What once simmered quietly behind the scenes in Cleveland has now evolved into one of the NFL‘s most intriguing subplots. Baker Mayfield‘s strained relationship with Kevin Stefanski has re-emerged in a new setting, and with both now in the NFC South, the tension is no longer avoidable.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles addressed the situation this week, offering a candid but measured take that underlined both the personal and competitive stakes involved.
“I think that’s something that they have to figure out from that standpoint since we can’t have a boxing match where they get in the ring with each other and knock each other out,” Bowles said in an interview with Josina Anderson.
“You know we’re going to back our guy Baker, and I’m sure they’re going to back their coach as well. It’s a division game, so it’s already going to be a tough fought, hard fought game, so it just adds to it.”
The comments come as anticipation builds for the first meetings between Mayfield‘s Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Stefanski‘s Atlanta Falcons, matchups that now carry far more weight than a typical divisional clash.
The origins of the friction trace back to Mayfield‘s departure from the Cleveland Browns in 2022. After playing through injuries during the 2021 season, the quarterback was replaced following the team’s move for Deshaun Watson, ending his tenure in abrupt fashion.
Mayfield later made his frustration public, pointing to what he felt was a lack of communication from Stefanski during that transition.
“Still waiting on a text/call from him after I got shipped off like a piece of garbage,” Mayfield wrote on X in January. “Can’t wait to see you twice a year, Coach.”
While Stefanski has avoided escalating the situation publicly, the remark lingered and helped shape the narrative around their relationship. More recently, Mayfield has taken a more restrained tone, suggesting the situation is less about personal animosity and more about competition.
“There’s stuff there, but it’s not like it’s beef,” Mayfield said in a February interview. “We’ve worked together… you want to beat them whether it’s a good or bad relationship.”
What was behind Mayfield’s 2025 struggles
Beyond the off field storyline, Mayfield‘s recent form has also come under scrutiny following a disappointing end to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers‘ 2025 season. After a strong start, Tampa Bay faded down the stretch, with the quarterback’s performance dipping at a crucial point in the campaign.
However, former teammate Lavonte David offered important context, revealing that Mayfield was dealing with multiple injuries throughout the season.
“I’m telling you, Baker was going through a lot,” David said on “The Arena” podcast. “He had the oblique injury, shoulder injury… ankle injury, knee injury. He was really trying to push and be the player that we needed him to be.”
Those physical setbacks, combined with injuries to key offensive players, contributed to the team’s late season struggles. David pushed back on criticism directed at Mayfield, emphasizing that his early season performances showed his true level.
“I don’t think Baker should’ve got the blame at all,” he added. “Early in the season, he was playing lights out.”
A rivalry that could shape the division
With both sides now firmly positioned in the NFC South, what was once a personal grievance has transformed into a storyline with tangible consequences. Each meeting between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Atlanta Falcons will carry implications not only for playoff positioning but also for a narrative that refuses to fade.
Todd Bowles‘ stance makes it clear where the Buccaneers stand. The focus may be on winning games, but the emotional edge is undeniable.
And when Baker Mayfield and Kevin Stefanski finally meet on opposite sidelines, the history between them will be impossible to ignore.
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