Baker Mayfield quarterback of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, has clarified where he stands with Kevin Stefanski, now head coach of the Atlanta Falcons.
While outside observers speculated about lingering tension from their time together with the Cleveland Browns, Mayfield insists the narrative has been overblown.
Earlier this offseason, after Stefanski was hired by the Falcons, Mayfield posted a pointed message that quickly gained traction: “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.”
The comment reignited memories of Mayfield’s abrupt exit from Cleveland following the 2021 season.
However, in a more recent interview, Mayfield downplayed the idea of a feud.
“There’s stuff there, but it’s not like it’s beef,” he explained. “We’ve worked together, anytime you know somebody, you want to beat them whether it’s a good or bad relationship.” If anything, those remarks suggest a competitor’s mentality rather than personal animosity.
Recapping the history between Baker Mayfield and Larry Stefanski
The history between Mayfield and Stefanski is significant. After being selected No. 1 overall in the 2018 NFL Draft, Mayfield became the face of the Browns franchise. Under Stefanski in 2020, he threw 26 touchdown passes against eight interceptions, helping guide Cleveland to an 11-5 record and its first playoff victory since 1994.
Yet injuries and inconsistency the following season, including a torn labrum in his non-throwing shoulder, led to an inevitable regression.
The Browns finished 8-9, and the organization ultimately moved on, trading Mayfield to the Carolina Panthers. A brief stop with the Los Angeles Rams followed before he revived his career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Now, with Stefanski leading the Falcons and Mayfield entrenched in Tampa Bay, the storyline has shifted from past fallout to divisional implications.
A division rivalry takes center stage
Mayfield made it clear that his focus centers on divisional outcomes rather than personal redemption. “Not a revenge game in the 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.”
For Mayfield, who threw for over 4,000 yards and 28 touchdowns last season while posting a career-best completion percentage above 64%, sustaining that production will be critical if Tampa Bay hopes to reclaim control.
Meanwhile, Stefanski arrives in Atlanta with a reputation for quarterback-friendly schemes. During his tenure in Cleveland, the Browns ranked among the league leaders in rushing efficiency and play-action usage, structures that often eased pressure on the quarterback.
How that translates to the Falcons, and how Mayfield adjusts when facing a familiar system, will add tactical intrigue.
Despite the competitive subtext, Mayfield closed the door on any notion of lingering hostility, even joking about a potential postgame meal.
“Maybe we will have one after the game in Atlanta, I don’t know. I have two opportunities to see next year if we are going to share a burger.”
After all, the twice-annual meetings between the Buccaneers and Falcons will be decided on execution, not past grievances.
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