Shaun King Breaks Down Baker Mayfield
January 23rd, 2026
Believes Baker Mayfield can return to being a top-shelf quarterback.
Fix Baker Mayfield and you have fixed the Bucs’ offense.
That seems to be the conclusion of former Bucs quarterback Shaun King when he recently spoke with Kyle Odegard of ESportsBets.com.
King, one of only four Bucs quarterbacks to lead the team to an NFC title game, believes when Mayfield has a good offensive coordinator, he plays well. When Mayfield doesn’t have a good coordinator, he play becomes erratic.
King made these comments before the Bucs hired Zac Robinson.
“Baker Mayfield is a professional athlete that needs a persistent, high-disciplined coach at all times,” said King, a second-round pick of the Buccaneers in 1999 who played five seasons with the team. “Baker is better when he’s being held accountable every day, and he feels like his back is against the wall, that nobody believes in him. That Baker is a really good player. The minute that Baker has a little success – people started talking about how he was the leader in the clubhouse for MVP – then the reckless, careless Baker surfaces.
“I’ll never forget: There was this press conference and it was probably Week 5 or 6, and he was rolling,” King said. “He said, ‘Well, when I was in Cleveland and I used to celebrate, they would call me immature. Now when I do it, I’ve got moxie.” I said, ‘Ohhhh, hell.’
“He’s been throwing picks ever since.”
Please don’t misunderstand King. He’s a Mayfield fan. When Mayfield is rolling, King thinks Mayfield is a top-10 quarterback.
“Some of those guys, they play better when they don’t feel like everything is going in their favor, for whatever reason,” King said. “At his best, I think he’s one of the top 10 quarterbacks in the National Football League. He played at that level the previous two years. He just got a little out of (his zone since the bye).”
Joe doesn’t think it’s a stretch to suggest if Robinson gets Mayfield right, Mayfield starts balling again and the Bucs are winning, that this time next year Joe will again by typing about yet another new Bucs offensive coordinator.
January 23rd, 2026 at 9:04 am
Lmao? I’ll settle for him not being injuried and having a healthier o-line I think that is what makes a “better” Baker.
January 23rd, 2026 at 9:11 am
Again….
It is not very interesting what this guy has to say, we value YOUR opinion Joe’s and Sage, not this clown
January 23rd, 2026 at 9:11 am
Football opinions by Shaun King are like bonus tracks on Yoko Ono albums
January 23rd, 2026 at 9:19 am
Baker is fine. He was playing hurt or injured most of the year. The offensive play calling sucked. The schemes and the routes sucked.
January 23rd, 2026 at 9:20 am
Bottom line, nobody knows how this is all going to sort out. There are just too many unknowns at this point. I’m just looking forward to watching it unfold come September. I love football, and I love the Bucs!
January 23rd, 2026 at 9:23 am
I like King. Good observations.
Unfortunately we have a coach who does not have testicle fortitude to bench Baker when he is hurt SMH
Maybe Zack will have them.
January 23rd, 2026 at 9:26 am
Hopefully we’re taking about the new head coach.
January 23rd, 2026 at 9:31 am
Shaun King’s overthinking it. Baker is good when he has top-notch coaching that can optimize his talents with their game-planning and play-calling, a solid OLine protecting him, an effective running game that can keep the opposing defense off-balance, versatile receivers who can stretch the defense & keep the ball moving forward, PLUS a defense that can keep the score from getting out of hand.
Baker pretty much had that in Cleveland in 2020 when he went 11-5, and he had that in Tampa Bay when he went 10-7. His success probably had a lot to do with the specific OCs he had (Alex Van Pelt in 2020 & Liam Coen in 2024). They both seemed to have a good feel for controlling the Run Game and the short Pass Game.
January 23rd, 2026 at 9:34 am
So it’s everything around Mayfield, and nothing Mayfield himself has control/command of or improve? Smh
Sounds like the same tune being covered by a different singer
January 23rd, 2026 at 9:41 am
Baker will always be an up and down QB. When he’s hot, he’s good. When he’s not, he’s bad. IMHO he’ll never take this team to the promised land. When he plays hurt, he hurts this team more than help.
I think he as too many distractions. Family, commercials, etc.
January 23rd, 2026 at 9:42 am
Fix the offensive line and Mayfield is all good. Who the hell is Shaun King to think he can break down Mayfield’s play without being in that locker room every day. Just another guy’s opinion like everyone has, doesn’t make it right.
