Baker Mayfield Explains His “Stubborn” Mentality
July 15th, 2026
Heed your own words, sir.
Joe has dived head-first into the “Quarterback” series on Netflix featuring Baker Mayfield.
Joe wil step off the chronological order here and serve up what Joe thought may be the most prophetic line from Mayfield in the series.
The series follows four quarterbacks: Joe Flacco, Cam Ward, Jayden Daniels and Mayfield for the 2025 season — at home and at their teams’ facilities. They’re miced up during games and practices.
One Mayfield quote jumped out at Joe in Episode 2.
There, Mayfield reflected on the 2021 season that cost him his job in Cleveland. He battled through a serious a left shoulder injury and Pearl Harbored his season. Then, Mayfield learned the Browns traded for Deshaun Watson.
“I dislocated my shoulder,” Mayfield said. “Looking back on it, I probably should have gotten surgery and sat out that year.
“But, as stubborn as I am, I wanted to play.”
Anyone see where Joe is going with this?
We all know Mayfield was beat to hell last year, which Mayfield confirmed in the “Quarterback” series. Joe thinks his various injuries directly impacted the Bucs’ cratering after the bye, losing seven of the final nine games, blowing a 6-2 start and missing the playoffs.
So Joe wonders if Mayfield realizes he cost himself untold millions by not following Browns’ medical staff’s advice to have surgery, why Mayfield decided to be — using his own word “stubborn” — and try to gut it out with the Bucs.
Joe has maintained for months that if had Mayfield sat a game or two, he would have been healthier down the stretch and perhaps the Bucs don’t p!ss on an electric fence in Miami and instead win that game and go to the playoffs?
Remember, the Bucs lost the division title on a three-way tiebreaker.
And if Mayfield was too stubborn to sit a week or two, why didn’t someone with the Bucs be the adult in the room and order Mayfield to sit out if he was dragging the team down.
OK, so Mayfield demonstrated he has a big unit and brass balls. How did that measuring stick win the Bucs games down the stretch?
And for the umpteenth time, if the Bucs didn’t trust backup quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, then why the hell was he on the roster?
“You better be quick on your feet if you talk trash to me.”
Baker Mayfield, Cam Ward, Jayden Daniels, and Joe Flacco share their approach to trash talking 🗣️
Quarterback Season 3 is now playing. pic.twitter.com/dO3YiwAWmR
— Netflix Sports (@netflixsports) July 14, 2026
July 15th, 2026 at 4:49 am
During the recent years of retooling (but not rebuilding), the Bucs have managed to put together a pretty good crew of starters at most positions with some notable misfires at ILB and OLB, but they have been really struggling to also find quality depth players.
So, why Bridgewater? That would be because one of the misfires was a second round QB pick that further diluted the quality of the depth players.
Knock on wood, the Bucs look to have both improved the starting roster and added enough quality depth to make this probably the best roster that the Bucs have had since the busted try to repeat as Super Bowl champs.
July 15th, 2026 at 5:11 am
“And if Mayfield was too stubborn to sit a week or two, why didn’t someone with the Bucs be the adult in the room and order Mayfield to sit out if he was dragging the team down.”
Stubborn = Stupid. He didn’t even want to rest his body and heal so he could put the best product on the field possibly to help the team win and secure a longer, more lucrative contract. This is the leadership and intangibles his fan club talks about. This is the team first guy. Smh…the bar is so far below hell. My God Baker is next level dumb.
At least when he plays injured, the Bucs still win. Oh wait….nah, when he’s healthy the Bucs can still win a home playoff game versus bad defenses, Oh wait….
July 15th, 2026 at 5:15 am
Good question, Joe. Why was Bridgewater on the roster? Could you please direct that question to Jason Licht? It made zero sense, other than the Bucs being cheap.
July 15th, 2026 at 5:18 am
Is there anyone anywhere who believes Bridgewater could have started and won an NFL game? Still haven’t heard anything about why he was here to begin with. I truly hope it wasn’t Bowles because there is way too much of a buddy hiring system within this organization. Hiring a special teams coach who was bad BEFORE he got to the Bucs? That’s only one poor decision of many.
I’ll take a QB with Balls because a 25% chance is better than 0% chance of winning.
July 15th, 2026 at 5:24 am
I hate to rehash my own comments, but let’s get all the Baker haters opinion on this hypothetical Todd Bowles quote from mid-season last year:
“Baker has been cleared to play. The decision to sit out the next three games to heal up is his and we have to respect that.”
