Before the playmaker even had time to blink, he was on the sideline facing the Las Vegas Raiders.
The Rams started quarterback John Wolford, but he lasted only the first offensive series before head coach Sean McVay benched him and inserted Mayfield. Fast forward to when Los Angeles saw themselves down 16-3 in the fourth quarter, struggling and seemingly headed toward its seventh consecutive loss.
Some fans even started leaving the stadium, thinking the game was over for the home team. But Mayfield wasn't done—he saved his best for last in his debut.
He slowly led the Rams back into the game, but with 1:45 remaining on the clock, Los Angeles was still down six points. Mayfield took over and led his team on a 98-yard game-winning drive, throwing a 23-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Van Jefferson with just 10 seconds remaining.
That drive is what ended up setting Mayfield's career on the upturn.
"Just like we drew it up," said McVay, laughing.
"I don't know if you can write it any better than that," Mayfield said. "Obviously we'd like to be a little bit more stress-free, but it's a pretty damn good story, I'll be honest with you."
The 98-yard drive was the longest go-ahead, game-winning touchdown drive that started in the last two minutes over the past 45 years.
"You can't say enough about Baker Mayfield and the leadership, the resilience, and the competitiveness," McVay said. "And what a quick study. I mean, he just got here five minutes ago and figured out a way to be able to do some special things tonight."
From a walk-on to a star
If you peek at Mayfield’s resume, you’ll see impressive accomplishments that many players dream about: a Heisman Trophy winner, the No. 1 draft pick, an All-American, and a record-breaking NFL rookie season.
Yet, the Texas native started from nothing, paving his way from the bottom. After graduating from high school in Austin, Mayfield had multiple Division I scholarship offers, but none of them were from big-time football programs.
So, he chose to join Texas Tech as a walk-on in 2013.
When projected starter Michael Brewer suffered a back injury, Mayfield took over his role, becoming the first-ever true freshman walk-on quarterback to start in a season opener for an FBS school. In his debut, he led the Red Raiders to a 41-23 dominant victory over SMU, completing 46 of 60 passes for 413 yards.
His 43 completions set a school record for a quarterback in a career debut.
Mayfield suffered a minor knee injury that limited him to eight games his freshman year, and he finished with 2,315 yards and 12 touchdowns on a 64% completion percentage.
Everything seemed to be going well at Texas Tech. But after Mayfield came back from his knee injury, head coach Kliff Kingsbury didn’t automatically hand him his starting job back. Mayfield also felt disrespected because the program didn’t offer him a scholarship for the spring semester after his outstanding freshman season. The quarterback later claimed that the communication from Kingsbury died out and he stopped talking to him.
The dispute resulted in Mayfield transferring from Texas Tech following the Bowl game he led the Red Raiders to. The Texas Tech leadership denied Mayfield’s claims and said he was going to get a scholarship. Mayfield left, and the damage was done. There was definitely bad blood - Texas Tech denied his appeal to transfer within the conference without penalty. He initially lost a year of eligibility. In 2015, the Big 12 passed a new rule allowing walk-ons to transfer within the conference with no penalty, so Mayfield’s year was restored.
Even the Red Raiders fan base sensed something went wrong and was pissed at Mayfield. When he was traveling to the Oklahoma - Texas Tech game in 2014, on his own as a Sooners walk-on, he got kicked out of a restaurant in Lubbock.
“They told me I just needed to leave," said Mayfield. "I said, 'Listen, I obviously don't need any more problems in this city. I already have enough. I'm not very well-liked here.' I kind of just took my loss and walked out. I didn't need any extra problems."
He was booed while walking out. When he returned to Texas two years later as Oklahoma’s starter, fans wore shirts displaying “Traitor.” Mayfield led the Sooners to a 66-59 win. Next season, he wore the same shirt when the Red Raiders played at Oklahoma.
Despite the success, he chose to transfer from Texas Tech.
Imagine this: you're the head football coach at Oklahoma, one of the most prominent programs in the Big 12. The previous season, you went 10-3. You're always striving to win the conference title and advance to the College Football Playoff. You're sitting in your office when Baker Mayfield—who had just put together a stellar freshman campaign at another Big 12 institution—knocks on your door and tells you he has enrolled at Oklahoma and wants to play football there.
That sums up Mayfield's transfer story.
After sitting out a year because of NCAA transfer rules, head coach Bob Stoops named him the starting quarterback for the 2015 season. In his second start of the year, the playmaker led the Sooners to a 17-point comeback against Tennessee.
For the next three seasons, Mayfield shined at Oklahoma. He capped his collegiate career with a standout senior season, finishing with 4,627 passing yards, 43 touchdowns, and just six interceptions. He led the FBS with a 70.5 completion rate.
Still, he ran into some off-the-field trouble while at Oklahoma. In February 2017, Mayfield was arrested in Arkansas for disorderly conduct, public intoxication, fleeing, and resisting arrest. He later issued an apology. Prior to his arrest, he got in trouble for making an obscene gesture toward the Kansas bench when the Sooners were battling the Jayhawks.
Mayfield was benched and didn’t start in the next game, but he did play. He’s always been on the wilder side, a little bit of a villain.
He was named a unanimous first-team All-American and the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year.
Then won the Heisman and was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in 2018.
Once again, Mayfield found himself as a starter very quickly.
