Sunday’s game between Baker Mayfield’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Sam Darnold’s Seattle Seahawks will be a reunion of sorts between the two QBs. On top of waiting in the green room to hear their names called in the 2018 NFL Draft, they crossed paths as teammates too.
Mayfield and Darnold were briefly teammates on the Carolina Panthers in 2022. Both joined the team via trades from the Browns and Jets respectively. Mayfield was released midway through the season while Darnold would finish out the season and hit free agency afterwards.
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But Mayfield and Darnold have apparently been close friends for years. During his media session today, Mayfield was asked if he and Darnold ever “reminisce” about their Carolina days.
Mayfield quickly tried to dismiss that topic.
“Oh, nope. No we don’t,” he said with a slight grin.
Mayfield has been open about his disdain for the Panthers and how he felt he was treated there. Prior to the Bucs’ game against the New York Jets a few weeks ago, Mayfield criticized Jets defensive coordinator Steve Wilks for giving up on him when Wilks was the Panthers’ interim head coach that year.
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But Mayfield seemed to emerge better for it.
A few games with the Los Angeles Rams preceded a one-year deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers where he promptly won and emerged as a viable replacement for NFL legend Tom Brady.
As for Darnold, he got a backup job in San Francisco in 2023, followed by a starting job in Minnesota in 2024 and finally got his long-term free agent deal with the Seattle Seahawks this past offseason.
Now the two are set to square off on the field once again.
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TAMPA, FL – AUGUST 26: Baker Mayfield #6 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers drops back to pass during the first quarter of an NFL preseason football game against the Baltimore Ravens at Raymond James Stadium on August 26, 2023 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images
State of the Buccaneers
The Buccaneers are off to a 3–1 start and lead the NFC South as of early October. They opened 3–0, their best such start since 2005, before falling 31–25 to the Philadelphia Eagles in a tightly contested game. Their offense has continued to lean on dual threats—with Bucky Irving leading the run game and Baker Mayfield handling the passing duties (904 yards, 6 TDs in four games)—while wide receiver Emeka Egbuka is making an impact early, racking up 282 receiving yards in his rookie stretch.
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On defense, Tampa Bay has been aggressive and disruptive, leading the league in tackles for loss through the first month and allowing just 3.33 yards per carry, a figure among the best in the NFL. Their rushing defense’s stinginess is especially notable given that the Seahawks are averaging on the weaker side in yards per attempt.
This story was originally reported by The Spun on Oct 1, 2025, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add The Spun as a Preferred Source by clicking here.