Kevin Stefanski was hired to be the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons this offseason, and it’s safe to say the new addition to the NFC South put a chip on the shoulder of Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield.
Stefanski was the head coach of the Cleveland Browns back in 2022 when they decided to give up on Mayfield and pursue Deshaun Watson instead.
When a Falcons insider defended the team’s new head coach by declaring that Stefanski had to deal with a “dumpster fire” quarterback situation in Cleveland, and called Mayfield a failure, Mayfield finally let it be known how he really feels about Stefanski.
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,” Mayfield shared on social media.
Todd Bowles backs Baker Mayfield in beef against Kevin Stefanski’s Falcons
In an appearance on The Exhibit hosted by NFL insider Josina Anderson, Todd Bowles was asked about Baker Mayfield’s comments toward Stefanski earlier this offseason.
“It's something that they've to figure out since we can’t have a boxing match where they get in the ring w/ each other & knock each other out. U know we're going to back our guy Baker…”
When asked about how the personal rivalry will affect the Buccaneers’ matchups against the Falcons, Bowles admitted that it will add some extra meaning to an already important face off.
“It’s a division game, it’s already going to be a tough, hard-fought game. So it just adds to it."
The teams never have a boring matchup, with just about every Bucs-Falcons game coming down to the wire in recent years. Last year, Tampa Bay was victorious in the season-opener with a thrilling 23-20 that included a go-ahead score in the final minute.
In their second matchup, the Bucs blew a 28-14 fourth quarter lead and lost 29-28 in the final seconds in a game that proved to be a microcosm of Tampa Bay’s disappointing season and sparked a passionate postgame tirade from Bowles.
A budding rivalry that was already must-see TV just got even more entertaining. Grab your popcorn, Bucs fans, because Mayfield will be playing with something to prove when he takes the field against his former head coach twice a year.