Former Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield took a shot at Kevin Stefanski, prompting Hall of Famer Joe Thomas to step in.
Mayfield took issue with a message from D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that called him a failure in Cleveland.
“Falcons’ Kevin Stefanski had a dumpster fire at quarterback in Cleveland — Baker Mayfield and Deshaun Watson failed, which started a chain reaction to 11 other starters,” Ledbetter said. “QB Shedeur Sanders closed out last season with seven starts.”
Mayfield fired back quickly, taking aim at Stefanski, who was recently hired as the Atlanta Falcons’ head coach, setting up a new divisional rivalry with Mayfield’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
“Failed is quite the reach pal. Still waiting on a text/call from him after I got shipped off like a piece of garbage,” Mayfield said. “Can’t wait to see you twice a year, Coach.”
Thomas took exception to how Mayfield framed his exit from Cleveland, defending Stefanski.
“I could be wrong…but I’ve heard that communication is a 2-way street and there were no laws against you (Baker) sending Stefanski a text or calling him after you got traded,” Thomas said.
Baker Mayfield, Kevin Stefanski Had Rift With Browns
The tension between Stefanski and Mayfield had been building for some time before the Browns ultimately moved on from their former franchise quarterback. Cleveland traded Mayfield in 2022 after making a blockbuster deal for Deshaun Watson, a move that clearly signaled the organization no longer viewed Mayfield — the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft — as its long-term solution under center.
Mayfield’s final season in Cleveland was derailed by a lingering shoulder injury. He finished the year with 17 touchdown passes, 13 interceptions and a 40.9 quarterback rating, as frustrations mounted on both sides. According to Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com, the relationship deteriorated sharply late in the season.
“Things came to a head after that 24-16 loss to the Steelers when Mayfield called Stefanski out for letting him get sacked nine times by the Steelers, including four by T.J. Watt,” Cabot said. “Specifically, Mayfield was upset that Stefanski didn’t provide backup right tackle James Hudson III with chipping help against the soon-to-be named NFL Defensive Player of the Year.”
Shortly after acquiring Watson, the Browns dealt Mayfield to the Carolina Panthers, where he asked for his release after six starts. He later joined the Los Angeles Rams and showed flashes during a brief but encouraging stint, though his long-term future in the league remained uncertain.
Mayfield revived his career in Tampa Bay, signing a one-year prove-it deal with the Buccaneers. He delivered, earning a Pro Bowl selection and parlaying his resurgence into a three-year, $100 million contract in March 2024.
Browns QB Situation Remains Unsettled
While Mayfield has been able to continue his career in Tampa Bay, the Browns remain in quarterback limbo. The Watson trade proved to be a massive failure. He’s appeared in just 19 games since 2022, going 9-10 in those starts. Watson missed all of last season recovering from a pair of Achilles injuries. He’s expected to be back next season, though his role remains undetermined.
The Browns also have rookies Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel under contract. Sanders started the final seven games and appears to be the frontrunner to retain the job next year. However, Browns general manager Andrew Berry declined to back Sanders as the starter moving forward.
“I think we saw a lot of progress with Shedeur this year. I think that’s both mentally, physically, playing the position. He’s still very much a work in progress like many rookie quarterbacks are,” Berry said. “That all being said, we’re going to do our work on the quarterback market. It’s too important of a position and it’s something that has to be solidified. I can’t sit here and tell you today, you know, whether the solution for or the starter in 2026 is internal or external. But it’s something that we’re going to work through over the next several weeks.”
The Browns have two first-round picks, although this is not projected to be a strong quarterback class.
Browns HOFer Fires Back at Baker Mayfield