Baker Mayfield arrived in Tampa Bay from the Cleveland Browns with modest expectations. Simply performing decently would have sufficed for most observers. Yet, no one foresaw the resurgence that would unfold, a quarterback once written off leading the Buccaneers to the NFC South division title.
Before that, Mayfield had managed to elevate the Browns, even turning them into contenders, but the front office ultimately lost faith in him. In a stunning move, Cleveland opted to bring in Deshaun Watson from Houston to command the offense.
Feeling betrayed, Mayfield requested a trade, landing in Florida with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Ironically, the decision to part ways with him backfired for the Browns, who shelled out over $200 million in guaranteed money for Watson, a move that has yet to pay off. For Mayfield, the transition marked a rebirth in his young career, reigniting his confidence and redefining his reputation in the league.
Baker Mayfield changes perceptions about himself
When Mayfield first entered the NFL, he was widely perceived as cocky and immature. Those characterizations likely contributed to the Browns’ decision to move on from him. However, his time in Tampa Bay has rewritten that narrative. Now, he’s described using very different words: moxie and a dawg. The quarterback himself explained how this transformation came about.
In five games this season, Mayfield has engineered four come-from-behind victories, a testament to his poise and determination. Those performances have thrust him back into the national conversation, not just as a solid starter but as a potential MVP candidate alongside Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, and Dak Prescott.
His success, he says, stems from a renewed focus on discipline and self-improvement. Mayfield joined the Buccaneers on a one-year “prove-it” deal. Since then, he’s thrown for 4,044 yards and 28 touchdowns, led Tampa Bay to a division championship, and even secured a playoff victory. His accomplishments have cemented his value as a key piece of the franchise’s future.
The quarterback’s evolution in leadership and maturity has been striking, reshaping how fans, teammates, and analysts view him.
I try not to get too high, not get too low, which is something that I was not doing early on in my career. But, you know, early on in my career, yeah, it looked as cocky, immature. Now it’s moxie – he’s a dawg. So, it’s same sh*t, different day. Just as long as you play well, they change the narrative. But you just got to be yourself. And I’ve always been like that.
His words appeared to carry an implicit message aimed at his current team, the same organization that frequently uses the terms moxie and a dawg to describe its players. Perhaps Mayfield’s statement was not an attack but rather a subtle reminder: he has evolved, matured, and earned the right to be recognized for the player and leader he has become within this franchise.
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