Todd Bowles Said There’s No Quarterback He’d Rather Have Than Baker Mayfield
October 9th, 2025
Special bond.
Joe can understand if there is a deep, mutual appreciation between Todd Bowles and Baker Mayfield.
And it isn’t just a coach-quarterback relationship.
Think back to the winter of 2023. Bowles, after his first head coaching season with the Bucs, had an 8-9 record despite winning the NFC South. Legendary quarterback Tom Brady had retired. As the Sage of Tampa Bay sports, Ira Kaufman, said on his podcast, the Bucs were “peering into the abyss” without a quarterback.
Bowles was on the hot seat given significant fan dissatisfaction and the history of Team Glazer after one of their coaches has back-to-back losing seasons.
At quarterback, Bowles would have untested Kyle Trask (who Bowles didn’t draft) and someone else. That someone else happened to be Mayfield.
Mayfield had come off four starts with the Rams. But partly because of how he left Cleveland (unwanted) and Carolina (mutual agreement to part ways), teams were wary. Aside from the Bucs, only two teams were interested in Mayfield and both (Rams, Crows) only wanted him as a backup.
The Bucs, with an opening at quarterback and a coach desperate for wins, had a starting gig available. Bowles hounded Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht to sign Mayfield.
That move may go down in history as the second-biggest Bucs signing in its first 50 years, No. 2 behind Brady.
What was a marriage of convenience became a blossoming relationship. Mayfield reached the apex of his career (and better days my be ahead) and Bowles cemented his gig with the Bucs.
So when Bowles spoke highly of Mayfield yesterday, Joe suspects the emotion from Bowles was more than about football.
“For me, no,” Bowles answered when asked if there was another quarterback in the NFL he’d rather have. “The other 31 coaches are probably going to stand up here and say the same thing about their quarterback.
“I love what he’s doing right now. I love the way he’s playing. I love the space he’s in, mentally and physically getting it done. The mastery of the offense in his second year has really done a lot.
“Them understanding and communicating what he likes and doesn’t like, and him throwing to the open guys and making everybody better, has really helped. I’m very proud of that.”
Joe doesn’t think it is hyperbole to suggest that Bowles and Mayfield saved each other’s careers. Mayfield would have surely hung around as a backup.
Bowles, 61, had gone on record saying that whenever he leaves his head coach gig with the Bucs, that will be it for him in the NFL.
So Joe understands why Bowles is partial to Mayfield as his quarterback.
October 9th, 2025 at 6:04 am
I appreciate the lore around this. that todd had wanted to draft baker when he was with the jets but baker went first overall to the browns and that todd might have been in licht’s ear about giving baker a shot after tom retired.
October 9th, 2025 at 6:18 am
Good piece, Joe. A championship makes this story a classic second only to TB coming to TB. It would be very difficult to ever supplant Tom Brady and his culture changing ways signing with the Bucs but if Bowles and Baker can win a Super Bowl it would be a classic tale. Can’t forget that Licht was involved in both of course.
October 9th, 2025 at 6:31 am
Bucs Nation was forever confined to a relatively small portion of Florida’s west coast. Brady’s arrival drew a lot of national attention, but the attention was directed more toward Brady and what he could do rather than at the team as a whole. That has changed now that Mayfield is on the field. He’s doing things that no one expected him to do. And, because of his play, the whole country is seeing more and more highlights. And, they’re getting to know the individual weapons around Mayfield as they watch. The bandwagon has taken off and more and more people from around the country are jumping on board. They’re cheering not only for Mayfield but for the entire Bucs team. Bucs Nation is growing because of Mayfield!
October 9th, 2025 at 6:36 am
I couldn’t be happier about Baker being our QB. The guy lays it on the line every game. What more can you ask for?
