Baker Mayfield: Bucs Have “Great Staff” That Can Take Team To The Super Bowl
September 2nd, 2026
Baker Mayfield is thinking big, while also thinking very small.
The Buccaneers’ franchise quarterback hopped on The Rich Eisen Show today (Joe listens on SiriusXM) and said he’s very pumped for his fourth Tampa Bay season — and part of that is a feeling that the Bucs have all the pieces necessary to win it all.
“Just excited, to be honest with you, you know, after the finish that we had last year — not what we wanted by any means — but getting some pieces back, getting guys healthy, adding in I think the correct pieces all across the board,” Mayfield said. “Offense, defense, special teams, and just excited for what we’ve been building throughout the offseason and training camp. And for me, just take it one game at a time, not getting too high, not getting too low. I think we have a really good roster, a great group of guys, great staff that can take us all the way. So just taking it one game at a time and try and progress from there.”
How bout Mayfield giving a nod to the Bucs’ “great staff! (Poor Josh Grizzard.)
Joe agrees with Mayfield on the Bucs having a lot of nice elements to the team, real improvements from last season. But putting it all together to go “all the way” is another level.
One game at a time sounds like a good plan. The Joe typing here is kind of taking it five games at a time, though. That starts by finding a way to go 3-2 (at least) after facing the Bengals, Browns, Vikings, Packers and Cowboys to start the season.
September 2nd, 2026 at 6:47 pm
I ain’t seeing it with this years team tbh.
September 2nd, 2026 at 6:54 pm
What do you think is a glaring weakness?
September 2nd, 2026 at 6:58 pm
I just heard Joe Burrow say the same thing in an interview. Said he felt it in his bones since OTAs that this group is special, they brought in all the right guys. He loves his team. I guess we’ll see who’s more special a week from Sunday.
September 2nd, 2026 at 6:59 pm
It’s BS. I mean, what else is going to say… “THEY ALL SUCK BAD.” LoL. Obviously, he can’t be too awfully ‘high’ on them, because otherwise why would you REFUSE around $105-$110-MILLION and a 2-YEAR ‘EXTENSION’ (3-fresh years total, when no one else gets 4-fresh YEARS, at ‘top-of-the-market’ money, when over 31-years old, with the team that did not draft them, AND coming right off a season like HE JUST DID)… And, no state income tax. Now, that’s just NONSENSICAL. Make it make sense.
September 2nd, 2026 at 7:01 pm
“Baker Mayfield: Bucs Have “Great Staff” That Can Take Team To The Super Bowl”
Perhaps if they buy tickets and charter a plane.
Otherwise there’s zero chance of that happening this year.
2-15
September 2nd, 2026 at 7:03 pm
I love all the new players that have been added via the draft and free agency. But so many of the skill players are very young. We’re not going to see the best of them for another year or more. I’m confident Licht can build a team that can go deep into the playoffs, but expect that it could take 2 to 3 years.
September 2nd, 2026 at 7:05 pm
Uh oh! Mayfield is about to go into Concussion protocol!
Pronto. He’s delirious! Lol
September 2nd, 2026 at 7:10 pm
SummerOfGeorge is not a Bucs fan. Don’t even know why he’s here. Just ignore him and maybe he will go away…
September 2nd, 2026 at 7:13 pm
I think those young players are talented enough to carry us pretty far this year. After all, many of them did really well in college and their teams did too.
September 2nd, 2026 at 7:13 pm
How long till Bakes body breaks down again, from playing, his “Get beat up styl’ of play, every week? The season hinges on Bake not being careless about contact. You are going to get hit, football is a violent game, but hey what the heck, lets look for contact is just plain ignorant. Clip board holding by a starting QB = Fired coaches and a no championship in Tampa Bay. Be smart Bake, learn to win bro while staying intact, or everything else is out the window.
September 2nd, 2026 at 7:15 pm
As the ‘franchise quarterback’ they all get paid to fluff their team. Nothing new here.