I would like to hear Mike Evans, Chris Godwin’s and even Rashad White’s opinion (which would be probably be the best since he is leaving) before I hear any more talking heads talk about something they know nothing about.
This is just not about Mayfield, it is all these TV announcers in playoff games spouting off crap and you know they are just repeating the echo chamber, it is sickening to listen to these guys. BTW, never was a big Brady fan, but as an TV Analysts he is the best and you can tell he is not lazy like all the others.
January 23rd, 2026 at 9:46 am
PSL Bob say:
Bottom line, nobody knows..
Yep. You nailed it.
There’s a camp of Baker fans that believe (or hope) it was just injuries and a bad scheme.
Then there’s a camp that thinks Baker isnt great and needs everything to be perfect around him to be any good.
Hard to say which one is correct at this point. But at this point in his career, I believe Baker is an inconsistent QB, who can win you some games, make some amazing plays, but lacks the consistency to be a great QB.
But this is all just a distraction to the real issue and that’s the defense and guy running the show. Unbelievable how the Bucs have managed to make this off-season all about the other side of the ball .
January 23rd, 2026 at 9:48 am
Have you noticed how certain ppl find all kind of reasons to defend Bowles?
January 23rd, 2026 at 9:50 am
Bakerfan says:
“Fix the oline and Baker is all good.”
Im just not sure that take isnt as lazy as some of the guys you are calling “lazy”.
His picks against Atl and Miami that helped cost us those games (along with 3rd and 28), had nothing to do with protection from the oline.
January 23rd, 2026 at 9:51 am
LOL…
King is spot on lol…
Baker chokes when the pressure is on…
King hit the nail on the head with this statement:
The minute that Baker has a little success – people started talking about how he was the leader in the clubhouse for MVP – then the reckless, careless Baker surfaces.
no killer instinct…just a bunch of 4th quarter INTs
GO BUCS!!!!!
January 23rd, 2026 at 9:54 am
His picks against Atl and Miami that helped cost us those games (along with 3rd and 28), had nothing to do with protection from the oline.
BINGO!!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
January 23rd, 2026 at 9:56 am
He is not SB caliber.
January 23rd, 2026 at 9:59 am
Where is Rod Munch and why isn’t he solely blaming Baker for every Tampa Bay loss in the history of the franchise? Someone do a wellness check on the Muncher.
January 23rd, 2026 at 10:02 am
HC Grover: Are there a few other things that aren’t Super Bowl caliber? Such as the coaching and defense? There’s really nothing Super Bowl caliber about the Bucs right now, outside of a few good players like Mike Evans and Wirfs (when he gets healthy).
January 23rd, 2026 at 10:08 am
C’mon this is nonsense. Baker has never had the same OC for more than a year. O line and Baker were injured most of the back half of the season. Inexperienced and ineffective play calling from Grizz didn’t help. 2026 will see a return to form for Baker. Doesn’t really matter who the play caller is so long as new guy avoids long lateral passes to WR’s and backs. Need more quick slants and outs to set up 25 yrd passes down the seams.
January 23rd, 2026 at 10:25 am
If you believe this take from King then you must also believe that Baker is a head case.
He has to be doubted to be successful??? Why not just do what makes you successful and stop listening to the noise outside of the playing field?
This is pure hogwash and just another pundit carrying water for this franchise that is in a complete free fall.
Baker is not a big game QB. Never has been and likely never will.
He’s not a bad bridge QB providing you have a good defense.
But he’s not built to be able to perform well enough to cover for the Swiss cheese soft as butter pee wee league caliber defense of Bowles.
Until Bowles is gone we are stuck in neutral. And going nowhere.
January 23rd, 2026 at 10:35 am
It’s simple math. The more you take, the less you have.
The fall of the Bucs this past season was not the result of any one thing. The fause was from multiple things subtracting from the whole. Too many things went wrong.
It happens.
Fans tend to latch onto single reasons and blame each individually…yet miss how the accumulation of these reasons work together, subtracting from the whole product. Normally, teams can overcome some things, but once in a while, things happen in conjunction to prevent overcoming them.
Such was the case this past season. Everything went wrong at once. And I mean everything.
The good news is that the odds are against it happening that way again. The Bucs will be better in 2026, simply because a lot will have been resolved.
Players will be healthy again. New, hopefully better, Special Teams coaching. New, hopefully better, Offensive Coordinator. New defensive draft picks. New, better free agents.
Injuries were the biggest issue. Some will say it was coaching, but the foaching worked before the injuries. Still, everything dombined took it’s toll.