October 9th, 2025 at 6:38 am
I’m sure I’m not the only one expecting the Bucs turning back into a pumpkin in Seattle, all the ingredients/excuses were there, injured DBs, no Bucky or Evans, no pass rush, special teams break downs, every other year in team history, we lose this game, all year we keep getting punched in the mouth and not only stand back up, but deliver the knockout blow, at some point it’s not luck winning these close games, it’s resilience and determination, nothing about these game winning drives are lucky, it’s a grit and confidence, we will lose again but when we do, I’m confident this team will fight to the end
October 9th, 2025 at 6:49 am
So many people around the league just a few short months ago were all talking about a Mayfield regression. I’ll bet that added a little motivation to a QB who was already playing great football. I’ll take Mayfield all day, every day!
October 9th, 2025 at 6:59 am
PSL Bob —
What is the Bucs Nation?
Other than the few trolls, the guys who could never get dates, so their pathological joy in life is derived by claiming so and so “sucks” when everyone knows the opposite, I’d say the remaining commenters here are part of a Bucs Nation. We might not agree on coaching or player capabilities, but we watch every week with an overwhelming passion for the Bucs to win.
But how does the rest of the league describe a Bucs Nation?
“Oh you guys. Yeah, I know some Bucs fans. They’re the guys who buy season tickets to sell to opposing team’s fans for a profit. They don’t care about the Bucs. When I turn on the TV and watch you guys, I see a sea of green when the Eagles are in town, black when the Bears are playing, cheeseheads for the Packers and the same for all teams who travel well. Sure, I know of a Bucs nation. It’s about the size of Liechtenstein.”
And yes, I agree with Todd (for a change). No coach is gonna say their QB is not their favorite. But Baker is truly off to his finest start ever.
Let’s hope he can help get us a home game where half the crowd isn’t wearing the other team’s colors. When I had season tickets, and couldn’t make the game, at least I had the decency to sell to a Bucs fan. I didn’t make any money—so what?
October 9th, 2025 at 7:31 am
Posted, then pulled?
For what, writing a common truth? Not a single malapropism or curse word to be found.
Now I know how William L. Shirer felt from 1934-40.
No, wait. Even Shirer got his stories and broadcasts through, truths extrapolated.
?? Don’t see anything from you that got trashed. –Joe
October 9th, 2025 at 7:35 am
perfect post brady scenario for the bucs- a great qb who came out green and played on 2 bad teams matured and needed a home- pure genius and props to Baker for staying sharp and not regressing this year, he’s had a million excuses to do bad but instead he’s lifted his team thru tons of adversity
October 9th, 2025 at 8:08 am
PSL Bob,
Not true. Fully expected Baker to be doing what he is doing now and said it repeatedly on these pages 2 years ago. For that, I was routinely put down by the haters. Don’t you remember the “Baker Boi” insults and other nasty comments from the “fans” on these pages? There were only a few of us who said watch and learn. I guess those that watched actually have learned. Happy for Baker who handles himself beautifully in press conferences. He is articulate, happy to compliment his teammates and insightful. Expect more of the same on and off the field.
October 9th, 2025 at 8:08 am
I think Buc’s Nation now equals a decent part of Ohio, primarily around the Cleveland area. LOL
I met a converted Browns fan (an older retired guy who had been through the ringer with the Browns for decades) at the Jets game. It was his first trip to Tampa to watch our Buccaneers. He loved Baker and was completely decked out in Bucs gear. Should have come to a game in December when he would’ve really been happy to leave Cleveland. Instead he picked a furnace game. 😜
Still, he seemed really happy to be able to see Baker play live. Good for him!
October 9th, 2025 at 8:15 am
Sorry, my bad.
It just happened again.
Posted an apology, complete with a little world history, and it too vanished.
Again, sorry.
My iPad?
October 9th, 2025 at 8:17 am
of course Baker has saved his A** or he would have been fired with his horrible defense
October 9th, 2025 at 8:20 am
I have to laugh at you guys getting upset when one of your comments goes into moderation and doesn’t appear right away. Every comment I make is moderated; hence the Permanently Moderated name. You are fortunate, so take it easy.
October 9th, 2025 at 8:20 am
Gipper, we felt like the minority for sure. We shouldn’t have worried about it though. We knew Baker would make these fans see what anyone who’s ever watched him play knows. It’s as simple as they didn’t know anything about him. Now they do. And of course now they want another Super Bowl. The good part of that is they can’t want a Super Bowl more than Baker Mayfield does. Man alive this ought to be a fun 5 or 6 years ahead.
