Baker Mayfield Again Called “Perfect In The City” Of Tampa
June 14th, 2026
“It’s my city, Kyle.”
Are Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay area really a perfect fit?
Joe hears that a lot, and another big-name local ex-Buccaneer not named Rondé Barber or Ian Beckles has made that claim.
Tampa resident Logan Ryan, a 2022 Buccaneer and a two-time Super Bowl champ with the Belicheats, is all-in on Mayfield.
“It’s Baker’s team now,” Ryan told CBS Sports HQ on Thursday. “It’s Baker’s show. I know they love Baker there. Baker should retire a Bucs quarterback. They should pay him for a long time. He’s perfect in the city. His personality fits in. I know Baker well. He’s a great addition to Tampa.”
Mayfield certainly has won over a majority of Bucs fans. But is he really Mr. Tampa Bay? Joe’s not 100 percent sure about that.
However, Joe knows Team Glazer thinks so.
This was Joe’s exchange in April during the annual billionaire to blogger sitdown. Glazer gave a vague answer about his feelings on Mayfield’s future in Tampa but Joe pressed the issue.
JoeBucsFan.com: But is Baker your guy? Are you all on board with Baker?
Joel Glazer: Oh, absolutely. Absolutely. I mean, he’s gone above and beyond anything we could have asked or hoped of Baker. Everybody loves him. He performs on the field, gives 250 percent when he’s on that field. And that’s all you can ask.
Would Bucs fans still love Mayfield to the same degree if he were to squeeze Team Glazer hard for a massive contract? Serious greed might not go over so well in Tampa.
Mayfield is poised to become the highest paid athlete in Tampa Bay history — buy a mile and a half. If he turns down a relatively fair deal, Mayfield might no longer be “perfect in the city,” as Ryan said, or loved by “everybody,” per Team Glazer.
June 14th, 2026 at 9:36 pm
This guy is a Franchise QB and it is ironic that he landed here both for him and the Bucs as such perfect timing post TB12. He has truly been “Born Again” in Tampa. Let’s get him reupped. $50 Mil a year should be enough for everybody. lol He is not going anywhere! Go BUCS!!
June 14th, 2026 at 9:58 pm
Tampa is lucky to have him. The guy who went 29 of 33 for 379 against the Super Bowl champs is our guy
June 14th, 2026 at 10:02 pm
His market was 38-42 when he made the 100 deal, “team friendly” as the Bucs still needed to make a deal with ME13. Mayfield called it “life changing money”. It’s doubtful that he’s trying to squeeze the Glazers on yearly average. It’s more likely – as many others have said — about term.
June 14th, 2026 at 10:08 pm
Hurt too much and chokes in clutch moments
wait until the season is over before making an decision
GO BUCS
June 14th, 2026 at 10:11 pm
X brownie! Who you rootn for in Week 2,somehow I dont believe you .Thats what my son said hes a Ravens fan!
June 14th, 2026 at 10:22 pm
Bucgurl ,you’ve already made your decision..he sucks
June 14th, 2026 at 10:58 pm
Being a great guy is nice. Bowles is a great guy. He’s a demonstrated loser, though. So is Baker. Maybe someone at OBP needs to pay more attention to performance and results.
June 14th, 2026 at 11:03 pm
2-9 in primetime and playoff games in Tampa.
Lock him up to a lifetime deal, at least $60M a year!
June 14th, 2026 at 11:27 pm
Rod Munch, I’m not sure that’s accurate. He wins Thursday primetime games.
Ryan is out of his mind with the lifetime deal thing. But 3-5 years with half guaranteed would be good.
If they really want him cheap…sign a QBwho can compete for the #1 spot . We need a better backup anyway.
June 14th, 2026 at 11:35 pm
I fail to see the equivalence of “primetime” games and playoff games. Primetime games are no more important than other games, in-season and post-season. The matchups are not decided by football records but by TV marketers for expected ratings in big markets. The Bucs aren’t on by virtue of their record but by the celebrity of their quarterback, who is must-see TV. He’s a money machine; that’s why he gets the big backs. The NFL is one big empire. The Bucs write Baker’s checks because they’re the local outlet.
June 14th, 2026 at 11:51 pm
Just saw Jon Gruden tonight (Sunday, News Channel 8) commenting on the need to get Baker signed, and how great Baker is. Gawd, I SO miss Jon Gruden as head coach of the Bucs. I wish ownership would bring him back here. Gruden is older and wiser now, and way better than the current guy. Bowles tried but he is clearly not THE MAN, and Gruden truly is.
