Steven King/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield gave insight into how the team’s culture has changed after his predecessor, seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady, retired in 2023.
Mayfield, who is in his second season as the Bucs’ QB1, made his remarks on the Casa De Klub podcast with ex-MLB star pitcher Corey Kluber (h/t Tom Viera of USA Today).
“The building was a little bit different with Tom in there,” Mayfield said in part (3:35 mark). “Obviously, playing-wise, Tom is different. He had everybody dialed in, high-strung environment, so I think everybody was pretty stressed out.”
Mayfield also said that the expectation when he came in to replace Brady was to be himself and to “bring the joy back to football for some of the guys that weren’t having as much fun.”
As Mayfield himself noted, he and Brady have “very different personalities,” and his focus was just to be himself and not fill his shoes. Mayfield also stressed that he had to do things his own way.
He later added (47:20 mark): “You hear some of the stories about if he didn’t like a certain play call and he didn’t like it throughout the week and they still call it in the game, there might have been a throwaway on purpose or throwing it at the running back or receiver’s feet. There were a lot of mind games going on.”
Brady certainly found success in Tampa Bay, leading the team to the playoffs in all three of his seasons and guiding the Bucs to a Super Bowl victory to cap the 2020 campaign.
Expectations for Tampa Bay were rather low after Brady retired, but Mayfield has been sensational as the starting quarterback. The Bucs won the NFC South last year and defeated the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Wild Card round. Tampa Bay then nearly picked off the Detroit Lions in the NFC Divisional round before falling 31-23.
This season, the Bucs are off to a 2-0 start after wins over the Washington Commanders (37-20) at home and the Lions (20-16) on the road. It’s early yet, but the Bucs are looking like a legitimate NFC contender.
Mayfield’s played a big role in that, accounting for six touchdowns (five passing, one rushing) so far. He’ll look to keep the good vibes rolling in Tampa on Sunday when the Bucs host the Denver Broncos.