Baker Mayfield finally gets his chance at revenge against the Browns in Week 2

Baker Mayfield hasn’t been shy about how much the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Week 2 matchup against the Cleveland Browns means to him, revealing that the game has been circled on his calendar since the NFL schedule was released.

The Browns drafted Mayfield first overall in the 2018 NFL Draft, and he spent the first four seasons of his career in Cleveland, where he led them to their first playoff victory in 26 years.

But the honeymoon phase ended when the Browns pursued a trade for Deshaun Watson, and Mayfield requested a trade out of Cleveland as a result. Now, Mayfield has found a home as the franchise quarterback in Tampa Bay, and he’ll get to host Watson and the Browns in the Buccaneers’ home opener – and revenge is on his mind.

Baker Mayfield has spent his entire career proving people wrong

Mayfield is characterized by the chip he carries on his shoulder, and for good reason. For those not familiar with the journey that led him to Tampa Bay, he’s made a career out of proving doubters wrong. He had zero major FBS scholarship offers coming out of high school, so he walked on at Texas Tech. He became the first true freshman to ever start an FBS season opener, and he didn’t just start, he threw for 413 yards and four touchdowns.

He transferred to Oklahoma in 2015, and once again walked on. He earned the starting job and put together a prolific career for the Sooners, including his 2017 Heisman season that enticed the Browns to select him No. 1 overall.

After his rocky divorce from Cleveland following their trade for Watson, Mayfield was traded to the Carolina Panthers, where he went 1-5 as a starter before being benched and infamously was relegated to scout team defensive end.

His career was at a low-point before being released and ultimately landing with the Los Angeles Rams where he went 2-3 as a starter, including a 98-yard game-winning drive in his first game that changed the trajectory of his career.

The Buccaneers signed him in free agency after Tom Brady retired following the 2022 season, and the rest is history. Through his three seasons in Tampa Bay, this is his first opportunity to face the Browns. If you think he’s not itching to stick it to his former team, think again.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield has been waiting for his chance to beat the Cleveland Browns

In an appearance on the 4th And South podcast. Mayfield was asked which game on the Bucs schedule he’s looking forward to the most.

"First home game. Week 2. Cleveland," Mayfield said. "I only played four years in Cleveland, but it felt like forever. This is home now. It's time to show them which home is better."

Mayfield’s teammates know what the game means to him as well, with Tristan Wirfs saying via the Tampa Bay Times that he thinks his quarterback is excited to give Cleveland the middle finger.

Hosting his former team in the home opener is motivation enough, but factor in that Tampa Bay is coming off a Week 1 loss in which Mayfield fumbled the ball three times, and this may be the most riled up we’ve ever seen the Bucs quarterback.

Mayfield has made it clear that Cleveland isn’t just another opponent. It’s the team that drafted him, gave up on him, and ultimately helped set him on his eventual path to Tampa Bay. Now, he’ll get his first chance to beat the Browns in a Buccaneers uniform.

Mayfield never forgot how it felt to be discarded by Cleveland, and he’s determined to get the last laugh on Sunday.

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