September 2nd, 2026 at 7:19 pm
when he start off the sentence with “to be honest with you” i stopped reading.he didnt mean whatever he said afterwards
September 2nd, 2026 at 7:19 pm
Better that you focus on the Bengals and try to come away with a win…
Highly doubt the Bucs do but at least make it look competitive…
Not even a field goal like your last game and the entire national media will be ready to bury your 2026 season!
September 2nd, 2026 at 7:21 pm
I suppose if you take away Bowles and the training staff, you may be left with a decent group of assistants.
September 2nd, 2026 at 7:27 pm
I detect a considerable amount of negativity, and very little optimism. Way too many examples of overcoming adversity to mention. I would much rather believe in and support my team until the time comes when they are out of contention.
September 2nd, 2026 at 7:30 pm
Really? I think the Bucs run all over the Bengals. Then they stop the run and force enough mistakes to win.
September 2nd, 2026 at 7:32 pm
@ Oxycondomns – Exactly 💯. Also, my very first thought. That always means a big load of CRAP to follow. EVERY. Single. TIME.
September 2nd, 2026 at 7:43 pm
Can someone get him over to see Dr. Gill at St Luke’s in Tarpon Springs?
September 2nd, 2026 at 7:43 pm
I’d rather start 2-3, win 10 of our next 12 and finish 12-5, then to start out 5-0, win 6 of our last 12, and finish 11-6. For more than one reason.
The first scenario, suggests that we are a hot team. The second, not so much. I’ve been following closely the team the last three years. 23&24 we were hot down the stretch. We owned December. 23 we were tied at Detroit in the 4th quarter second round of the playoffs. That close to the NFC championship. 24 we played a red hot Washington team who after barely beating us smoked the Lions by 30 points the next week. Everyone was ecstatic in 25. December owned us, it hit us with such a haymaker we couldn’t get up in time to even make the playoffs.
It’s a long season. I’ve always believed opening day is important for seeing what the team is going to look like. But nobody is winning the Super Bowl opening day. How about if we start strong- and finish stronger? Yeah, that’s the ticket.
September 2nd, 2026 at 7:46 pm
Do I believe in this coaching staff? That’s a NO. But if the players do, then we have a chance. And as a true Bucs fan, you gotta root for eating W’s and getting another ring every year, no matter how much you don’t believe. We’re all currently undefeated!! 🏴☠️🔥
September 2nd, 2026 at 7:47 pm
We should Mop the Floor with the Bengals, Browns, Vikings, Packers, Cowboys
I haven’t been this excited about a Bucs team in years
I’m looking at 12-5 this season, combined with a serious playoff run
September 2nd, 2026 at 7:51 pm
I’m looking at 12-5
But l wouldn’t rule out 14-3
September 2nd, 2026 at 8:00 pm
Stpetematt. The Bengals have a pretty solid, newly built defensive line- like us. They have the same 5 on the Oline as they had last year. Continuity. A thousand yard running back returning.
You sure might be right that we run the ball more. They might too. Could be one of those 17-16 type games, for sure.
Baker and Burrow might also discover, after a drive or two, that running yards are tough to come by. And open it up and let them big dogs EAT!! And the last team with the ball wins it 45-44.
I love both games of football. Ball and clock control smash mouth low scoring defensive games. And full throttle wide open offensive offensive games.
But I only like both of those styles of football if my team wins. I guess most of us are the same. Except maybe Defense Rules. Only score he’d rather see than 3-0 is 2-0.
September 2nd, 2026 at 8:07 pm
Theoretically with the way this team is put together we can beat anybody on our roster no doubt in my mind. What worries me most, is getting complete games from this team. Far too much last year, we got in spots where we couldn’t get complete games from this team. At times, it’d be both/either sides of the ball holding the shovel digging our hole deeper.
September 2nd, 2026 at 8:09 pm
Worried about the offense and new OC. Not sure about the young WRs and consistency and injuries. This team has to find ways to score TDs in the red zone and not FGs.
