Baker Mayfield’s Lingering Resentment Toward Cleveland Browns and Kevin Stefanski
Baker Mayfield’s journey from being the Cleveland Browns’ first overall pick in 2018 to his current success with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers has been marked by both triumph and turbulence. Recently, Mayfield’s unresolved feelings toward his former organization resurfaced on social media, highlighting wounds that clearly haven’t healed despite his career renaissance in Tampa Bay. The quarterback’s pointed comments toward former Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski, who was recently hired by the Atlanta Falcons, reveal that professional relationships in the NFL often carry personal weight long after contracts end. With Stefanski now coaching within the same division as Mayfield, their twice-yearly meetings promise to add compelling drama to the NFC South rivalries.
The conflict became public when Mayfield responded to a social media post suggesting Stefanski had inherited a “dumpster fire” at quarterback in Cleveland, referencing both Mayfield and Deshaun Watson. Mayfield’s retort was direct and revealing: “Failed is quite the reach, pal. Still waiting on a text or call from him after I got shipped off like a piece of garbage. Can’t wait to see you twice a year, Coach.” This candid response offers a window into Mayfield’s perspective—he felt discarded without proper acknowledgment from a coach with whom he had shared significant professional experiences. The quarterback’s words suggest he viewed this as a breach of professional courtesy and perhaps even personal respect, further complicating their relationship as they prepare to face each other as divisional opponents.
What makes Mayfield’s resentment particularly intriguing is that his most successful season with Cleveland occurred during Stefanski’s first year as head coach in 2020. That season, Mayfield threw for 3,563 yards with 26 touchdowns against just 8 interceptions, guiding the Browns to an 11-5 record and a playoff appearance—a marked improvement from his first two seasons under former coach Freddie Kitchens. The success of that 2020 campaign makes the subsequent deterioration of their professional relationship all the more striking. Mayfield’s performance declined the following season while he played through a torn labrum, an injury that not only affected his on-field production but ultimately factored into Cleveland’s decision to move in a different direction at quarterback.
The journey from Cleveland to Tampa Bay was not straightforward for Mayfield. After being traded to the Carolina Panthers in 2022—the transaction that apparently occurred without any personal communication from Stefanski—Mayfield endured a brief, unsuccessful stint before landing with the Los Angeles Rams later that season. At that point, many NFL observers questioned whether Mayfield would ever again be trusted as a franchise quarterback. His career trajectory seemed to mirror that of other highly-drafted quarterbacks who flash early promise but ultimately settle into backup roles. However, Tampa Bay’s decision to sign Mayfield has proven mutually beneficial, revitalizing his career in ways few predicted.
Since joining the Buccaneers, Mayfield has experienced a career resurrection that stands as one of the NFL’s more compelling comeback stories. He has led Tampa Bay to the playoffs in two of his three seasons as starter while earning two Pro Bowl selections—accolades that had eluded him since his rookie season. This success has validated Mayfield’s abilities while simultaneously raising questions about what might have been had circumstances in Cleveland played out differently. It also adds considerable weight to the upcoming matchups between Mayfield’s Buccaneers and Stefanski’s Falcons, contests that will now carry narrative significance beyond their impact on divisional standings.
The Mayfield-Stefanski dynamic exemplifies how NFL relationships extend beyond X’s and O’s, touching on human elements of communication, respect, and closure. As Mayfield prepares to face his former coach twice yearly in their new divisional rivalry, both men bring their shared history and separate perspectives to each encounter. For Mayfield, these games will likely represent more than just divisional contests—they’ll be opportunities to prove his worth to someone he feels didn’t value him appropriately. For fans and analysts, these matchups will provide fascinating theater as a quarterback’s personal vindication quest intersects with the already intense competition of the NFL. Whether this added motivation will elevate Mayfield’s play or create unwanted distractions remains to be seen, but it certainly adds compelling subtext to Tampa Bay’s games against Atlanta for the foreseeable future.
