Baker Mayfield loves to carry a grudge. He has that high quality about him the place he’ll discover any little purpose to really feel just like the opposition has wronged him. When he finds that purpose, he takes it to coronary heart and makes use of it to gasoline him.
Bear in mind when the Bucs beat the Jets final 12 months and Mayfield mentioned it was private for him as a result of New York defensive coordinator Steve Wilks was the one who reduce him when he was in Carolina and Wilks was the Panthers’ interim head coach?
Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photograph by: Cliff Welch/PR
Mayfield was mentioned to be the one who requested his launch, however he solely did so after it was made clear that he can be designated as Carolina’s third-string quarterback and a wholesome scratch. Who you blame for him being reduce in the end will depend on your perspective, and whether or not the interim head coach was at fault for the way in which issues went down could be disputed (Wilks really disputed it himself).
However by no means thoughts the small print. Mayfield discovered that additional little bit of motivation from one thing he took to be a slight. It doesn’t matter what it was or whether or not he had any proper to really feel that it was a slight.
And that’s a part of what makes the Bucs’ 2026 schedule so fascinating. In plenty of methods, it units as much as be a Baker Mayfield revenge tour.
No Scarcity Of Revenge Video games On Deck For Baker Mayfield In 2026
The most important revenge recreation on this 2026 revenge tour for Baker Mayfield is available in Week 2, which is the Bucs’ common season residence opener. The Browns go to Raymond James Stadium, and whereas Mayfield did play his former workforce as a member of the Panthers in 2022, this one might imply somewhat extra.
In spite of everything, contemplate the background. Cleveland made Mayfield the No. 1 total choose within the 2018 Draft, and in 2020, he helped the Browns to their first playoff win since 1994. Not even two years later, they dumped him off to the aspect in favor of Deshaun Watson — who was dealing with 22 energetic civil lawsuits — in the hunt for “an adult in the room,” as a workforce supply mentioned. That, unsurprisingly, was disputed by Browns management.
Former Browns QB Baker Mayfield – Photograph by: USA Right this moment
Do you assume Mayfield actually cares if it was mentioned or not? Hell no.
And whereas that reunion with the Browns in 2022 featured this storyline, contemplate that since then, Mayfield has established himself as an actual franchise quarterback in Tampa Bay. In the meantime, outdoors of a season that Joe Flacco saved, Cleveland has nonetheless been and not using a dependable quarterback. What else is new?
So, contemporary off three seasons with the Bucs which have seen him throw for 4,044, 4,500 and three,693 yards and 28, 41 and 26 touchdowns, Mayfield will see the workforce that drafted him — and later despatched him packing — in Week 2. Do you assume he has that recreation circled?
It’s not simply the Browns, both. Think about that new Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski was Mayfield’s head coach in Cleveland on the time. We all know the story there, as Mayfield in a short time took to social media to welcome Stefanski to the NFC South simply after he was employed.
Failed is sort of the attain pal. Nonetheless ready on a textual content/name from him after I received shipped off like a chunk of rubbish. Can’t wait to see you twice a 12 months, Coach. https://t.co/jUUsYkvlOC
Stefanski wasn’t fascinated about buying and selling barbs and had complimentary phrases for the Tampa Bay quarterback. However once more, do you assume Baker Mayfield cares? Nope.
That’s a part of Mayfield’s mentality. Do you assume he’s nonetheless that additional bit fired as much as play the Panthers regardless that there are solely a few coaches remaining on employees and a totally new entrance workplace since his short-lived tenure there? You wager.
And since we’ve lined his historical past with the Falcons head coach and the Panthers, what about finishing the divisional trifecta with the Saints? Will we even must rehash his emotions about that workforce?
Saints DE Carl Granderon and Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photograph by: USA Right this moment
There’s additionally the truth that the Bucs play all the AFC North, so meaning conferences with not simply the Browns but additionally the Bengals, Steelers and Ravens — all groups Mayfield used to see twice a 12 months from 2018-2021.
Now, Mayfield has lots to play for in 2026 as it’s. Greater than something, he desires to bounce again from the tale-of-two-halves kind of season he and the workforce had in 2025 and lead the Bucs to a Tremendous Bowl, reaching the mountaintop for the primary time in his NFL profession within the course of.
He’s additionally taking part in on the ultimate 12 months of his contract as of proper now, so he’ll be seeking to show his value as soon as once more. Even when Tampa Bay inks him to a long-term deal earlier than the season begins, that simply means he’ll wish to exit and show he was definitely worth the funding.
While you add this “revenge tour” context to all of that, you could be rattling certain that Baker Mayfield might be locked in and able to go in 2026.
