Falcons hiring Kevin Stefanski just put a chip on Baker Mayfield’s shoulder

The Cleveland Browns became a punchline around the NFL after Baker Mayfield revived his career following their decision to move on from him.

In 2021, Mayfield led the Browns to a playoff win in Pittsburgh over the rival Steelers. It was Cleveland’s first postseason victory since 1994 and its first road playoff win since 1969.

The following season was a different story. Mayfield played through a torn labrum in his non-throwing shoulder, his production dipped and the turnovers piled up. The Browns finished 8-9 and made the stunning decision to move on from Mayfield despite the injury being the primary factor in his decline.

The Browns didn’t just move on from Mayfield. They sent three first-round picks, a third-round pick and two fourth-round picks to Houston for Deshaun Watson, then signed him to a five-year, $230 million fully guaranteed contract, the largest guaranteed deal in NFL history. At the time, Watson was facing 24 lawsuits for sexual assault allegations. He was suspended by the NFL for the first 11 games of his tenure in Cleveland. 

To pour salt in the wound for Mayfield, ESPN’s Chris Mortensen reported that part of Cleveland’s reasoning for moving on was that the organization wanted an “adult” at quarterback.

Baker Mayfield is still proving Kevin Stefanski wrong, and now gets a chance at revenge

Since the trade, Watson has gone 9-10 with 22 total touchdowns and 12 interceptions. A shoulder fracture ended his 2023 season, and he tore his Achilles in Week 7 of the 2024 season before re-tearing the same tendon in 2025. In four seasons with Cleveland, he has played only 19 games due to suspension and injuries.

It took Mayfield some time to find his footing, but after landing in a stable situation in Tampa Bay back in 2023, he’s recorded 100 total touchdowns and led the Bucs to a 27-24 record and two playoff appearances including a playoff win in his first season with the team. The Browns on the other hand haven’t been back to the postseason since moving on from Mayfield. 

After a 5-12 season in 2025, Cleveland fired Kevin Stefanski. It did not take long for him to find a new home, as the Atlanta Falcons quickly hired him as their next head coach after moving on from Raheem Morris.

Mayfield has always been at his best when he has something to prove. Just look back to Week 3 of last season, when he called a win over the Jets “personal” because their defensive coordinator, Steve Wilks, was the interim head coach in Carolina when Mayfield was released by the Panthers.

Now, he gets to face Stefanski twice a year.

Stefanski was part of the regime that gave up on Mayfield in Cleveland, even if it is unclear how much influence he had over the Watson trade. As the team’s offensive-minded head coach, it is fair to assume he had a significant voice in the decision. He also met with Watson in Houston before the trade was finalized.

It’s rumored that Mayfield and Stefanski’s relationship was shaky at the end of Mayfield’s tenure in Cleveland.

With him now joining the NFC South, things just got personal. Mayfield didn’t need any extra motivation after missing the playoffs for the first time in his Buccaneers career, but now he has it anyway. He will get two chances every year to make a statement against Stefanski’s Falcons.