Baker Mayfield Lauded For Defensive Leadership
April 28th, 2026
Being a leader of the Bucs defense last season was not something a guy probably wanted to announce at a busy Hooters or a typical neighborhood bar in December.
The defense wasn’t scaring anyone except fans, and second-rate quarterbacks were playing confident ball against Tampa Bay.
If you ask head coach Todd Bowles, one leadership figure for the Bucs defense was Baker Mayfield, so Bowles told The Rich Eisen Show today on ESPN TV.
Though he knew Mayfield before the Bucs signed him three years ago, Bowles said he has learned since that Mayfield has extensive leadership qualities.
“I think he helps the defense just as much as he helps the offense,” Bowles said. (Hey, Coach, don’t tie defense to Baker.)
“He runs sprints with the linebackers; he sits down at the cafeteria with these guys. He relates to these guys off the field. And whether it’s trash talking, just being funny, or just understanding the game and trying to help guys out, I did not know that before we got him. And I think that’s a great quality to have. He can read a room probably better than anybody.”
Bowles went on to say Mayfield is magnetic because of the kind of man he is. “… When you get to know him as a person, you really root for him as a player, more than just seeing him being an underdog on the field,” Bowles said.
Joe was intrigued by Bowles saying how elite Mayfield is at reading a room. What did Mayfield see in the second half of last season? And why couldn’t the Bucs overcome?
April 28th, 2026 at 4:33 pm
Kinda sounds like qualities you would expect your HC to have, not for him to be envious of lol..
April 28th, 2026 at 4:34 pm
Joe says: “What did Mayfield see in the second half of last season? And why couldn’t the Bucs overcome?”
Please ask Todd these questions next time you see him. What type of leadership did Baker provide to the defense after he threw a pick and the defense promptly let the Falcons score after 3rd & 28 and 4th &14? The jokes write themselves.
April 28th, 2026 at 4:44 pm
Hmmm…not sure he needs to mention this OR this article during contract negotiations.
April 28th, 2026 at 4:58 pm
Bowles is allowed to be impressed at someone else showing leadership.
Sheesh.
April 28th, 2026 at 4:59 pm
No wonder the defense sucks out loud. Todd has the QB teaching the scheme.
Steaming pile of excrement > Bowles defense
April 28th, 2026 at 5:00 pm
Baker needs to run onto the field while the D is out there. Give McCollum some smelling salts so he’ll wake up and cover somebody.
April 28th, 2026 at 5:26 pm
“(Hey, Coach, don’t tie defense to Baker.)“
Punts & turnovers Joe, punts and turnovers. It’s ties are unavoidable really, just the nature of the game.
April 28th, 2026 at 5:50 pm
Hmmm
Maybe we need a defensive leader for our offense to help with our 4th down conversions. Someone like Lynch
April 28th, 2026 at 5:57 pm
Baker knows how to “play the game”.
He’s working hard to get paid.
April 28th, 2026 at 6:00 pm
Baker is truly one of a kind.
I hope he slides more the first half of the season. Save his body for the second half of the season and playoffs.
I hope we don’t rely on our rookie OG and Klein and Feeney.
I really hope we heavily invest in offensive line depth.
Feeney the Lego man. Klein the little man. And the new rookie are not good enough.
I really hope we bring in more competition and SIZE at OG.