June 15th, 2026 at 12:00 am
It looks like Baker’s average passer rating is about the same for night and day games. The lousy record in prime time is probably a statistical fluke. Playoff games are a whole other thing; I don’t think it makes any sense to group them with prime time.
June 15th, 2026 at 12:07 am
The game has passed Chucky by. If you watch his Barstool videos, really clear he’s not a good fit. Remember, his special teams coach took his Raiders team to the Super Bowl.
June 15th, 2026 at 12:45 am
Buccaneer Bonzai Says:
June 14th, 2026 at 11:27 pm
Rod Munch, I’m not sure that’s accurate. He wins Thursday primetime games.
———–
Dang, you’re right in that I got it wrong… he’s actually 2-11.
Date | Opponent | When | Result
Sept. 25, 2023 | vs Eagles | MNF | L (0-1)
Oct. 26, 2023 | at Bills | TNF | L (0-2)
Jan. 15, 2024 | vs Eagles | Wild Card playoff, MNF | W (1-2)
Jan. 21, 2024 | at Lions | Divisional playoff | L (1-3)
Oct. 3, 2024 | at Falcons | TNF | L (1-4)
Oct. 21, 2024 | vs Ravens | MNF | L (1-5)
Nov. 4, 2024 | at Chiefs | MNF | L (1-6)
Dec. 22, 2024 | at Cowboys | SNF | L (1-7)
Jan. 12, 2025 | vs Commanders | Wild Card playoff, SNF | L (1-8)
Sept. 15, 2025 | at Texans | MNF | W (2-8)
Oct. 20, 2025 | at Lions | MNF | L (2-9)
Nov. 23, 2025 | at Rams | SNF | L (2-10)
Dec. 11, 2025 | vs Falcons | TNF | L (2-11)
So my bad, I stand corrected. Raise it to $70M a year!
June 15th, 2026 at 12:56 am
Agree Truth.
June 15th, 2026 at 1:08 am
Their is only one demistrated loser on here we know who that is?
June 15th, 2026 at 1:18 am
Some can call a coach or player on our team a loser but you can’t call them a loser ? Really.? Unfair.
June 15th, 2026 at 1:20 am
You just love the negativity.
June 15th, 2026 at 2:21 am
Regardless of what fans believe about the salary CAP, it’s real; it sets ‘limits’ & has done a decent job of achieving more ‘parity’ among the 32 NFL teams. Spend too much on one player & he’d better be a true difference-maker who can compensate for being surrounded by ‘lesser-talent’ (because that’s all you’ll be able to afford over time).
Patrick Mahomes is a difference-maker IMO. His current contract pays him $63 mil per year for 8-years, with $397 mil guaranteed. That’s a mammoth risk on the part of the Chiefs (should he get hurt for an extended period of time, he’d still eat up over 20% of the Chiefs’ current salary CAP). But his results in the 8-years that he’s been their starter are undeniable: 94-31 in the regular season (75.2% win record), completing 66.2% of his passes, for 267 TDs against 84 INTs, PLUS a 17-4 record in the playoffs with THREE Super Bowls to his credit.
Baker is purportedly looking for similar money (say $50 mil plus per year) for an extended number of years. That’d be a mammoth risk for us also (should he get hurt for an extended period of time). Like Mahomes, he’s been a starter for 8-years, but his stats aren’t nearly as spectacular as Patrick’s. Baker has a 58-62 regular season record (48.3% win record), completing 63.5% of his passes, for 197 TDs against 101 INTs, plus a 2-3 record in the playoffs (no SBs).
Obviously a huge difference in the quality of the teams the 2 QBs played for, but the common denominator (salary CAP) is the same. BOTH teams had to live with the same amount of money to be spent on players each year. Yes Patrick’s had only ONE play-caller (Andy Reid supported by Eric Bieniemy/Matt Nagy) in his 8 years, while Baker’s had 8 OCs in his 8 years. Big difference? Undoubtedly, but you have to play the hand you’re dealt.
June 15th, 2026 at 2:22 am
Regardless of what fans believe about the salary CAP, it’s real; it sets ‘limits’ & has done a decent job of achieving more ‘parity’ among the 32 NFL teams. Spend too much on one player & he’d better be a true difference-maker who can compensate for being surrounded by ‘lesser-talent’ (because that’s all you’ll be able to afford over time).