January 23rd, 2026 at 10:35 am
Combined
January 23rd, 2026 at 10:37 am
RondeBarberTime Says
“If you believe this take from King then you must also believe that Baker is a head case.
He has to be doubted to be successful??? ”
That’s not what he said. He said Baker is most dangerous at those moments…and that’s actually a great thing.
January 23rd, 2026 at 10:42 am
Sorry, I don’t have the same optimism with Robinson. I think the Bucs will have an even better draft pick next year. Hope I’m wrong.
January 23rd, 2026 at 10:52 am
Again, Shaun has valid points.
Baker played injured and really couldn’t rely on the backups we had either. So he stayed in. Let him rest his injuries and come back even stronger.
January 23rd, 2026 at 10:55 am
Buccaneer Bonzai Says:
“That’s not what he said. He said Baker is most dangerous at those moments…and that’s actually a great thing.”
Again, why do you need to be doubted to be the most dangerous????
That makes no sense at all. And it screams laziness. Motivation should come from within.
But this is all bluster and propaganda. Baker is not a big game QB.
In the biggest moments on the biggest stage he folds like a cheap suit.
Put that in your pipe and smoke it.
January 23rd, 2026 at 11:14 am
@Sean King, now do the defense ………
January 23rd, 2026 at 11:24 am
Well sean, we won 4 games in the last minute BECAUSE OF BAKER and the offense….those games were close because of todd and his inept scheme….then we lost the rest because of his inept scheme….tf outta here dummy…yeah he had some ints because he was forced to try so hard….not to mention the other bs hes done…f off!!!
January 23rd, 2026 at 11:27 am
He called it out. I’m not a big King fan, but I agree on this one. Baker thrives as the consummate underdog. When no one expects anything from him, he thrives. Remember that 2022 Rams vs Raiders game? As soon as the lights turn on and we start to be favored, he disappears. This has been his MO from day 1 even being an overall number 1 draft pick for Cleveland. You couldn’t ask for better city as they were going to show him patience. And then comes the Baker playing hurt scenario. Why they let him play hurt is beyond me. Same crap in Tampa, Baker played bad down the stretch, he must be injured, ugh.
For the apologist, it’s everyone else but Baker, right? How many times had this defense not played well all game, and yet they figure out a way to make a play at the end of the game, putting the ball in Bakers hands 1 more time, whether to go down the field for a game winning score, or to get a couple of first downs, and salt away the clock for the win. And yet Baker fails to finish. How about getting 6 pts vs settling for 3. The common denominator is always Baker.
Who here believes teams are scared when Baker is driving in a last possession game? Teams fear a 37 year old Cousins before they fear Baker.
Question…can you fix that issue with Baker after 8 seasons in the league, or do you just make the team good enough where he can watch the closing seconds on the sideline?
January 23rd, 2026 at 11:31 am
Baker fan. Please enjoy this year because your Bakey will be gone next year and I can’t wait until next season and y’all will be following him to his 5th team.
January 23rd, 2026 at 11:36 am
That’s a variation of what I’ve been saying since Mayfield got here: that Baker has a slightly low threshold of satisfaction. Remember all the games where we had a lead going into the second quarter and Baker would start getting casual like we got it all wrapped up already? He’s a lot like JW was in that he likes playing from behind and playing with a lead does not hold much interest for him.
January 23rd, 2026 at 11:46 am
Just saw something crazy from Adam Schefter…..
Phillip Rivers, who came out of retirement to QB the Colts last year is interviewing for the Buffalo Bills head coaching position today!!!!
WOWWWWWWWW 😳😳😳
January 23rd, 2026 at 11:56 am
i’ll fix baker: he needs to go to raymond james mid week in the evening and play catch with his receivers, freaking visualize it bro like brady did
he gets out there and has no chemistry, they need to go sand lot, then when it’s a big game they know exactly what works, simplify it like we did playing in the street when we were kids
January 23rd, 2026 at 11:58 am
ONeil…. I hope so, because you losers are just that. Something in your DNA in Tampa which is a shame
January 23rd, 2026 at 11:58 am
Where does Shawn King get right to judge Baker? SK career stats just over 4,000 yards in 6 yrs 26 tds ,24 into. Lol 4,000 career yards Baker has that in multiple yrs gonnaWhat a sad career and he is going to judge Baker. Then you got these idiots on here saying yea I like what he said or I agree. By the way he only went to NFC champ because we had the best Defense in the league. He could not carry Bakers jock strap.