If defense can just get to mid level, Bucs have a chance.
September 2nd, 2026 at 8:16 pm
Edit fluff to mean fluffer………..The average salary for a fluffer in the United States is $44,570 per year……add this skill set to the Practice/Ready Squad & there’d be some results.
September 2nd, 2026 at 8:20 pm
Thanks for the optimism from those of you who are thinking positively. For those who spew negativity, the only thing that will change their opinion is a winning season.
I can’t wait for the season to begin!!
Go Bucs !! Beat the Bengals !!
September 2nd, 2026 at 8:24 pm
Get to the SB, and you’ll be a Buc for the rest of your career making top dollar. Make it happen and any “haters” won’t be able to point out your 2-11 record in prime-time and playoff games, or point how badly you choked in the last two playoff games, or how awful you were last year singlehandedly costing the Bucs a chance to make the playoffs.
Seriously, get us to the SB, and you’ll make a believer out of me. Heck maybe I’d even joing the Baker Boi(s)! However, I’m the type of person that will be realisitic and based my expectations on the past, so they’ll be in check, but I’m hoping you can pull it off.
September 2nd, 2026 at 8:26 pm
Josh … ‘Do I believe in this coaching staff? That’s a NO. But if the players do, then we have a chance.’
With all due respect Josh, I’d much rather having the players believe in their coaching staff than you believing in the staff. Neitehr you nor I (nor the Joes or any JBFer) will influence our season’s record 1 iota. But the players will.
September 2nd, 2026 at 8:26 pm
We’ve addressed glaring weaknesses. All 3 levels of our D should be significantly improved. Our offense has sooo many potential playmakers with legit NFL talent at spots 1-5 @ WR and 1-4 at running back and IF Zac is who Baker and the boys think he is our offense HAS to be more efficient and explosive.
We should be top 10 squads on both side of the ball and, as others have touched on, we play complimentary football, we can beat anybody on any given day.
LFG Bucs
September 2nd, 2026 at 8:30 pm
Floormatt is a Polly positive Pom Pom waiving lemming.
He thinks Bowles is a great coach.
One of the most delusional sycophants ever on this site.
I’m sure he wanted Winston signed to a long term deal.
That’s how crazy he really is. Can’t wait to shut him up after Todd scuttles the ship, again!
September 2nd, 2026 at 8:32 pm
FloridaGirl Says:
September 2nd, 2026 at 7:15 pm
As the ‘franchise quarterback’ they all get paid to fluff their team. Nothing new here
—————–
Lol – spit my coffee out……so they get paid to keep everybodies di$k hard between takes?
September 2nd, 2026 at 8:35 pm
Lakeland – I sure hope you’re right about the Bucs having a 12-5 or 14-3 regular season !!
That would be awesome!!
Go Bucs !! Beat the Bengals !!
September 2nd, 2026 at 8:37 pm
I cant tell if the negative people are outside agitators or notoriously negative local losers who have failed in life. Successful people including Baker are relentlessly positive.
September 2nd, 2026 at 8:39 pm
FloridaGirl you are funny! We got some serious Baker Fluffer boyos up here and they’d do it for free if he’d let them. Don’t understand why so many guys are fluffers who get upset because not all of us are Mr Positives even though we love our Bucs. Seen too much of the worst of this HC/DC to believe that he can put together a winning coaching staff or draft world championship players.
StPeteMatt who are you too call or anybody non Buc fans when you didn’t show up here until after your crush Mayfield got here. You guys are Mayfield fans not Buc fans
September 2nd, 2026 at 8:40 pm
Color me optimistic Floor Is seven wins. Ceiling is 21. Will be in a lot of of close games.
September 2nd, 2026 at 9:02 pm
As long as Bowles is the HC, bucs ain’t going nowhere. His questionable schemes, in game management will cost this team a couple of games.
