The world hasn’t heard much from former Minnesota Vikings cornerback Antoine Winfield since he left the NFL in 2013.
Winfield hasn’t ventured into the broadcast booth like so many other former NFL stars have and he hasn’t had a lot to say about his release from the Vikings in the spring of 2013, following one of his best seasons in the league.
However, at the age of 39, Winfield resurfaced over the weekend. Not in an NFL uniform with a purple helmet covering his head, but this time with a pair of sunglasses and headphones in Las Vegas.
Winfield was competing in the World Series of poker at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino.
NFL All Pro @AntoineWinfield kills time @WSOP Main Event playing chess v. @AdrianPeterson. https://t.co/slcsYOxaat pic.twitter.com/C6dqIeWo9N
— Gary Trask (@casinocityGT) July 10, 2016
Winfield became interested in poker when accountant Chris Moneymaker won the World Series of poker in 2003, and he’s taken the sport up as his post-football hobby.
“I remember watching him on TV and saying, ‘Hell if he can win it, so can I!’ It’s fun. I love it. I love the competition and I love meeting all the guys. I’ve been competing all my life, and this is no different. You’re competing against a huge field so it’s hard to make it, but it’s a lot of fun.”
ESPN notes the former defensive back busted in the $10,000 main event, but he did win his first cash in a major tournament, finishing 231st with $2,391 in a $1,500 no-limit hold’ em event.
