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Baker Mayfield Stefanski comments
When it was announced that Baker Mayfield’s former head coach Kevin Stefanski would be hired by the Bucs‘ NFC South rival Atlanta Falcons, Mayfield had a couple of harsh words for him, almost welcoming him to the division backhandedly. Now, Baker Mayfield has downplayed the “beef” developed between him and his former coach.
His initial comments went semi-viral on X after he called out Stefanski’s process of bringing in Deshaun Watson to replace him in Cleveland. He also mentioned that he would be thrilled when he got to face Stefanski’s new team twice a year.
Failed is quite the reach pal. Still waiting on a text/call from him after I got shipped off like a piece of garbage. Can’t wait to see you twice a year, Coach. https://t.co/jUUsYkvlOC
— Baker Mayfield (@bakermayfield) January 20, 2026
Revisiting the Cleveland Fallout
While that tweet made the rounds and elicited a response from Stefanski, it seems as if Baker is now attempting to make amends. In a recent interview with Sports Illustrated, Baker Mayfield touched on his former comments.
“There’s stuff there, but it’s not like it’s beef,” Mayfield said in the interview. “We’ve worked together, anytime you know somebody, you want to beat them, whether it’s a good or bad relationship… Not a revenge game of a sense of Atlanta, but we lost the division for the first time since four or five years, so, any divisional game will be a revenge game, I guess.”
This comment will surely add more fuel to the fire however, as Mayfield actually has a sub-.500 record against the Falcons throughout his career. Still, being able to resurrect his career after that harsh exit from Cleveland has to feel good.
To some, had Mayfield struggled to find his footing in the league after his Cleveland exodus, his comments could have come across as asinine. Now with the opportunity to turn this mini rivalry into something much bigger, he can take certain liberties with his comments.
A Rivalry Renewed in the NFC South
For Mayfield and Stefanski, it’s more about being comfortable with where they are at. Whether it be Mayfield’s long seven year journey to find his place with the Bucs or Stefanski starting anew with the Falcons with a chance to resurrect his coaching career, both will be content in knowing that they’ve got to a good place.
“Playing quarterback is difficult but it’s all about the right fit,” Mayfield said about finding his place in the league. “The people you are surrounded with, the staff, the organization then obviously giving you all the resources you need to have to have success.”
For now, the offseason will allow these comments to simmer before potentially being called upon again when the Bucs and Falcons play twice next year. In what could be two games that decide the division, this “beef” will most likely be decided on the field.
Make no mistake about it, both player and coach have a massive amount of respect for each other. Now, both forging their own paths after the fact, they can just let their respective games do the talking.
For now, Mayfield is willing to tamp down any tension between the two. We’ll see if he keeps the same energy when they play each other next season.
Christopher Sheppard Christopher Sheppard is a passionate and knowledgeable sports journalist based in Englewood, NJ pursuing a role in the sports media industry. He covers the NFL for Heavy Sports, focusing on the Dolphins, Chargers, and Buccanneers. More about Christopher Sheppard
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