Bruce Arians: Baker Mayfield Is Legit MVP Candidate
September 17th, 2025
Big Baker Mayfield fan.
Man, Bucs Super Bowl-winning coach Bucco Bruce Arians is fantastic on “The Pat McAfee Show,” seen weekdays on BSPN and on YouTube.
Arians is a natural storyteller and he’s funny as can be. He had a great Tom Moore story yesterday that unfortunately, Joe cannot share on a family publication such as JoeBucsFan.com. But trust Joe. It was funny.
During Arians’ weekly appearance in-studio, he’s asked if certain topics are nonsense or valid. One question for Arians was if Baker Mayfield is in the running for league Most Valuable Player.
Arians, who has always been a fan of Mayfield, said absolutely.
“The last two weeks winning ball games on the last [drive], willing your team to win,” Arians said. “He’s playing with five starters out. Two receivers. Both tackles.”
No, Arians isn’t slipping on simple math in his senior years. Arians also counted Calijah Kancey in his list of five starters. Obviously, Chris Godwin, Luke Goedeke, Jalen McMillan and Tristan Wirfs are offensive players.
“I mean it,” Arians said bragging about Mayfield. “What he’s doing is amazing. He’s got to be in the conversation right now [for MVP].”
Later in the segment, Arians suggested once the Bucs are healthy on offense, no one in the NFL will have top-four receivers to throw to like Mayfield will. And, oh yeah, the Bucs have a running attack, too.
The fact the Bucs are winning with so many injuries, Arians said, shows Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht and his staff know what they are doing.
“My hat’s off to Jason Licht,” Arians said of his boss. “Because obviously they got some depth. Losing Kancey and they are still stopping [the Texans].
“That Bucs team, I think, is for real.”
"Baker Mayfield is in the MVP conversation..
What he's doing right now is amazing"@BruceArians #PMSLive https://t.co/ovskmjROF8 pic.twitter.com/wh1OePHEFs
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) September 16, 2025
September 17th, 2025 at 7:22 am
Wait, I thought talking season was over? Isn’t this the regular season? Just win the games and awards and stupid stuff will take care of itself. There is only 1 trophy that matters.
September 17th, 2025 at 7:29 am
I have $30 on Baker for MVP at 32 to 1. It matters!
September 17th, 2025 at 7:31 am
Have a lot more on the over for 9 1/2 games and NFC Championship and SB.
September 17th, 2025 at 7:32 am
Slow your roll, Coach. It’s two games. And Baker was like Ali, asleep for 2:30 and then rallied and won the round.
And I bet Bakers says I don’t need the MVP. Want SB win. That’s immortality.
Who has a SB ring? Dilfer. Who doesn’t? Marino.
September 17th, 2025 at 7:33 am
The Jets are 0-2 and will be highly motivated to get a win.
Bucs must guard against thinking about Eagles game the following week.
Alot of air will blow out of the optimistic outlook for Bucs’ season if they lose this game.
September 17th, 2025 at 7:43 am
We need to beat the Jets without Wirfs so that he is rested for the Eagles game, which in my opinion is a lot more important. We need to pad the wins before the stretch of hard games where we very well only get 2 wins from the 49ers to the rams games, but it is also important that we beat NFC opponents
September 17th, 2025 at 7:52 am
This Bucs team KNOWS how hard it is to win in the NFL with everyone healthy. With so many guys hurt, it takes the entire team playing lights-out football to pull off even close wins against virtually any opponent. We’ve seen that 2 weeks in a row now.
Bucs won’t be discounting the Jets this Sunday one iota. Jets might be 0-2, but they’ve played 2 very tough opponents (Steelers & Bills) and both put up 30 points on them. They should’ve beaten the Steelers (gave up a FG in the last 3 minutes to lose 34-32); the Steelers couldn’t run against them but did great passing (4 TDs). But the Jets got walloped by the Bills running attack a week later 30-10. And that BTW looks like how you beat them (run the ball down their throats & control the clock).
