Steve Wilks insists that Baker Mayfield’s beef with him is misguided. 

The Buccaneers quarterback said following Sunday’s last-second 29-27 win over the Jets that defeating Wilks was “personal” because he believed the Jets’ first-year defensive coordinator was “the one that cut me in Carolina” in 2022. 

Not so, said Wilks, who replaced Matt Rhule on an interim basis in October of that season after the Panthers opened with a 1-4 record. 

“I don’t really think an interim coach has much authority over personnel,” Wilks said before practice Friday in Florham Park. “If that’s the case, I wouldn’t have gotten rid of our best player, Christian McCaffrey.” 

Mayfield, the No. 1 pick by the Browns in 2018, was acquired by Carolina in a trade before the 2022 season. He appeared in only seven games for the Panthers, going 1-5 in six starts. His request for a release was granted by the Panthers that December, and he finished the season with the Rams before signing the next season and resurrecting his career with Tampa Bay. 

Jets defensive coordinator Steve Wilks talks to the media before practice. Bill Kostroun/New York Post

Ten days after Rhule was fired on Oct. 10, 2022, McCaffrey was traded to the 49ers for multiple draft picks. 

“A lot of respect for Baker, tremendous football player, and he’s doing a hell of a job with those guys down there [in Tampa Bay],” Wilks added Friday. “Nothing really much to say beyond that.” 

Mayfield threw for 233 yards and one touchdown with no interceptions Sunday for the Bucs (3-0), and said afterward that revenge against Wilks was on his mind. 

Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) throws the ball during the second quarter against the New York Jets. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

“I loved it,” Mayfield told reporters. “And also their D-coordinator was the one that cut me in Carolina. Lot of stuff was personal today.” 

Wilks posted a respectable 6-6 record after replacing Rhule in 2022, including a 4-2 stretch to end the season with former Jets first-round pick Sam Darnold — now with the Seahawks — at quarterback. 

Frank Reich was hired to replace Wilks in 2023 but he lasted only 11 games (1-10) before current coach Dave Canales took over the following season. 

Quarterback Baker Mayfield #6 of the Carolina Panthers talks with head coach Steve Wilks. Getty Images

The 56-year-old Wilks did not coach in the NFL last season after he was fired as the defensive coordinator of the 49ers in February 2024 after they lost to the Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII.