Steve Wilks and Baker Mayfield have both moved onto new teams, yet the Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback still hasn’t forgotten what the New York Jets defensive coordinator did to him.
Even though, according to Wilks, he did not do anything to Mayfield.
Wilks responded to Mayfield’s comments from earlier this week where the Bucs QB said Wilks cut him when they were together with the Carolina Panthers in 2022.
Wilks Didn’t Have ‘Authority Over Personnel’ With Panthers
The Panthers acquired Mayfield from the Cleveland Browns in the summer of 2022 and named the top pick of the 2018 NFL Draft their starting quarterback. Yet, he started just six games in a Panthers uniform before they released him — Mayfield finished the year with the Los Angeles Rams before signing with the Bucs before the 2023 season.
Mayfield’s release also coincided with an organizational shakeup, since Wilks replaced then-coach Matt Rhule, and the team traded running back Christian McCaffrey to the San Francisco 49ers less than two weeks after Wilks was named interim coach.
So when asked about beating the Wilks-led defense 29-27, on his third consecutive game-winning drive to start the 2025 season, Mayfield offered a sign he was still a bit salty toward the former Panthers DC and interim coach.
“Their D-coordinator was the one that cut me in Carolina,” Mayfield told reporters after Tampa Bay’s win Sunday.
Wilks denied having the kind of authority Mayfield suggested he did, especially since Wilks was not retained by the Panthers either after going 6-6 in his 12-game stint as interim coach.
“I don’t know how long you’ve been doing this, but I’m sure you’re quite educated on it,” Wilks said to a reporter at his press conference Friday. “I don’t really think an interim coach has that much authority over personnel. If that’s the case, I would’ve never gotten rid of our best player, Christian McCaffrey.
That may be revisionist history though, since Wilks copped to making the call on Mayfield’s release at the time, according to ESPN.
“This is a tough business,” Wilks told reporters at the time. “Sitting in this seat, it was a tough decision on my part, but something I felt like was the best move for the team moving forward.”
Wilks has ‘a lot of respect for Baker’ Mayfield
Whatever happened at the end of Mayfield’s tenure in Carolina, the quarterback has found a home in Tampa.
“[I have] a lot of respect for Baker,” Wilks said. “[He’s a] tremendous football player, and he’s doing a hell of a job with those guys down there. So nothing really to say beyond that.”
Wilks may also be more focused on trying to coach up the Jets defense against the also 0-3 Miami Dolphins on Monday night — in the team’s second straight game in Florida. The Jets (0-3) have been burned by last-minute field goals in two of their three losses so far, including against Mayfield and the Bucs.
“We’ve got to find a way to finish,” said Wilks, according to Rich Cimini of ESPN.com. “That starts with me, really putting the guys in position to be successful.”
Jets DC Steve Wilks Responds to Baker Mayfield Comments