Bruce Arians: Baker Mayfield Is The Quarterback The Bucs Needed Then And Now
October 2nd, 2025
Raves about Baker Mayfield.
Roughly a year after the best coach in Bucs history, Bucco Bruce Arians, retired for good, the Bucs signed Tom Brady’s successor.
Tom Brady retired. And as famed JoeBucsFan.com columnist Ira Kaufman said after Brady first retired, Team Glazer was now “peering into the abyss.”
It was Baker Mayfield who saved the day. Mayfield has played his best ball of his career with the Bucs and has guided them this season to a 3-1 record leading game-winning drives in the final minute of each Bucs’ win this year. Unprecedented.
Appearing on “Up and Adams” today with Kay Adams, seen on FanDuel TV, Arians said Mayfield was the perfect quarterback to pick up where Brady left off.
“You know, it’s very hard to follow Tom Brady,” Arians, who is currently a special assistant to the general manager with the Bucs, said. “But when you get a guy like Baker and his personality, it’s totally different.
“And I think that’s what we needed, and we need now. He’s now the face of the franchise. He’s playing lights out.”
Arians has always been an admirer of Mayfield, dating back to Arians’ pre-Bucs days. He said Mayfield’s eff-the-world mentality was just right for the Bucs at just the right time. Mayfield, Arians said, wasn’t going to be rattled by replacing Brady.
Arians raved how Mayfield has galvanized his teammates and the community.
“You know, every time we get the ball with a minute-something left, I say we’re going to win the game,” Arians said. “I love watching Baker play, and I’m a huge fan of his.”
Joe thought it was cool that Arians still referred to the Bucs as “we.” He still feels involved.
October 2nd, 2025 at 4:47 pm
arians is great. what a great coach.
October 2nd, 2025 at 5:02 pm
Joe, I a JodyBucsFan refer to the Bucs as “we” too.! #JUSTSAYIN
October 2nd, 2025 at 5:09 pm
I love Baker, but man that panicky INT on 1st down last game was terrible.
Prob his worst play since he’s been here. Hopefully he just scrambles or throws those away in the future.
October 2nd, 2025 at 5:14 pm
Tipped ball…
October 2nd, 2025 at 5:26 pm
Ball was tipped, or it may have been a TD vs. an interception. As a Browns fan, not only am I pissed about Mayfield, but the Browns passed on hiring Arians twice. He expressed an interest in the job when Butch Davis stepped down and Arians was the OC, then he expressed an interest again when the morons fired Romeo Crennel, instead they hired Mangini.
October 2nd, 2025 at 5:27 pm
Injured bicep contributed
October 2nd, 2025 at 5:53 pm
Let’s beat the Hawks ,,,,,, somehow
October 2nd, 2025 at 5:59 pm
Seems he (Bruce) and I (lowly but enthusiastic fan) feel the same way..
And when I see him around (Bruce), I get this anodyned feeling about the whole team. It’s like having a guardian angel hanging around.
Btw, he IS Still getting paid by “us” And he won His Super Bowl right here in Tampa. So yes. He probably gets the warm fuzzies when he speaks of “His” Bucs..
October 2nd, 2025 at 6:06 pm
Love Coach BA. The stars really aligned with that hire.