The Tampa Bay Buccaneers faced Baker Mayfield’s former team, the Cleveland Browns, in Week 2 in a game that was hyped as Mayfield’s revenge game. While it was a matchup the veteran quarterback admitted to having circled on his calendar, it wasn’t actually the biggest score he wanted to settle this season.
The front office and coaching staff that moved on from Mayfield in Cleveland are no longer running the organization, taking some of the personal sting out of that matchup. But one familiar face from that chapter of his career is still around, and he’s now coaching a division rival.
Kevin Stefanski is now leading the Atlanta Falcons, setting the stage for a far more personal showdown for Mayfield in Week 8. The Buccaneers quarterback hasn’t been shy about how he feels about Stefanski or how things ended between them in Cleveland, adding another layer of intrigue to an already important divisional matchup.
Baker Mayfield wants to get revenge against Kevin Stefanski and the Falcons in Week 8
Upon Stefanski’s hiring as Atlanta’s head coach this offseason, a Falcons reporter declared that Mayfield was a “failure” and Stefanski dealt with a “dumpster fire” quarterback situation in Cleveland.
Mayfield couldn’t help but clap back on social media to make his feelings known about Stefanski and prevent history from being re-written.
Failed is quite the reach pal. Still waiting on a text/call from him after I got shipped off like a piece of garbage. Can’t wait to see you twice a year, Coach. https://t.co/jUUsYkvlOC
— Baker Mayfield (@bakermayfield) January 20, 2026
"Failed is quite the reach pal. Still waiting on a text/call from him after I got shipped off like a piece of garbage. Can’t wait to see you twice a year, Coach," Baker wrote.
Mayfield led the Browns to their first playoff win in 26 years in 2021. But just one injury-marred season later, Stefanski decided to pursue Deshaun Watson as his starting quarterback.
Amid the surprising decision to move on from Mayfield, reports surfaced that the Browns organization “wanted an adult at quarterback.”
Mayfield had not only been given up on, but was being dragged through the mud by the franchise that drafted him, and he didn’t even get a text or call from his head coach.
It’s no wonder why Mayfield maintains a personal vendetta against Stefanski, and there’s no doubt he’ll go into Sunday’s game with a massive chip on his shoulder.
A highly-motivated Baker Mayfield with a point to prove is always a good thing for the Buccaneers, especially going into a pivotal divisional matchup that could make or break Tampa Bay’s remaining playoff hopes.
Mayfield could stick it to Stefanski in the best way possible by delivering his best game of the season to lead the Buccaneers over the Falcons and climb past them in the NFC South standings.
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