Baker Mayfield, the quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, is taking on the tough task of following in the footsteps of the legendary Tom Brady, a seven-time Super Bowl champion. In his first season, he kept the team competitive, and his performance in 2024 has started strong.

Even with his early achievements, Mayfield is forging his own path rather than mimicking Brady’s style. During a recent appearance on the “Casa De Klub podcast,” he highlighted the unique “culture” that Brady established in Tampa.

Baker Mayfield Reflects on Brady’s ‘Stressed Out’ Team

Mayfield shared on the podcast, “When Tom was around, the atmosphere was noticeably different. Obviously, Tom’s playing style is unique. He kept everyone focused, which created a very tense situation, leading to a lot of stress for the team.”

He elaborated, saying, “You hear stories about him not liking a play call. If those plays were still called during the game, he might intentionally misthrow the ball, throwing it low or targeting the running back’s feet. It created a lot of mental challenges.”

The Buccaneers have rejuvenated their team dynamics, showing improvement week after week. When Brady retired, there were doubts about the team’s future, but Mayfield has dispelled those concerns. He mentioned, “The front office and Coach Bowles encouraged me to just be myself. That’s all they ask of me.”

While it’s not confirmed that Brady purposely threw passes at his receivers’ feet, there were enough instances, especially during his final year, that raise eyebrows. At that time, Brady was older than offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich.

Brady has transitioned into broadcasting now, and fans of the NFL are curious if he will address Mayfield’s remarks.

The Buccaneers are no strangers to success. The culture that Brady fostered during his time with the team has persisted even after his departure. They are the only NFC team to have made the playoffs in the last four years and recently secured their third consecutive NFC South title. In the previous postseason, Mayfield led Tampa Bay to a surprising win over the defending NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles, marking their sixth playoff victory within four seasons—only the Kansas City Chiefs have more during that stretch.

A former No. 1 overall draft pick, Mayfield enjoyed his best season last year and currently ranks behind only Derek Carr of the New Orleans Saints in QBR through the first two weeks of the 2024 season. Drafted in 2018 by the Cleveland Browns, Mayfield joined Tampa Bay ahead of the 2023 season, marking his fourth team in three years. The Buccaneers acquired him at a low cost, and he responded by achieving a career-high with 4,044 passing yards and 28 touchdown passes.

Mayfield has infused a fresh, genuine energy into the franchise that was missing even during Brady’s leadership. His teammates have remarked on how relatable he is, often seen socializing with them, a stark contrast to Brady’s more isolated celebrity status.

When he joined the Buccaneers, Mayfield openly acknowledged Brady as the greatest, stating in an episode of NFL Now, “He is the greatest quarterback to have ever played the game, and he genuinely deserves that acknowledgment. I’ll remain true to myself. Tom was unique in his own right. I respect everything he’s accomplished, and I plan to learn from those who worked with him about his strategies and what made him successful.”

He added, “I’m looking forward to this challenge. They’re big shoes to fill, but I’m determined to make my own mark.” Now, a year later, he has succeeded while maintaining his individuality.

This offseason, Mayfield secured a three-year contract worth $100 million with Tampa Bay, positioning himself as the front-runner for another playoff push with the Buccaneers.

Baker Mayfield’s 2024 Statistics (Through Week 2)

• 474 passing yards (ranked 11th)
• 5 passing touchdowns (tied for 1st)
• 1 interception (tied for 19th)
• 68.8 QBR (ranked 6th)