“I’m Not Asking You To Be Tom Brady, I’m Asking You To Be Baker”
March 1st, 2026
Common bond.
(Photo courtesy of Buccaneers.com.)
Even though this story has been out there for three years, it still floored Rich Eisen.
The host of the show that bears his name, Eisen had a sitdown with Bucs coach Todd Bowles last week at the combine. Eisen wanted to know if the story about Bowles and Baker Mayfield was true: That Bowles told Mayfield to just be himself and everything would be fine.
Bowles said it is absolutely true and added that he and Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht each told Mayfield the same thing in their first meeting after the Bucs signed Mayfield.
“Yes,” Bowles told a surprised Eisen. “‘I’m not asking you to be Tom Brady, I’m asking you to be Baker. We don’t want Tom we want Baker Mayfield.’
“They’re different players. Tom’s legendary. Nobody’s going to ever replace Tom. Tom’s like a pair of shoes that you put up on the shelf that you wore for a long time, and you buy a new pair, and you got to break them in. And Baker came in, and he’s the new pair of shoes for us, even though he’s been in the league for a while.”
Bowles seemed to hint Mayfield may have saved Bowles’ career. And Bowles seems to think the Bucs may have saved Mayfield’s career as an NFL starter.
“I think we found each other at the right time. He’s the right fit for this team,” Bowles said.
Mayfield’s best attribute, Bowles said, is never seen by the public at large. Bowles said it is the way Mayfield interacts with teammates and has an innate ability to read the room and who to give a pat on the back too and who needs stronger motivation.
“Mentally, he is so sharp at reading the room as far as understanding what the defense needs, what the offense needs, spending time with players where they’re sitting down at lunch, giving them advice, hanging out with them later on,” Bowles said. “You know, hanging out with the offensive line. He runs with the linebackers. He does. He does a great job of keeping everybody in sync while he learns the game plan.”
Is there an element to Mayfield’s game that is lost on observers? Bowles thinks so. He believes Mayfield is a very underrated long-ball thrower.
“He’s a very sharp passer, especially a deep ball passer that he doesn’t get enough credit for,” Bowles said. “He’s been a godsend for us.”
Pretty strong words from Bowles. But yeah, it didn’t take Bowles to go on national TV for Joe to understand there’s a bond there between Bowles and Mayfield. As Bowles said, the two crossed paths just at the right time.
March 1st, 2026 at 8:16 am
3 things are guaranteed
Death , taxes , and a daily bashing of Todd Bowles from Hc Grover
March 1st, 2026 at 8:35 am
Bowles and Baker, and I don’t know why, are polarizing figures. Some folks like them alot, some folks don’t like a thing about them. They got the blame for the poor season we had last year. There was alot more blame to go around for that season. But the head coach and QB still have the respect and love from their players. That’s the truth and that’s why anyone writing off the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2026 may just be making a crucial miscalculation.
March 1st, 2026 at 8:56 am
I am in favor of Baker becoming a playing HC. While he is at it let him pick a DC. My vote would be for Jim Schwartz when he negotiates his release from the Browns.
March 1st, 2026 at 9:10 am
“…the two crossed paths just at the right time.”
– – – – – – – –
at just the right time. Right before the Bucs were ready to start Trask. Can you imagine?! We would have been talking about the draft in October, just like before we drafted Jameis.
March 1st, 2026 at 9:13 am
Well we now know the truth why the players love Baker. Hard to dislike a guy who is that passionate about others, and is the consumate team player. It appers it shows as much off the field and in the locker room as it does on the field.
I admit , I was disillusioned when the Bucs picked up Baker to the point, I went can I continue to be a fan. However, what I gave him credit for right away was the fact he came on the team and just kept his mouth shut. His press clippings prior sure left the taste of an arrogant person who often spoke , but seldom produced. So he read the team and public right from the start.
I know, I am now a fan and impressed. He appears to have matured and learned a few things as many of us hopefully have as we age through our 20’s. So my hat is off to Baker and definately happy he is a Buc. He is fun to watch and definately loved by his team mates and fans alike.
March 1st, 2026 at 9:13 am
If I were Jim Schwartz, there would be NO negotiating my release. I would go back to the Browns. Now that the dysfunctional franchise in Cleveland has hired their DC, I would return to fulfill my contract. The Browns would have no choice but to release him.
March 1st, 2026 at 9:16 am
Brady had a losing season under Todd. The COACH is causing the problem.
March 1st, 2026 at 9:27 am
In a perfect world the Bucs sign a proven starter to back up Bake. Then put a strategy in place to schedule games off with contingencies. Imagine if Baker had three or four “bye” weeks to stay fresh down the stretch. With the schedule expanding to 17 games, coupled with having a smaller QB who plays like a LB, how about trying something novel by signing a capable clone? Sounds good on paper, but unrealistic to think a starter would sacrifice starts & stats for rest. SF was forced into this last year and it worked out pretty well for them. They now have a nice trade token in Mac Jones as a result. Bucs would be looking for someone like Baker when he was run from Cleveland. Kyler Murray or Tua come to mind as potential fits. What a bold move that would be by Jason, Bowles & Baker. By design or not, it behooves all of them to sign a capable backup. Finding the perfect value & fit is the tough part.
March 1st, 2026 at 9:44 am
After his combine interviews I’m sold on Luke Altmeyer as the best option for the Bucs to replace Bridgewater.
Altmeyer is a lot like Mayfield- he looks like he’s going to be snapped in half but he’s tougher than a $2 steak, extra smart, sends the ball downfield like a boss, has scampering skills, moves smart and smooth in the pocket, doesn’t throw INTs and he even has the clutch gene (7 game winning drives at Illinois.)
He said that he learned from Phillip Rivers how important his QB room was to his continued success in the NFL and that he is willing to do whatever his team needs him to do whether it’s “mop floors, cook food or QB them to a Super Bowl win.” I’d very much like him to be Baker Mayfield’s Clipboard Jesus. Well worth a day 3 pick.
March 1st, 2026 at 9:47 am
Also like Mayfield, when he does throw INTs it’s often from throwing a fatigue-induced floater over the middle of the field in the fourth quarter.
March 1st, 2026 at 11:57 am
Bucman … ‘Brady had a losing season under Todd. The COACH is causing the problem.’
I’ve been a Brady fan his whole career … except for his last season. Tom had no business playing because he had way too much ‘drama’ going on in his life at age 45. The Bucs under last-minute HC Bowles obviously allowed him to pretty much what he wanted (retaining OC Leftwich still has me shaking my head), which IMO turned out to be too much for a 45-year old QB . For instance:
o Most Pass Attempts in his career: 733
o Most Pass Completions in his career: 490
o Shortest Yards per Completion Average of his career: 9.6
o 2nd Lowest Sack Percentage of his career: 2.91% (22 sacks)
o Points Scored: 313 (18.4 PPG … 198 pts LESS than the 511 the Bucs scored in 2021).
o Worst W-L Record of his career: 8-9
Brady being Brady produced some decent stats which should have helped a roster that was much less talented than what we fielded in 2020 & 2021. For instance, Tom led FOUR 4th QC comebacks and FIVE game-winning drives that 2022 season.
I don’t have any idea who the Bucs would’ve gotten to QB the team if they hadn’t coerced Brady into coming back for a 3rd year, but all the ‘drama’ that surrounded Brady that year hurt the team. The lowered talent level (Gronk retired, OLine marginal, Suh & JPP not re-signed, etc) struggled. What I could blame Bowles for that year is retaining Leftwich & keeping hands-off the offense at a time when it NEEDED some HC direction obviously.