Kevin Stefanski Responds To Baker Mayfield
January 28th, 2026
Old coach doesn’t fire back.
So last week Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield unloaded on new Dixie Chicks coach Kevin Stefanski on Twitter.
Apparently, Mayfield and Stefanski are not sending each other Christmas cards. The two had a falling out of some sort when Stefanski coached Mayfield with the Browns. The relationship did not end well.
And Mayfield doesn’t forget. So yesterday, Stefanski had his first press conference in Atlanta as the new leader of the Dixie Chicks. Rather than firing back at Mayfield for calling him out on Twitter, Stefanski played Mr. Nice Guy, as documented by Maura Carey of the Associated Press.
“Baker’s somebody that I have a ton of respect for as a player and a person,” Stefanski said. “I love rivalries in sports and obviously the Buccaneers (and) Falcons have a great rivalry. It’s something that I’m excited about, but I would not get into the specifics of those types of things other than to say I have a ton of respect for Baker as a player, as a person. That’s a great team with a great player.”
Damn. Joe was hoping Stefanski would make some sort of snide comment at Mayfield or at the Bucs. Bucs drama is good for a late-January day when the Tampa Bay region is bracing for “Gulf Effect Snow” this weekend.
So, Joe wonders if Mayfield can bottle up his anger at Stefanski for another eight months, at least?
January 28th, 2026 at 12:09 am
To bad Baker won’t get the best of that rivalry, likely losing to the Falcons as long as IBS is dragging the Bucs down to Davy Jones’s Locker!
January 28th, 2026 at 12:43 am
*YAWN
January 28th, 2026 at 1:22 am
Baker the child. Immature, petulant, inconsistent, erratic.
It’s not the future.
January 28th, 2026 at 1:44 am
Imagine if he would have said…yeah, Baker’s a loser. He sucked so we shipped him off. He should stop crying and get over it. Looking forward to kicking their arse twice a year. Now that would be great…
January 28th, 2026 at 1:58 am
@ Aqualung – erratic is the perfect word for him.
Stefanski said exactly what I knew he would say. Word for word.
January 28th, 2026 at 2:02 am
Stefanski was part of the brain trust that made the worst deal in the history of professional sports. The Deshaun Watson trade is compelling evidence of the absurd management of the Browns. Stefanski at minimum was a quiet accomplice. Mayfield was the best thing that had happened to the resurrected Browns. Stefanski made little attempt in 2021 to protect a badly injured Baker. Mayfield last game of the 2021 season was versus Steelers. Browns played a 3rd string RT vs TJ Watt. Mayfield was hit hard at least 10 times by Watt who had 6 or 7 sacks in that game. Mayfield has every right to be bitter.
January 28th, 2026 at 2:51 am
Stefanski probably has a bigger beef with the “esteemed” AJC writer who reignited the old news. Not everyone in the ATL social media world is happy with the new hire though everyone seems glad Rah got launched.
January 28th, 2026 at 3:57 am
Given the amount of personal issues that Watson had that were known at the time, it was a big risk making that deal.
However, two caveats: 1) the owners and podesta had a large hand in orchestrating that move, 2) going by on the field production only making that move is a no brainer. Watson was playing like an mvp for two full years before he got himself into trouble. Arguably the best player in the game. If it pans out no one is talking about losing baker mayfield in Cleveland.
I’m all for baker and all of our players using whatever to help motivate them like Jordan did. But he comes off as the petty one when he takes it public. Ppl get traded and cut all the time. You’re not owed anything.
January 28th, 2026 at 4:32 am
Stefanski is getting a lot of heat from all over and doesn’t look that great as a coach coming into a new team. He can say all he wants, but he threw Baker out like nothing and then ghosted his calls. And for what? Watson lol. Why didn’t Stefanski go into the truth of how he treated Baker at the end. He didn’t respect him then. I am pro-Baker.
January 28th, 2026 at 5:10 am
Articles a little weak Joe, how about a little substance
January 28th, 2026 at 5:36 am
@Obvious…you get the nod for the best comment on here. Even the Cleveland fans tend to forget that Watson was a stud, and Cleveland pulled the chord on the Baker experiment. Most teams wouldn’t do that, but they got a peek at Baker’s ceiling, and said we have a chance to bring a game changer in vs. technically a game manager, and the gamble thus far failed.
Baker on the other hand should have had enough news clippings last season to come up with one more win, and yes, he had a chance in more than one game with the ball in his hand, coincidentally the Falcons being the most attainable where he gets another first down in that last possession and/or doesn’t throw a pick with an 8 pt lead, most likely we win that game. But because it’s Baker, he can do no wrong, we will always fixate on the defense giving up a 3rd and 28, 4th and 14.
January 28th, 2026 at 5:44 am
Zoocomics – Respectfully, many teams backed off on Watson, and we know why. The Browns lost a lot of money on the insane contract they gave him too. And then he gave them nothing. Baker has good character. The Browns with Stefanski pretty much blew Baker off. It wasn’t an experiment, it was a real bad judgement error.
January 28th, 2026 at 5:56 am
🥱
A whole lot of nothing. Stafanski knows the Falcons own the Bucs without him so he’s not worried. If Baker was a real tough guy he would’ve made those comments AFTER beating the Falcons this upcoming season NOT after going 2-7 down the stretch with one of those losses to the Falcons.
Its sad really. He made 30+ million since he left the Browns and his feelings are still hurt how many years later? He’s SOFT.
January 28th, 2026 at 6:23 am
Days before Mayfield responded to that ATL reporter, he posted:
“Focused on the work, not the noise”
Then, proceeded to make his own noise.
It’s a tad on the itchy side
January 28th, 2026 at 7:15 am
It is called Professionalism.
January 28th, 2026 at 7:22 am
I’d rather talk about why Dean needs to go.
January 28th, 2026 at 8:21 am
Stafanski probably had his hand forced by a meddling owner.
January 28th, 2026 at 8:24 am
Immature, unprofessional and feelings hurt you guys are zero fun, we are also watching and cheering cave men bashing each other with helmets on settle down.
January 28th, 2026 at 8:25 am
One thing they both can agree on. Thank God we’re both out of Cleveland.
January 28th, 2026 at 8:55 am
Damn. Joe was hoping Stefanski would make some sort of snide comment at Mayfield or at the Bucs.
Kevin isnt immature like baker!!!
baker needs to grow up!!!!
Rams and Panthers shipped him off too….didnt hear him say a word about those teams
GO BUCS!!!!