Patrick Mahomes is a difference-maker IMO. His current contract pays him $63 mil per year for 8-years, with $397 mil guaranteed. That’s a mammoth risk on the part of the Chiefs (should he get hurt for an extended period of time, he’d still eat up over 20% of the Chiefs’ current salary CAP). But his results in the 8-years that he’s been their starter are undeniable: 94-31 in the regular season (75.2% win record), completing 66.2% of his passes, for 267 TDs against 84 INTs, PLUS a 17-4 record in the playoffs with THREE Super Bowls to his credit.
June 15th, 2026 at 2:22 am
Baker is purportedly looking for similar money (say $50 mil plus per year) for an extended number of years. That’d be a mammoth risk for us also (should he get hurt for an extended period of time). Like Mahomes, he’s been a starter for 8-years, but his stats aren’t nearly as spectacular as Patrick’s. Baker has a 58-62 regular season record (48.3% win record), completing 63.5% of his passes, for 197 TDs against 101 INTs, plus a 2-3 record in the playoffs (no SBs).
June 15th, 2026 at 2:23 am
Obviously a huge difference in the quality of the teams the 2 QBs played for, but the common denominator (salary CAP) is the same. BOTH teams had to live with the same amount of money to be spent on players each year. Yes Patrick’s had only ONE play-caller (Andy Reid supported by Eric Bieniemy/Matt Nagy) in his 8 years, while Baker’s had 8 OCs in his 8 years. Big difference? Still, you have to play the hand you’re dealt.
June 15th, 2026 at 2:24 am
Two very different teams, but the common denominator (salary CAP) is the same. BOTH teams had to live with the same amount of money to be spent on players each year. Yes Patrick’s had only ONE play-caller (Andy Reid supported by Eric Bieniemy/Matt Nagy) in his 8 years, while Baker’s had 8 OCs in his 8 years. Big difference? Still, you have to play the hand you’re dealt.
June 15th, 2026 at 2:24 am
Two very different teams, but the common denominator (salary CAP) is the same. BOTH teams had to live with the same amount of money to be spent on players each year.
June 15th, 2026 at 4:53 am
I would say that since he’s been in Tampa, Baher has had more weapons on offense than Mahommes has.
June 15th, 2026 at 5:29 am
ATLBuc, correct about Mahommes with one exception, Mahommes has always had Andy Reed! Who has Baker had?
June 15th, 2026 at 5:32 am
Mahommes has always had Andy Reed! List those who Baker has had who are in the same league as Andy Reed!
June 15th, 2026 at 6:51 am
I dont know if any of you have worked a corporate job but when the higher ups say you give 250% and everyone loves you; thats means your time is almost up. The owners, GM and HC will compliment him until the end of the season, but he won’t get an extension. How can you be a franchise QB with one playoff win in 3 years, in the worst division in the sport?
June 15th, 2026 at 6:51 am
I dont know if any of you have worked a corporate job but when the higher ups say you give 250% and everyone loves you; thats means your time is almost up.
The owners, GM and HC will compliment him until the end of the season, but he won’t get an extension.
June 15th, 2026 at 7:00 am
Never say never! Leave yourself an out or it could come back to bite you!!!
June 15th, 2026 at 7:12 am
Bee, held a mismanagement position for twenty + years. The higher ups never used percent when evaluating my success or failure. They would set goals and expectations and reward financially if those expectations were met or exceeded. The success I had was quality team members under my guidance and supervision and they were the ones who deserved and received monetary rewards.
June 15th, 2026 at 7:38 am
Okiejim
My point still stands. Compliments > Contract. If your higher ups complimented you and spoke well about you in public but basically said you have one year left with the company, would you believe them? Actions speak. He’s has made about $100 million and all the Bucs have to show for it is one playoff win in 3 years against a team that lost 7 straight going into the playoffs. No bang for your bucks there at all.
June 15th, 2026 at 7:39 am
Okiejim
Compliments > Contract. If your higher ups complimented you and spoke well about you in public but basically said you have one year left with the company, would you believe them? Actions speak. He’s has made about $100 million and all the Bucs have to show for it is one playoff win in 3 years against a team that lost 7 straight going into the playoffs. No bang for your bucks there at all.
June 15th, 2026 at 7:39 am
Okiejim
If your higher ups complimented you and spoke well about you in public but basically said you have one year left with the company, would you believe them? Actions speak. He’s has made about $100 million and all the Bucs have to show for it is one playoff win in 3 years against a team that lost 7 straight going into the playoffs. No bang for your bucks there at all.
June 15th, 2026 at 7:59 am
Pay him what he deserves and let’s move on Jason
June 15th, 2026 at 8:09 am
Love watching people saying that Baker will not get an extension. I guarantee if he does these same people change names, disappear or say I said all along he would get a new deal.