September 17th, 2025 at 7:53 am
Why not an MVP for a Heisman Trophy winner selected by SI as top college QB for this century? Bucs need to get to NFC Championship for this to happen. Maybe Mayfield can play EDGE also? Bucs defense is not reliable. Can’t wait until Tristan Wirfs, CG14 and JMac are back.
This fan base has come a long way from Munch comments about Baker as a “middling midget” journeyman QB. By now most should realize how foolish the Cleveland Browns were. Browns still looking for their franchise QB. Tampa has found its franchise QB.
September 17th, 2025 at 8:33 am
Loving the BS or no BS with BA!
Yes, Baker MVP!
September 17th, 2025 at 8:40 am
12000+ yards passing. 69 TD passes. 29 interceptions. 7 different NFL teams. Tyrod Taylor is the QB against us this week. Justin Fields is out. I wish we were facing Fields. Not even close as far as QB savvy between the two, Taylor is a much more dangerous opponent. Mayfield and the players and coaching staff know how tough this week is gonna be. So do I. If we’re not on top of our game we will be thrashed. Hopefully our offense gets their feet this week because 20 points probably won’t be enough. I’m picking us to win but it won’t be easy. Far from it.
September 17th, 2025 at 8:53 am
I like Baker and what he means to the team more so than Brady, SB win aside.
Not dissing TB at all, it just seems like Baker is a much better fit for this team and it seems he truly wants to be here long term and be a part of something special.
September 17th, 2025 at 9:50 am
The MVP is for the season only so Baker is in the running. Were I a betting man I’d have laid my money down on him already. Winning a Super Bowl with him is another matter.
September 17th, 2025 at 10:07 am
The Bucs have four great receivers, but Shep and Miller, have proven to be pretty reliable
September 17th, 2025 at 10:42 am
So far so good!! 15 + games to play!!! LFG!!
September 17th, 2025 at 10:43 am
I find it hilarious that Arians, a superbowl HC coach and 2 time NFL coach of the year loves Baker as a legit NFL franchise quarterback but our resident know it all says Baker is a middling quarterback, average at best. Gee I wonder who knows what they are talking about, Arians or the know it all??
September 17th, 2025 at 10:45 am
Okay gang, let’s see who backed bringing Feisty Bake here. Well, well, well, it was Head Coach Todd Bowles. That’s right, the HC who is a regular punching bag on here. Bowles admired and followed Baker from the time he came into the League. In fact, Bowles couldn’t believe Baker was literally thrown into the NFL equivalent of a junk yard. Baker winning the MVP would be a delicious irony, especially doing so with a Tampa Bay Bucs team who end up hosting the NFL Conference Championship game. And why not?
September 17th, 2025 at 11:22 am
I think SB MVP would be the best of all. Go Bowles!
September 17th, 2025 at 11:30 am
Kenton Smith, ditto. It is worrisome expecting to see Tyrod Taylor light up the Bucs pass defense like he’s John Elway in his prime.
Everyone knows it’s a trap game, but human nature is what it is. They will come out flat and stale.
September 17th, 2025 at 12:30 pm
And Baker has done it with now 8 different coordinators, that is unheard of. I think his TD’s leads the league over the past, what, 4 years or so, had the stat up on the game. Burrow has been touted as one of the Rushmore QB’s but injured frequently and I don’t see it. Lamar and Josh haven’t won the whole thing yet, not that they’re not top tier. Mahomes has proven his worth. Oh and ModhairKen you’re right but I would put a poll in to see what QB with the very first player on your team you could put together would it be Marino or Dilfer. No one talks Dilfer, Marino hof.
September 17th, 2025 at 1:01 pm
MVPs usually go to stat monsters, not players who win with “grit”. I’ll take gritty wins all day long but I doubt that’ll get Bake an MVP.