Moving around
He made his first appearance in Week 3, then started every game from Week 4. The rookie led the Browns to a 7-8-1 record - the franchise’s best since 2007. He threw for 3,725 yards and set a then-NFL record with 27 touchdowns by a rookie.
In the 2020 regular season, Mayfield led Cleveland to an 11-5 record and a first playoff appearance since 2002. In the Wild Card Round, the Browns upset the Pittsburgh Steelers 48-37, earning a first postseason victory since 1994. Mayfield recorded 263 yards, three touchdowns, and completed 21 of 34 passes. Over the season, he totaled 4,030 yards and 30 touchdowns.
It finally seemed like the Browns were back on track and competitive again. But in 2021, the team went 8-9, missed the playoffs, and Mayfield's season ended early after he suffered a torn labrum. In the offseason, the Browns traded for quarterback Deshaun Watson, prompting a trade request from Mayfield.
New home: The Carolina Panthers.
He immediately became a starter in Carolina, but badly sprained his ankle in Week 5. He missed some time, but more importantly, his starting job. After compiling five losses, Mayfield asked for the release. That was the official version, until the new season of Quarterback aired on Netflix. Carolina’s defensive coordinator and interim head coach at the time, Steve Wilks, didn’t like Mayfield and was finding a way to get rid of him.
“I could tell I wasn’t really his favorite, which is fine, but the only thing you can ask for in this business is to be upfront and honest,” shared Mayfield in the documentary.
Wilks wanted to make Mayfield inactive and told him that if he wanted to be released, Carolina would release him. So, the idea didn’t come from Mayfield - it originated from the Panthers.
And Mayfield didn’t forget. Last year, Wilks served as the defensive coordinator for the New York Jets. When the Buccaneers faced the Jets in September 2025, the game was special for the quarterback. Mayfield and Tampa Bay outlasted New York 29-27, and the win was personal for Mayfield.
After his release, next thing you know, he was starting in LA.
After a tremendous five-game stint in California, Mayfield was feeling like himself again, finding joy in the game after a disappointing time in Carolina.
“It brought the fun back. When I’m having fun, talking trash, and enjoying it, like that’s when I’m my best. Yeah, I needed that,” said Mayfield.
Face of the franchise
In 2023, he signed a one-year, $4 million contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The organization was looking for a successor to Tom Brady, and Mayfield appeared as a perfect candidate.
He delivered.
Mayfield led the Buccaneers to the playoffs in his first two years, while achieving some significant milestones. In 2023, Mayfield produced a perfect 158.3 passer rating against the Packers at Lambeau Field, becoming the first visiting quarterback in Lambeau history to accomplish the feat, ultimately earning his first Pro Bowl selection.
In return, Tampa Bay signed him to a three-year, $100 million contract extension.
In 2024, he had a breakout year with 4,500 yards, 41 touchdowns, and only 16 interceptions. He had a 71.4% completion rate and was selected to his second Pro Bowl. His numbers dipped a bit last season, partially because of injuries to key receivers Chris Godwin and Mike Evans, while Mayfield also battled an injury to his non-throwing shoulder.
He was voted #77 on the NFL’s top 100 list for this year.
The Buccaneers missed the playoffs after finishing with an 8-9 record. However, Mayfield established himself in the South, proving he belongs among the league’s best playmakers.
Now, he has one more year remaining on his contract, and the Buccaneers wanted to sign Mayfield to another extension. The problem was the offer. According to the quarterback, it was disrespectful, and he felt undervalued.
"I wanted a deal done and set the deadline and told them it was gonna be all ball after that," Mayfield explained. "I did mean that, and I don't know if they thought I was just gonna take some of the offers they gave. I'm at the point in my career, understanding what I've brought to this franchise -- I'm very, very thankful for the chance they gave me, don't get me wrong about that -- but I also know, I really know what I brought to this franchise, leadership-wise and play-wise. It's been some of the best years of my career, and I think it's only gonna trend upwards, just being comfortable and feeling that."
Here to stay?
Despite lengthy negotiations, no deal has been done. Mayfield wanted an agreement in place by the start of training camp on July 28th. When asked about the specifics of the offer, he revealed that Tampa Bay had offered him a two-year deal. Mayfield found that disappointing, as he was eyeing a long-term contract.
"That's really the disappointing part - to feel undervalued after thinking you've earned it. If you've waited this long to take care of your franchise quarterback, that's too bad because it's only going to get worse from here. I'm going to have a really big year," said Mayfield. "I think I'm a franchise quarterback. I've been told I'm a franchise quarterback. It's been said publicly from ownership down here. So, to not have a deal done is very disappointing. But I said the deadline was the deadline,” he added.
So, why are the Buccaneers hesitant to offer him a big contract? It might be because of the inconsistency he has shown throughout his three seasons in Tampa. His numbers dipped last year, and he also battled multiple injuries. But Mayfield has also proven that he is capable of delivering showstopping performances, winning big games, and refusing to crumble under pressure.
He has also shown that when things aren't working, he isn't afraid to walk away—to go somewhere else, find himself again, and thrive in a place where he's wanted. Like Oklahoma. The Rams. And even Tampa Bay. When Mayfield is at his best, he can be unstoppable.
Now, it's up to Tampa to make sure that version of Baker stays—and keep him around for the long term.