June 15th, 2026 at 8:52 am
When he arrived, he was grateful for a job. He was given an unstoppable offense last year. Yes, injuries plagued us, but it was staggered. For some, winning means everything, and money was not the driving force. Look around and see who is missing. Perhaps contracts should be outcome based. Did he earn his pay last year? Did he earn a raise? Maybe cost of living raise, but how much is that for a multimillionaire? Now some players demand outrageous salaries they did not earn. And they are no longer here, so where are they? How is their career going? If Baker leaves, who is knocking at his door? The Jets? Arizona? Wait him out. We can always tag him next year if we were desperate, but Tampa is a desirable landing zone for alot of players. Is there a QB 2 out there itching for a QB1 position? How many QBs will enter next year’s draft? Think before you shoot yourself in the foot.
June 15th, 2026 at 10:14 am
IMO, Baker usually plays like a Top Ten QB when he’s healthy, but he’s frequently playing with significant injuries due to his playing style, and the quality of his play declines dramatically.
If I were the GM for the Bucs, I wouldn’t want to take on the risk of paying him $50 million/year for 3 or more years, with most of it guaranteed. The problem, though, is that I don’t see a realistic alternative where I can acquire an upgrade. It’s unlikely they’ll be able to draft high enough in 2027 to get one of the better QBs, and teams that already have Top Ten QBs generally don’t want to cut them loose.
Licht will probably pay him and just pray that he stays healthy enough to lead the team to the promised land.
June 15th, 2026 at 12:31 pm
I like Baker he plays an exciting Gunslinger style of play. Can he win a Super Bowl sure all you have to look at is Seattle last year. He’s not a top 5 Elite QB but he’s a dam good top 10. Could he prevail with out his O-Line and a horrible D nope But we need to resign him. To many Bucs Fans hate Bowles so much they cant even think anymore. There out there thinking this is the worst team in the NFL and dumbly stating this team cant win 6 games. Please this is a 10 win team could be higher. We just have to many good players. Sorry there are so many fans with high grade brain rot. Its really sorry.
June 15th, 2026 at 3:03 pm
BEE, Baker has gambled once with the Bucs and won but this time it is the Bucs who are holding the high cards ($$$$$) betting that Baker will fold like a cheap 5 dollar suit! So, if Baker folds, Bucs win but on the backside, Baker overachieves Baker wins and moves on. Time will tell who wins and who loses!
June 15th, 2026 at 3:43 pm
Bat
So you’re tying Mayfield to Bowles…..
SORRY… NOT GOING TO WORK! They are Most Certainly are “NOT” a package deal.
If your claim is that Bowles is a champion head coach…… Boy are you smoking ALL KINDS of hallucinogens! Or you just have bad taste and just No Understanding of what actual quality …. IS!
Buddy!…… It AIN’T Bozo Bowles! You must be new!
Also, the Hard Truth is “someone” might feel it’s TIME to upgrade to a MUCH MORE ACCOMPLISHED head coach after this season, (And there are a couple of BIG TIME names available for head coach next year) and likely there will be discussions of either keeping Baker with the new head coach or whether or not the new head coach would prefer to have HIS OWN qb in place. The answers are actually simple either way as far as the new head coach goes but then CONTROLLING BAKER with that contract he’s DESPERATE to sign isn’t really a problem. IN FACT it’s in the TEAM’S INTEREST to make sure they do. Bakers just a player in the end and IS ESPECIALLY CONTROLLABLE once the team has his John Doe. Btw… It WILL BE a three year contract. You can go ahead and take that to the bank. If the new head coach wants to keep him… perfect! If he prefers another, not a problem because they can ALWAYS trade him! However, since it’s HIGHLY LIKELY that a new coach is on the way, they maybe holding on that new extension to see what the new coach wants BUT they may believe it’s in the BEST INTEREST to hold off until after the season concludes.
We will see.. but I predict Mayfield will be extended before Bozo is tossed at the end of the season.
GO BUCS!
June 15th, 2026 at 4:22 pm
In the 3 years he’s been here Baker has thrown more TD’s than Mahomes. So he’s clearly doing *his* job.
June 15th, 2026 at 11:37 pm
LOL, Mutt! That’s some beautiful comedy right there.
Meanwhile, what did Tampa ever do to be so disrespected as to be called “perfect” for a player who loses in prime time, in the playoffs, in crunch time, oh and that slick 2-7 finish to 2025.