July 15th, 2026 at 5:51 am
I’ll never understand the Teddy Bridgewater move. The move in general of course, but the timing of it and so on
That’s one I may never get
….and you can’t umpteenth time that sentiment enough. Just a bizarre move all the way around by the Bucs here
July 15th, 2026 at 6:03 am
Remind me again how well the Chiefs backup quarterbacks did when Mahomes went down. The Chiefs fan sites are all lit up about how fat Andy Reid has let the game pass him by. Sound familiar? I guess Super Bowl wins don’t buy you any more equity than division titles. At least with some so called fans.
July 15th, 2026 at 6:17 am
I still have a problem believing they saw Teddy play and decided he was better than Trask
July 15th, 2026 at 6:22 am
What’s even more sad is there’s a good chance Teddy actually was better than Trask. As much as I wanted the Kyle Trask thing to work, you would think someone…..anyone would have him in a camp right now.
July 15th, 2026 at 6:56 am
Imo, flexibility/adaptability is the greatest trait a leader can have. Mayfield continues to demonstrate that he is a “baller” and lacks in leadership. How much of his new contract is based on leadership? I would assume, out of every position, a QB needs to have leadership qualities beyond just being a warrior. Baker needs a strong leadership in his HC & GM to reach his full potential. Unfortunately, he has never had that opportunity. Im sorry to keep banging this drum, but all fingers point to Licht as the issue….enables potentially the teams largest asset to be exposed to career ending injury, poor QB backup, looses Evans, never pivots at the trade deadline, and clearly does not see Todd’s limitation. He is reactive not adaptive
July 15th, 2026 at 7:53 am
The Bucs signed Jake Browning to be the backup QB this year- the same guy that last year the Bengals traded 2 draft picks to acquire Joe Flacco to replace him and send him back to the bench after he threw 8 interceptions in 2 games.
July 15th, 2026 at 8:05 am
stubborn is the wrong word…more like immature…
baker still needs to grow up…crazy how folks mistake immaturity for moxy lol
GO BUCS!!!!
July 15th, 2026 at 8:13 am
I watched the first episode last night. Netflix does a good job with this show. It’s far more interesting than Hard Knocks.
July 15th, 2026 at 8:29 am
“Oh, how history repeats itself”, as the old saying goes.
“Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it”, also comes to mind.
Stubbornness is like anything else. It can be good or bad.
It’s great if you’re Thomas Edison trying to invent the lightbulb. Not so good if you’re Baker Mayfield trying to play through injuries.
I like Baker and respect his grit and determination, but him playing tbrough those injuries id one of many things that torpedoed our season last year.
Along those lines…
@Drunk Bucs Fan, re: the hypothetical Todd Bowles comment on Baker’s decision. I distinctly recall reading or hearing him say that. I can’t remember where, but it may not be hypothetical. That was an abdication of responsibility by Todd.
@ChiBuc re: Jason Licht. I like Jason, but I can’t disagree with your points. Rhetorically, is it possible Todd Bowles is still here because the Glazers flat out said keep him?
July 15th, 2026 at 8:57 am
How is this not the coach’s responsibility?
July 15th, 2026 at 8:58 am
Teddy Bridgewater was a Todd Bowles decision. It was not rooted in any sort of solid football move. Just the good old boy system.
And further proof the Licht cannot evaluate QB talent whatsoever.
Baker has a lot of heart and more guts than most other QB’s. That doesn’t equate to winning meaningful games enough to justify his attitude towards healing his body for the long term.
He’s got a million dollar arm and a ten cent head. I prefer my QB to use his brain.
Unfortunately we’re probably stuck with him for several more years.
The 2025 season was pearl harbored by Baker Mayfield and Jason Licht.
Stupid is as stupid does.
July 15th, 2026 at 9:06 am
i watched that too on netflix, baker is so cool great qb we’re fortunate to have him but chill out bro pride comes before a fall and you put a target in your back more than there already is. just shut up and play there’s time for docuseries after you hang up your cleats
July 15th, 2026 at 9:25 am
Instead to listening to all the ways why Baker failed, let’s put blame on the Glazer family. They are known to be tight about money. Bridgewater was washed up as a player. He was a decent quarterback in his younger years, but those days are long gone. This strategy blew up in the Glazers face last year.
Let’s be real, Jason Licht and the coaching staff are accountable only to the Glazer’s ownership. The bottom line is profit comes first and excuses are said to cover certain people’s asse$$.
Is that going to change? It’s been a business strategy since day 1 when the Glazers purchased the Bucs.
I think we already know the answer!
July 15th, 2026 at 10:35 am
If he was stubborn in Cleveland, and got the boot, why would he do the same thing here?
There is stubborn and there is stupid, can’t over pay for either attribute
July 15th, 2026 at 10:37 am
When you have a Twocoach, you have a Nocoach.