Baker Mayfield Joins Some Elite Company
October 14th, 2025
“Welcome to the club, Baker.”
You don’t hear very often about quarterbacks flipping teams and then putting up crazy good numbers.
Think about it: If a quarterback is any good, his previous team would never let him go.
Of course, there are exceptions. Like Peyton Manning and Tom Brady. Their teams, after years of success, apparently thought they had wrung every productive drop out of them and decided it was time to move on.
In Manning’s case, he was damaged goods with a severe neck injury. In Brady’s case, he was in his 40s and the Belicheats thought he was washed.
Of course, both Manning and Brady proved their original teams wrong.
Only two quarterbacks have thrown for 80 touchdowns in their first 40 starts after changing teams since the merger in 1970, Brady and Manning.
Well, now there are three. Baker Mayfield joined that club after throwing two touchdown passes Sunday in the win over San Francisco.
So is Mayfield a franchise quarterback? Hell, yes.
And to think there are still people who walk the streets thinking Kyle Trask is the answer. (Joe just doesn’t know what the question is.)
.@rancarthon thinks Baker Mayfield has entered the category of 'franchise quarterback' for the Buccaneers. pic.twitter.com/66uJN7BuJN
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) October 13, 2025
October 14th, 2025 at 4:54 am
This is fantastic! Yes, all three proved to others they were still the best of the best!
I always liked Baker and Tom when they were on other teams. Always wished they would come to Tampa, and they did. Always liked Peyton too. I was mad about the way he was treated too. And John Elway as Broncos GM knew he still had it in him to win. Jason Licht and Todd Bowles knew Baker and Tom had it going too. And here we are. Can’t get better than that. Being a Bucs fan is awesome!
October 14th, 2025 at 5:00 am
One important difference here is Baker is just entering his prime years whilst Peyton and Tom were on the other side of theirs.
October 14th, 2025 at 5:29 am
Baker is being exposed for being who he is. But what gives me more satisfaction is that Kevin Stefanski and Bill Belidunce are being exposed for who they are.
October 14th, 2025 at 5:48 am
Licht knows football.
October 14th, 2025 at 6:34 am
I once was a doubter but don’t doubt Baker any more. If we can help him win a championship he will go down as our greatest qb. He is elite now
October 14th, 2025 at 6:59 am
I’m surprised Stafford isn’t in that category. He must be close.
October 14th, 2025 at 8:16 am
Baker Baker Record Maker!
October 14th, 2025 at 9:01 am
Go Feisty Bake! And thank you, Jason Licht and Todd Bowles for our football T-E-A-M. We are very proud of you all. @813: Here I go. 🙂 Go Bucs, 6-1!!
October 14th, 2025 at 9:04 am
orl
LETS GO!!!!!
6-1!!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
October 14th, 2025 at 9:34 am
And this is Bakers 4th team, was bounced around like a pinball for Panthers and Rams stops.
October 14th, 2025 at 10:03 am
Dawg. 5 year extension coming.
October 14th, 2025 at 12:24 pm
Yeah he should be a Buc for as long as he wants to be. Todd and Jason deserve a lot of props for seeing the light on this young man. He’s turned this franchise over after Brady and built it even stronger, very impressive.
October 14th, 2025 at 2:34 pm
When comparing Baker to some of the greats in terms of winning success we should have to admit that Baker at no time in his career played on a team with an exceptional defense. Brady certainly did with the defensive guru that is Bill Belichick and Manning played on those Bronco teams with Von Miller and the Colts had pretty good defenses as well in his time there. With the Browns the only year they had an above average defense was 2021 when Baker had the torn labrum and foolishly played through it. Has he really had a great defense with the Bucs? I think Todd Bowles is a great coach but let’s face it so far in Baker’s time in Tampa they’ve been very average at best defensively. I think that has a good chance to change this year so we’ll see what happens.