Under investigation: The NFL has opened an investigations into a claim that Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston (pictured) grabbed a female Uber driver by the crotch in March 2016

The NFL has launched an investigation after a female Uber driver from Arizona came forward accusing Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston of groping her on the job in 2016.

The accuser, known only as Kate, told BuzzFeed News on Friday that she was driving Winston back from a party in Scottsdale, Arizona, at 2am on March 13, 2016, when he 'reached over' and grabbed her.

He denies the allegations but the NFL has confirmed it is investigating them.

In 2012, while Winston was at Florida State University, a female student accused him of raping her. He settled a civil lawsuit with the alleged victim last year.

The driver has not gone to police and has not filed a lawsuit against him because she wants to remain anonymous, she said.

Kate claimed that she arrived at the party after being booked through the app and was told by a group of men that she would be driving Winston who they said was 'famous'.

Winston was the only passenger in the car and sat in the front with Kate, she said.

As soon as she started driving, Kate said Winston began shouting homophobic slurs at pedestrians, and otherwise was behaving poorly.

Things took an even darker turn when she pulled up in front of Los Betos Mexican Food so that her passenger could pick up a meal at the drive-thru window.

While they were waiting for Winston's order, Kate said, 'he reached over and he just grabbed my crotch.'

According to the woman, who asked to keep her last name out of the story for fear of backlash from NFL fans, Winston kept his hands on her privates for 3-5 seconds and only removed them after she asked him, 'What's up with that?'

In an incident report to Uber, which told her to go to the police, she said: 'Looking back, I sincerely wish I would have kicked him out but he is apparently a big athlete in the NFL and he's very physically imposing.

'I was afraid that I'd make him more angry...he is NOT safe for other female drivers.'

'Kate' speaks out: The driver, a woman named Kate, said Winston was in the front passenger seat of her Uber car waiting to pick up food from Los Betos restaurant in Scottsdale, Arizona (pictured) when he reached out and touched her crotch, keeping his fingers there 3-5 seconds

The driver shared details of the experience with Uber in a chat function in its app (shown above)

Kate, who is 5 foot 6, said she froze up and took no action against the 'very physically imposing' professional athlete, who weighs 224lbs and stands at 6 feet 4 inches in height.

'I wasn't just creeped out,' she said. 'I was frozen.'

I sincerely wish I would have kicked him out but he is apparently a big athlete in the NFL and he's very physically imposing.

On Friday afternoon, Winston released a statement online vehemently denying Kate’s allegations of inappropriate contact and dismissing them as ‘false.’

‘I believe the driver was confused as to the number of passengers in the car and who was sitting next to her,’ Winston wrote. ‘The accusation is false, and given the nature of the allegation and increased awareness and consideration of these types of matters, I am addressing this false report immediately.’

Winston went on to say: ‘While I am certain that I did not make any inappropriate contact, I don’t want to engage in a battle with the driver and I regret if my demeanor or presence made her uncomfortable in any way.’

JAMEIS WINSTON'S FULL STATEMENT: 'A news organization has published a story about me regarding an alleged incident involving a female Uber driver from approximately two years ago. 'The story falsely accuses me of making inappropriate contact with this driver. I believe the driver was confused as to the number of passengers in the car and who was sitting next to her. 'The accusation is false, and given the nature of the allegation and increased awareness and consideration of these types of matters, I am addressing this false report immediately. At the time of the alleged incident, I denied the allegations to Uber, yet they still decided to suspend my account. 'I am supportive of the national movement to raise awareness and develop better responses to the concerns of parties who find themselves in these types of situations, but this accusation is false. 'While I am certain that I did not make any inappropriate contact, I don’t want to engage in a battle with the driver and I regret if my demeanor or presence made her uncomfortable in any way.' Advertisement

Earlier, Winston's spokesperson Russell Spielman said that Kate could not identify the person who allegedly touched her and suggested that the only reason she named the NFL quarterback was because his Uber account was used to call the ride.

In the immediate aftermath of Kate’s alleged interaction with Winston, she filed a report with Uber claiming that the NFL player ‘put his fingers’ on her crotch and declared that he was ‘NOT safe for other drivers.’

The company urged Kate to go to the police – which she did not do for fear of retribution – and eventually removed Jameis Winston’s account from the ride-sharing app.

In his statement Friday, the 23-year-old quarterback wrote: ‘I denied the allegations to Uber, yet they still decided to suspend my account.’

The day before, NFL's special counsel for investigations, Lisa Friel, sent a letter to Kate, informing her that the league has opened an investigation into the allegations of sexual misconduct against Winston.

NFL confirmed on Friday that the allegation agaisnt Winston was shared with the league 'and we have reached out to Uber to request any information they may have.'

On her part, Kate said she is not motivated by greed but that she was 'empowered' by her 'sisters' to speak out 'about a powerful man who felt entitled to my body when all I wanted to do was my job.'

Dark past: In 2012, Erica Kinsman (left) publicly accused Winston of raping her while the two were students at Florida State University. Winston was never criminally charged but settled a civil lawsuit last year

Elite athlete: Winston (pictured on November 5) won the Heisman Trophy in 2013, was the first overall pick during the 2015 NFL draft and signed a $25million contract

This is not the first time that the elite athlete has been accused of sexual misconduct.

In 2012, fellow Florida State University student Erica Kinsman accused Winston of rape.

Winston denied the allegations and said the two engaged in consensual sex.

He was never charged for the crime, but settled a civil lawsuit with Kinsman last year.

In January 2016, Florida State agreed to pay Kinsman $950,000 as part of a Title IX lawsuit she filed against the university.

The quarterback, who won the Heisman Trophy in 2013, was the first overall pick during the 2015 NFL draft and signed a $25million contract, was also involved in shoplifting incidents in 2014 and 2015.

The Uber driver complained in an incident report to Uber which urged her to take her claim to the police.