Former Oklahoma quarterback and winner of the Heisman Trophy Baker Mayfield has ambitious plans as he starts another contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Mayfield, who extended his contract for three years, $100 million, aims to bring two more Lombardi Trophies to Tampa Bay.
“So the goal here is to try and win a couple,” Mayfield told reporters on March 13.
In 2023, Mayfield revived his career with the Buccaneers by completing 64.3% of his passes, throwing for 4,044 yards and 28 touchdowns, and leading the Buccaneers to a third-straight NFC South title and a Divisional Round playoff appearance.
“He believed in himself, picked himself up, he did it in college and I like this version of Baker Mayfield,” Colin Cowherd said on “The Colin Cowherd Podcast” on March 11.
We’ve always known 6️⃣ was special. @bakermayfield | #OUDNA https://t.co/QpvcR7oPVU
— Oklahoma Football (@OU_Football) March 13, 2024
Mayfield impressed with the Sooners by throwing for 12,292 yards and 119 touchdowns with 21 interceptions between 2015 and 2017. He won the Heisman Trophy twice in 2016 and 2017. Mayfield led the Sooners to a Sugar Bowl victory in 2016 and a College Football Playoff appearance in 2015.
Since his college days, Mayfield has maintained ties to Oklahoma, and he commented on the Sooners’ move to the SEC on Wednesday. The Sooners and Texas Longhorns are the latest teams to leave the Big 12 Conference for the SEC this year.
“I hope it’s not as tough as I anticipate in the first couple of years. SEC ball, it’s tough. The main difference is the guys up front, the offensive line and the defensive line, they make a big difference,” Mayfield said.
Mayfield’s NFL career began with the Cleveland Browns, who selected him as the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft in 2018. Mayfield led the Browns to their first playoff win since 1994, but the team traded him in 2022, leading to a challenging journey to the Buccaneers.
Baker Mayfield: ‘This is Life-Changing Money’
Mayfield may have turned down a larger offer to play elsewhere instead of re-signing with the Buccaneers. Spotrac estimated a four-year, $120 million deal or $30 million annually for Mayfield in free agency.
“This is life-changing money, and I’m not going to pretend otherwise,” Mayfield said in response to a question about other offers.
The Buccaneers succeeded in a concerted effort to keep Mayfield and several key players from the 2023 team — some of whom won the 2020 Super Bowl in Tampa. Mayfield wanted wide receiver Mike Evans back, which the team did. Similarly, the Buccaneers secured key defensive players in linebacker Lavonte David, and safety Antoine Winfield Jr.
Mayfield stated that the 2023 season was “a good run there at the end but I don’t think any of our guys were satisfied” with a Divisional Round exit.
Baker Mayfield: ‘Mental Toughness Can Take You a Long Way’
Mayfield turned his career around in Tampa after a chaotic 2022 with the Carolina Panthers and Los Angeles Rams.
“Mental toughness can take you a long way and just trusting yourself, believing in yourself and trusting in God … for me, this was a good place that has already shown me that I can do that,” Mayfield said.
Mayfield beat out Kyle Trask in training camp and won the locker room in the process. Most of all, the Buccaneers kept winning with Tom Brady retired.
Baker Mayfield: ‘It’s a Weight Lifted Off of Our Shoulders’
After three stops in the NFL, Mayfield and his wife, Emily, have found a home in Tampa.
“It’s a relief from the traveling journey that we’ve been on the last couple of years,” said Mayfield. “For us knowing how much we truly loved being here.”
“And throughout the whole process, we thought we were gonna call this place home in the offseason regardless,” Mayfield added. “That’s how much we fell in love with the community, the city overall and truly enjoyed living here.”
“So it’s a relief, but just knowing that we can settle in and truly make a difference whether it’s with the organization and throughout the community that we can truly be rooted and have a boots on the ground mentality and make a difference and see that through,” Mayfield concluded. “It’s a special feeling.”