January 23rd, 2026 at 12:13 pm
mj Says:
January 23rd, 2026 at 11:56 am
i’ll fix baker: he needs to go to raymond james mid week in the evening and play catch with his receivers, freaking visualize it bro like brady did
he gets out there and has no chemistry, they need to go sand lot, then when it’s a big game they know exactly what works, simplify it like we did playing in the street when we were kids…
OK MJ, who should he throw too…. Evans(out 6 weeks), Godwin( out for what 8 weeks), McMillan(out 12 weeks) behind a line that was as porous from every direction on each play. You can’t practice and prepare for that by playing catch. You got to have a better game plan which this coaching staff could not formulate one.
This season started with so much promise and ended up stinking up the joint, no playing catch sessions was going to save it and who knows what they did to prepare for each game. Every facet of the 3 phases stunk it up. Why the Glazers are not cleaning house is beyond me.
January 23rd, 2026 at 12:14 pm
Say what you want about the Glazers and Bowles. Imagine being a Bills fan right now. What a train wreck
January 23rd, 2026 at 12:55 pm
BucfaninMi Says:
“Say what you want about the Glazers and Bowles. Imagine being a Bills fan right now. What a train wreck”
Double digit wins seven straight years.
Six straight years of winning at least one playoff game.
Two conference title games.
Yeah that’s just awful. We’re better off with Bowles at .500 and one playoff win.
January 23rd, 2026 at 12:56 pm
Word Woodman! WTF! Crazy crap! How about if Tomlin was handed the keys after Ariens ?oh the possibilitys i.de say a couple SB’s. with all the Head coaching changes this year ,does anyone think Bowles would be on any teams wish list if he was let go a couple weeks ago…Just sayn.
January 23rd, 2026 at 12:56 pm
RondeBarberTime: You know nothing about what makes Baker tick. Do your homework so you don’t sound so foolish. And what the hell does King know about playing great football? Honestly, what a joke.
January 23rd, 2026 at 1:13 pm
With a healthy offensive line that works out all offseason to help make sure they stay that way, there’s no reason this offense can’t score 40+ ppg. With Egbuka, Evans and Godwin somebody should be very open on EVERY PLAY. Mayfield just needs protection so he can go through his progressions. Period. Those 2 “guards” we had in there need to go and we need a legit backup. Or 2 would be better.
January 23rd, 2026 at 1:20 pm
Steve V. Says:
“does anyone think Bowles would be on any teams wish list if he was let go a couple weeks ago…Just sayn.”
That is a resounding no. Even the Pom Pom waivers know that to be true.
Bowles did not earn his position. It was handed to him on a satin pillow.
And he has turned it into a burning pile of rubble.
January 23rd, 2026 at 1:22 pm
I know ! Licht is hanging on for Tomlin at the end of next year ! Throw Bowles in the bay!
January 23rd, 2026 at 1:23 pm
Wyoming Joe Says:
“RondeBarberTime: You know nothing about what makes Baker tick. Do your homework so you don’t sound so foolish.”
Please astonish us all with your in depth knowledge of what makes Baker tick???
All I do is use my eyes and brain to tell me what is happening in front of me.
I’ve seen the very best of Baker and the outcome was the same.
Losing on the biggest stage while being the weakest link.
January 23rd, 2026 at 1:26 pm
Fix the two guards. That was the primary issue. They were starting two guys who were barely practice squad level in Feeney and Jordan.
Everyone is big on defense this offseason, and rightly so. But some offensive line depth at guard/center is critical too.
January 23rd, 2026 at 1:40 pm
Stormy
I agree regarding the 2 guards…
gotta draft a OG no later than the 2nd round…then draft defense the rest of the way
in FA, gotta sign or trade for a quality OG…Mauch wont be 100% imo
GO BUCS!!!
January 23rd, 2026 at 2:00 pm
Ronde, what exactly does losing on the biggest stage mean? The super bowl? If so you’re correct. But the guy has won a national championship. And playoff games. Including with an abysmal browns team that was historically inept until he arrived. Beat a strong Steelers team and almost upset that chefs. So yeah, he, along with another 28 or 29 of his peers at quarterback have not yet won a super bowl. And?
January 23rd, 2026 at 2:03 pm
RondeBarberTime: I’ve watched Baker since his Oklahoma days. He was a rookie with the Browns (came in second for Rookie of the year) and inherited a team that was 1-34 before his first start. Two years later he won a playoff game against the Steelers putting 40 points on the board. Before that, the Browns hadn’t been in a playoff game in 15+years. Add the numbers that he’s had during the last three years with the Bucs and you have a small sample of what Baker can do. So, get your head out of your b*tt!