 regular season, the Athletic’s Mike Sando shared a list of the 10 players with the most victories since 2016.
Eight are either with the Chiefs or played for them, including guard Joe Thuney, who was No. 1 with 136 (now up to 137). Winchester is second (135), followed by Travis Kelce (132), Chris Jones (129) and Demarcus Robinson (120).
Here is the list, and Robinson is now up to 123 because of the Rams’ run to the NFC Championship Game.
Ahead of the Chiefs’ final game, I spoke with Winchester about being part of the second-most wins of any NFL player over the past decade.
“It’s pretty insane,” Winchester admitted, but he quickly gave credit to others.
“I mean, it’s a tribute to the teams that I played for, the coaches and players,” he added. “I could play on a team that punts 12 times a game, and in your entire career — 15, 16 years — you win a couple of games. And I’m very fortunate to be here. So I wish I could totally take credit for that, but it’s all about the guys in the locker room and upstairs (front office).
“You see that list, it’s just a testament to this whole organization really. Cool that my name just gets to be beside that. I’m glad to be along for the ride.”
Winchester has played in five Super Bowls, winning three times. There was a point when Winchester thought he may have to give up on his dreams of playing in the NFL.
But after getting a second chance with the Chiefs, he’s part of a football dynasty. Sometimes, he can’t believe it.
“You couldn’t draw it up any better, right?” Winchester said. “I definitely would have called you a liar if you told me I’d be able to ride this deal for as long as I have. It’s been insane especially coming from someone who just wanted to play a game, a season in the NFL, and then to end up here, going from three years out of college, working a nine-to-five job, find myself here is pretty crazy.”
Winchester hopes the ride will continue. He turns 37 in August and is part of a lengthy list of Chiefs free agents.
But he’s open to a return.
“If they call me,” Winchester said. “I’ll be here. That’s how it goes.”