October 9th, 2025 at 8:27 am
Is there a QB playing any better? I don’t think so!! This O is starting to click! As the pieces get healthy, and the playbook is opened, it’s gonna be fun to watch!! Next up… San Francisco!! Get it done!!!!
October 9th, 2025 at 8:45 am
Kenton,
Maybe we should be gracious to the Johnny Come Lately fans even though they did not extend the courtesy. After all the people running things in CLE were not fans but alleged professionals. Karma is getting them now. I like to say that when Baker’s football career is over he will be the mayor of Tampa. For Browns coach,Kevin Stefanski and GM, Andrew Berry, they will be Cleveland city bus drivers—- probably very soon.
October 9th, 2025 at 9:03 am
Miraculous really. Hardy Nickerson and Simeon Rice, even Ryan Jensen, were complete game-changers too.
October 9th, 2025 at 9:29 am
I have an issue with the folks saying Baker saved Bowles job. Not that it isn’t true, but Bowles also saved Baker’s career. Mayfield was considered nothing more than a career backup.
Bowles not only believed in him enough to lies to use about a QB Competition, but he also sacrifed building his defense to make sure Baker had what he needed to succeed.
We can complain all we want about the defense, but we also need to keep in mind that it’s only in the first year of rebuilding…and Bowled could have drafted an edge rusher in the first round, but again made sure Mayfield had an important tool going forward.
Mike Evans is a future HoF guy. Of that there is noo doubt. Chris Godwin is not…not unless he gets better than he has ever been.
EE seems to be the real deal.
So Baker owes as much to Bowles as Bowles owes to Baker. And that is how good teams are supposed to work.
October 9th, 2025 at 9:37 am
As for myself, I had my doubts about Baker…and I was slow getting on his bandwagon.
I don’t know how he did it with a different OC every year, but Baker has developed while here. At first, he made a bunch of mistakes. Some were costly in the playoffs.
But over his time with the Bucs, he has improved greatly. I love homegrown success stories, and he is one. We might not have drafted him, but under Bowles, he has become great.
Turns out Bowles, a defensive coach, in a Quarterback Whisperer.
October 9th, 2025 at 9:59 am
Bucanneer Bonzai,
Leave it alone. You haven’t learned anything and still don’t know what you are talking about. Todd Bowles, Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and others weren’t around when Mayfield won the Heisman at Oklahoma. Nor were they around when Bakerr set the NFL rookie record for TD passes in Cleveland in only 13 games. High school football in Texas is a really big deal and Mayfield without any help from the aforementioned was one of the greatest high school QB’s ever in Texas. Incidentally, Baker was an incredibly accurate QB at Oklahoma which you would know if you bothered to look. Certain that Baker is grateful for a first class organization in Tampa but he has given more than he has received, including a favorable salary arrangement. It amazes me the certainty which some of people comment. Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to comment and remove all doubt.
October 9th, 2025 at 10:53 am
“Leave it alone. You haven’t learned anything and still don’t know what you are talking about. ”
Here Here Gipper!! Nauseating how the Baker haters can’t just say I was wrong but try and revise their history _ “oh I was slow to get on the bandwagon”. NO straight up Baker Haters until he shut them up and made them look ridiculous.
Bowles gets credit for saying “play YOUR game Bake” and picking OCs that would allow him to.
But trying to beg Bowles is a quarterback whisperer so that you can claim you were right about who Baker was but he changed is pathetic. Every element of his game you can see on tape in Cleveland and you only need one game – the Thursday night rams vs Raiders to see his comeback skills on full display(with no coaching possible in 24 hours)
Hopefully the organization doesn’t take this we made you attitude (Licht is too smart to so no worries) to the next contract negotiations because you can bet your house teams will find a way to make him know they would throw a boat load of money his way and in all fairness to the first team to turn his career around the Rams would get serious consideration.
