Jameis Winston is back in the spotlight after stepping in as the New York Giants’ backup quarterback against the Los Angeles Rams.
But his appearance also brought attention to an old incident that has followed him throughout his career.
What is Jameis Winston’s ‘crab legs’ incident?
Back in 2014, Winston was Florida State’s star quarterback and a Heisman Trophy winner. He was given a civil citation after surveillance footage showed him leaving a Publix grocery store in Tallahassee with crab legs and crawfish without paying, as per Complex.
He later spoke about the incident in a public statement, saying, “I went to the supermarket with the intent to purchase dinner but made a terrible mistake for which I’m taking full responsibility.”
Before the 2015 NFL Draft, Winston talked about the incident again on ESPN’s Draft Academy. He said he believed a store employee had given him the items for free. However, Publix disputed his explanation after an internal review, saying there was “no information” to support it, according to Complex.
Florida State also briefly suspended Winston from its baseball team and required him to complete community service before he could return.
Winston pokes fun at himself on TikTok
More than 10 years after the 2014 incident, Winston joked about it in December 2025, using a viral TikTok trend to reference the “crab legs” controversy.
He used the viral “In your 20s…” TikTok trend to refer to the 2014 incident. He posted a short video while waiting for the subway in New York City, as per People.
The text on the video “In your 20s, you will walk by the seafood section at Publix… it’s very important you keep walking.” He added a simple caption: “Trust me.”
Jaxson Dart injured during Monday Night Football
The New York Giants appeared to lose their starting quarterback early in their Week 2 “Monday Night Football” game against the Los Angeles Rams.
Jaxson Dart suffered an apparent leg injury during the Giants’ first drive. After making a throw on New York’s seventh play, Dart was hit by two Rams defenders. He stayed on the ground and grabbed his leg.
Dart received medical attention on the field and was able to walk off on his own. He went to the Giants’ medical tent for further checks before walking to the locker room, according to USA Today.
The Giants later announced that Dart was questionable to return with a knee injury. Dart appeared to hurt his left knee during the hit. He walked to the locker room with a slight limp and did not need help from trainers.
Dart, 23, missed two games last year because of a concussion. However, he had not missed time because of an injury earlier in his career.
With Dart sidelined, veteran backup quarterback Jameis Winston took over for the Giants. He led New York’s offense on its second drive.