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Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield and his wife, Emily Wilkinson Mayfield.
In terms of giving back, Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield and his wife, Emily, are creating a legacy that will end up going far beyond wins and losses thanks to their Baker & Emily Mayfield Foundation.
Baker Mayfield’s signed cleats worn in the NFL’s “My Cause, My Cleats” campaign in 2025 drew a record-setting bid on Tuesday that will go back to helping those who need it the most.
From the Baker & Emily Mayfield Foundation’s official X account: “Because of this moment, more families will feel supported, seen, and believed in. A record-breaking $43,010 MyCause, MyCleats bid directly benefiting the mission of the Baker & Emily Mayfield Foundation.”
Mayfield was Tampa Bay’s nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award this season — considered the highest individual honor an NFL player can receive.
“Being recognized for this award alongside the best in our league is an extraordinary honor,” Mayfield said following his nomination. “Our responsibility as professional athletes and NFL players extends far beyond what we do on the field, and it is incredibly humbling to be considered for Walter Payton Man of the Year. I’m grateful for the opportunity to make a difference through this platform and to help others overcome whatever challenges they may be facing.”
“My Cause, My Cleats” allows NFL players to wear custom-made cleats that are then bid on at auction, with that money going to the charities of their choice.
Mayfield has been the starting quarterback for the Buccaneers since 2023 and is a 2-time Pro Bowler over the last 3 seasons. In 2026, he will be in the final year of the 3-year, $100 million contract he signed before the 2024 season.
The Mayfield Foundation’s Good Deeds
The Mayfields started their foundation when they moved to Florida in 2023 and have gone far and wide to help those in need, including $600,000 raised through their “Be The Ball” event in Tampa with that money going directly to the Early Learning Coalition of Hillsborough County.
In 2024, Baker Mayfield donated almost $20,000 in equipment to the Space Coast (Florida) High football team when he learned their season was in jeopardy because they didn’t have proper equipment. In a crazy twist, Space Coast won its first state championship that season.
The Mayfields also have a pair of walk-on scholarships worth $10,000 each they give out to walk-on college athletes like Mayfield, do nationwide work with Meals on Wheels and Baker Mayfield personally donated $50,000 to Hurricane relief in 2024.
Class of 2018 QBs Made Huge Leap in Super Bowl LX
Mayfield was the No. 1 pick in the 2018 NFL draft by the Cleveland Browns — a draft that’s become defined by the 5 quarterbacks picked in the first round.
Mayfield’s career seemed all but over after he was traded by the Browns and cut by the Carolina Panthers in the course of a few months in 2022 but somehow built his way back up to becoming one of the NFL’s elite.
Sam Darnold, the No. 3 overall pick by the New York Jets, just led the Seattle Seahawks to a Super Bowl win — the first quarterback in NFL history to do so as a starter on their 5th team.
The other 2 quarterbacks, Josh Allen (No. 7 overall) and Lamar Jackson (No. 32 overall), are both NFL MVP award winners, with Jackson winning twice.
The fifth quarterback, Josh Rosen (No. 10 overall), played for 7 teams in 5 seasons and has been out of the NFL since 2022.
Tony Adame covers the NFL for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Commanders, Dallas Cowboys, Baltimore Ravens, Philadelphia Eagles and Denver Broncos. A veteran sports writer and editor since 2004, his work has been featured at Stadium Talk, Yardbarker, NW Florida Daily News and Pensacola News Journal. More about Tony Adame
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