October 9th, 2025 at 11:37 am
Let’s play a game of recall and step back to the TB12 era. BA wanted TB to retire after the SB win so he could pursue Baker as his QB. That’s what caused the problems that ultimately led to Bowles being made HC. It is my belief that the only reason BA is still even mentioned as being associated with the Bucs in any way is to pay him enough money to keep his mouth shut about the mutiny that took place with him and Leftwich. Bowles may have been a Baker fan as well but I never read or heard of him saying anything in favor of Baker. Yes, Baker saved Todd’s career but I believe it was BA’s strong influence with Jason that brought Baker here. That may also be part of the reason BA is still a “consultant”.
October 9th, 2025 at 11:46 am
That move may go down in history as the second-biggest Bucs signing in its first 50 years, No. 2 behind Brady.
I would amend that. If Baker ever takes us to the SB, then he will be the BEST signing in Buc’s first 50 years!
Brady was here for an enchanting but brief time. His last year was poor. Baker has been here about the same time, is in the running for MVP, and has ???years more to go.
October 9th, 2025 at 12:05 pm
Roscoe, I probably don’t know as much as you do about it, but I’ll share what I know. Bowles and Baker developed a respect for each other pre 2018 draft. 4 years later Bowles and Arians (who greatly admired Baker) got Licht to figure out how to get him here and Boom! They got it done. Probably would have gotten done without Arians. Probably wouldn’t have gotten done without Bowles.
October 9th, 2025 at 12:32 pm
Kenton Smith Says:
October 9th, 2025 at 12:05 pm
^^^^^
Full disclosure; I don’t KNOW anything for certain. I just pay attention to what is said and legitimately written about. Everything I speculate about is backed up by the spoken words of the parties involved. I do recall BA speaking of his desire to get Baker. I don’t recall Bowles mentioning Baker. That is not to say Bowles didn’t want Baker. I want to leave the past in the past but the stench of what happened during that time won’t fully dissipate until a new era with a new HC begins.
October 9th, 2025 at 12:32 pm
I believe the culture change was started by Bruce Arians. It has continued through Tom Brady, Todd Bowles and Baker Mayfield. Brady did set an example of excellence while he was with us.
I believe Bowles did want Mayfield early on.
October 9th, 2025 at 1:15 pm
SenileSenior Says:
October 9th, 2025 at 12:32 pm….Brady did set an example of excellence while he was with us.
^^^^
Perhaps that is so but Brady’s standard of excellence was on display when he vacationed in the Bahamas during training camp. It was also on display when instead of flying with the team on the team plane, he flew on his own jet and skipped out on the team during the Pittsburg game to attend Kraft’s wedding. It was also on display during his numerous sideline temper tantrums destroying team property while on national TV. That was all “justified” by some in the media as having happened because of his “passion” for the game.
I am pleased that TB12’s time with the Bucs will be overshadowed by Baker Mayfield. Baker has brought a MUCH BETTER culture to the entire organization. Baker is all about the team and not all about himself as TB was.
October 9th, 2025 at 2:01 pm
what else was bowles going to say, he’d rather have josh allen?
seems like a stupid question. even though they say there is no such thing.
October 9th, 2025 at 2:25 pm
More convinced them ever that the NFL and the media is going to be seeing a lot of Baker and the Bucs in the next 5-7 years. Just a shame that this defense is not up to NFL standards of just being mediocre. To watch Darnold dissect this defense is just another familiar reminder of the human statue, Kirk Cousins, carving up the defense. It also amazes me that when individual veteran defenders are mentioned on these pages, so many posters think theses guys are HOF candidates. Yes, I am talking about the slavish affection for Jamel Dean. In fact, with Kancey out there are only three other defenders who might start for a top NFL team. They are an aging LVD , Vita Vea and Whitfield Jr. Fair to put LVD in the HOF but he is clearly past his prime. With LVD, at least the defense has a respected veteran leader. Let’s be hopeful that some of the 2025 defensive draft choices work out. For that to happen they have to stay on the field and avoid the endless Buc injuries.
October 9th, 2025 at 3:25 pm
Oh, I thought he’d say, “oh yeah, there’s a big list of quarterbacks I’d rather have.”