In Baker Mayfield’s love story, his now-wife, Emily, eventually said yes.
Reflecting on the early days of their romance in a joint ESPN interview ahead of the Buccaneers’ “Monday Night Football” clash against the Lions in Week 7, Mayfield detailed how a friend helped put his pursuit of Emily in motion — but that it took a beat before she would budge.
“Patrick [Hayes], of course, being a good friend, asked her if I could have her number, and she said no,” Mayfield recalled. “So, I went to Instagram, hit the follow button, no follow back. Hit the unfollow button, hit the follow again, no follow back. Tried to slide into the DMs, no response. At this point, feeling pretty rejected, and finally, you gave Patrick the OK I can get your number.”
Baker Mayfield and wife Emily opened up about the early days of their relationship in a new interview. Instagram
When Emily did agree to go on a lunch date with Mayfield, both she and the quarterback, 30, knew they were destined to go the distance.
“The entire time he was asking questions about me, about my family, it was not the Baker show,” Emily said. “… After, I went home and texted my mom and sister and said, ‘I think I might marry this guy.’ I just had this weird gut feeling.”
Mayfield felt the same, popping the question in June 2018 after six months of dating.
The couple tied the knot in a dreamy Malibu ceremony in July 2019 as Mayfield entered his second season with the Browns, who drafted him first overall a year before.
Emily Mayfield has been by Baker Mayfield’s side through challenging times of his NFL career. ESPN/YouTube
The quarterback has played for the Buccaneers since 2023 and has thrived in Tampa Bay. Getty Images
Although their big day was something out of a fairytale, Mayfield’s NFL career quickly spiraled following the 2021-22 season in Cleveland.
The club acquired Mayfield’s replacement in controversial Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson, signing the former first-round pick — who had been accused of sexual misconduct by massage therapists — to a five-year, $230 million fully guaranteed contract in March 2022.
Mayfield remained in limbo before the Browns traded him to the Panthers that summer. He was released by the team in December 2022 and linked up with the Rams — months before his fateful March 2023 signing with the Buccaneers.
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The quarterback credited Emily for helping him to weather the storm.
“For her to stay through all the low points and trust the fact that I could find my way back and she was helping me do that,” said Mayfield, who has tossed his name into the MVP race this season.
Now parents to 1-year-old daughter Kova, Emily’s eyes light up over the bond Mayfield has with his baby girl.
Baker Mayfield with his wife Emily. emilymayfield/Instagram
“I’ve always said it, Baker is … he’s not for everyone. He’s a little polarizing on the field, kind of hard and harsh in certain circumstances but he’s such a softie, so I knew he’d be a good dad,” she said.
Despite Monday’s setback, a 24-9 road loss in Detroit, Mayfield has played lights out, throwing for 13 touchdowns against two interceptions through seven games while missing some of the Bucs’ top offensive weapons.
He is in the second year of a $100 million contract extension with Tampa Bay.