Jon Gruden crowns Baker Mayfield with wild Brett Favre and Rocky Balboa comparison

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback and Oklahoma legend Baker Mayfield is rapidly winning over more fans from the NFL world, and former NFL coach Jon Gruden might be the president of Mayfield’s newfound fan club.

One play in particular had fans oohing and aahing over Mayfield during another stellar performance in the Bucs’ 30-19 win over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, especially Gruden, who threw out a wild, but somehow accurate, comparison to Mayfield.

Oklahoma great Baker Mayfield making case for NFL MVP

Mayfield was surely sacked with two defensive linemen draped on him, but he, of course, escaped and scrambled for a diving first down on a third-and-long. Jim Nantz can even be heard during the broadcast saying, “He’s not gonna have a chance… Oh, yes, he is” while announcing the play.

The play went viral on Sunday, and of course Gruden shared it, too.

Sooner Nation saw plays like this one from Mayfield for three seasons, but NFL fans are just now finally realizing what Mayfield is capable of as he’s revitalized his career in Tampa Bay.

Gruden has been yelling praises of Mayfield every Sunday all season as Mayfield has earned Gruden’s MVP vote, even as the Bucs’ receivers are decimated with injuries.

“He’s a combination, to me, of Brett Favre and Rocky Balboa, man, the way he’s playing,” Gruden said during a Barstool Sports appearance. “That scramble that he had (Sunday) on 3rd-and-14, you don’t see quarterbacks with that kind of playing style. This guy has really done an unbelievable job with all the injuries. …

“This guy is an assassin, man. To me, he is really, really deserving of the MVP if we gave it out today.”

In a way, it seemed like the only fair comp that’s ever been made to Mayfield. Fans have been respecting Mayfield’s toughness after he’ll get knocked down during a throw and pop up heated instead of crying for a flag. He really is like Rocky in the ring before making a throw like Favre.