You just gotta let Baker bake.
Former Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield was completely open this week while he was a guest on Jason and Travis Kelce’s “New Heights” podcast. Mayfield was a big-name guest, even for the Kelce brothers, after his resurgence with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Mayfield was asked exactly why he’s found so much success with the Bucs after three failed stops before.
“This isn’t to sh** on the other teams and franchises, but when you step in and your GM and your head coach say, ‘Hey, just be you,’ after I’ve been told at every stop and everywhere I go, ‘You need to tone it down a little bit, you need to be a franchise quarterback.’ It’s just not who I am,” Mayfield said. “I wear my emotions on my sleeves. ... I’m gonna talk sh**, I’m going to do whatever, but when it’s time to turn the lights on and go do something, I’m going to do it.
“So when I stepped into the building, they all told me to just be myself. It's been, not to say comfortable, but it's felt like home since the beginning. As a quarterback that's been through a little bit of a journey, you can't ask for anything else."
Mayfield honest with Jason, Travis Kelce about success with Buccaneers
Mayfield got that freedom at Oklahoma and transformed from a walk-on to a Heisman Trophy winner, No. 1 NFL Draft pick and one of the greatest college quarterbacks we’ve ever watched. He’s accomplished extraordinary things because he’s uncommon, so Mayfield can’t be forced into a box that locks away his potential.
After college, Mayfield was drafted No. 1 overall by the cursed Cleveland Browns. Despite leading the Browns to the NFL Playoffs for the first time in 18 years in 2020, Mayfield was replaced just a year later and sent packing. The Browns still haven’t solidified a QB since.
“Not my problem anymore,” Mayfield responded when asked if there was a way to fix the Browns’ never-ending QB carousel.
Mayfield was then traded to the Carolina Panthers and cut midseason before ending the season with the Los Angeles Rams for five games.
In 2023, Mayfield didn’t shy away from the task of replacing Tom Brady in Tampa Bay on a one-year deal. He then got the Bucs back into the playoffs as NFC South division champions and made his first Pro Bowl. Last season, Mayfield did the same thing again and has officially rejuvenated his career while becoming the Bucs’ franchise QB.
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