September 2nd, 2026 at 9:02 pm
Nobody here knows if Bucs will go 6-11 or 11-6 (likely in between), but spewing predictions passes time until the opener. What we all DO know is that Todd has no business as the HC/DC – does not deserve to be manning the ship, yet he is… which is a bit depressing going in to a new season.
September 2nd, 2026 at 9:17 pm
@Rod
“Seriously, get us to the SB, and you’ll make a believer out of me.”
No one cares. You are like the ugly fat girl at the prom laying down conditions even though no one will be asking regardless.
We are only looking forward to kicking her off the bandwagon when Rodrica tries to get back on mid season
September 2nd, 2026 at 9:25 pm
@Rod
Success forgives a LOT. IF baker and Bowles get to the Super Bowl then many with skepticism to those with disdain for both will believe. Just win and fans will love you.
September 2nd, 2026 at 9:26 pm
38-13 Bengals
September 2nd, 2026 at 9:41 pm
Well let’s get there Go bucs!!!
September 2nd, 2026 at 9:52 pm
Over 2/3 of JBF polled (almost 1500) believe that the Bucs will win b/t 9-12 games. Another 10% thinks they’ll win 8 games. That leaves less the 24% who post all the negative comments. They are just a loud minority.
September 2nd, 2026 at 10:27 pm
Pre-season is when every team in the NFL is poised for a Superbowl run.
September 2nd, 2026 at 11:10 pm
A very loud, very negative majority indeed. Losers stay in a negative mindset loop all the time. It’s unhealthy and solves nothing. We have many in this thread.
September 2nd, 2026 at 11:16 pm
Espn predicts this team to win NFC south with a 8-9 record. What exactly would that do for this franchise. We win another NFC South but get bounced first round. Would they likely retain Bowles if we win South get beat round 1? Would it trigger a rebuild? Would we franchise Baker? How would fans feel about a 8-9 team this year that wins a division?
September 2nd, 2026 at 11:19 pm
To answer my own my question I would be sastified with a south division title and a playoff birth. If that’s what happens id also be ok keeping Bowles assuming the defense was better. As long as we are making playoffs im ok with trying to add players to this roster and trying to make deeper runs in future. To me a NFC South title is overachieving with this roster.
September 2nd, 2026 at 11:21 pm
Franchise Mayfield and ship him 2 firsts and second for burrow
September 2nd, 2026 at 11:31 pm
Action network.com reported that Tampa Bay fans are the most positive fanbase in the league. Their research must have not included this fine website.
September 3rd, 2026 at 12:37 am
9 – 8 and they sweep the South!
September 3rd, 2026 at 1:48 am
The consistently negative guys, copying and pasting the same crap day after day after day, amuse me. Think about it. Visiting your favorite Bucs blog everyday and having this weird insatiable urge to write something overtly negative. You just can’t help yourself. Over and over and over and over again. And really that’s the part that is annoying. I’ve said negative things in the space before too when it’s warranted. But once is enough. Maybe twice? Most of the regulars here can cite by name every poster that: hates Bowles; hates Baker; hates the GM; thinks ownership is cheap; is triggered by positive comments. I could go on. Results don’t seem to matter for these folks. If we win, it’s somehow in spite of the things they hate. If we lose, they proudly pontificate about their amazing powers of prediction, as if any of us actually care. Such odd behavior. I love this team and want to see them win. I love Baker because he’s my quarterback. Was neighbor a Jameis fan, but I loved him when he was our quarterback too. Because that’s my guy. Bowles isn’t my first choice, or second for that matter as head coach. But while he’s here I’ll support him. Of course I’ll rip him one when he does something stupid, but I’m not going to beat it to death. Because what purpose does it serve? The negativity specialist I believe actually thinks someone with influence will read their cringey crap and it’ll somehow make it to the coach or ownership and influence the team. I truly believe some of these weirdos think that. Anyway, too much of a tangent there. I’m positive and hopeful until they give me a reason to not be.