While it will do little to soothe the hurt feelings and the bad blood the 2 teams will take into games this season, new Atlanta Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski finally addressed the drama surrounding comments by Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield about their time together on the Cleveland Browns.
Stefanski was Mayfield’s head coach in 2021 and 2022 on the Browns before he traded the former No. 1 overall pick to the Carolina Panthers after Stefanski brought Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson in via trade to replace Mayfield.
After Stefanski was hired by the Falcons on January 17 — he was fired after 6 seasons as the head coach of the Browns on January 6 — Mayfield blasted his former coach on social media in response to a reporter’s Tweet that Stefanski’s time in Cleveland “failed” only because of the “dumpster fire” at quarterback with Watson and Mayfield.
“Failed is quite the reach pal,” Mayfield wrote. “Still waiting on a text/call from him after I got shipped off like a piece of garbage. Can’t wait to see you twice a year, Coach.”
Stefanski Takes High Road in Mayfield Drama
Stefanski took the high road in finally responding to Mayfield calling him out.
“Baker’s somebody that I have a ton of respect for as a player and a person,” Stefanski told AP NFL reporter Maura Carey. “I love rivalries in sports, and obviously, Buccaneers-Falcons have a great rivalry. It’s something that I’m excited about. But I would not get into the specifics of those type 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.”
Stefanski Behind Worst Trade in NFL History
After Mayfield went 11-5 in Stefanski’s first season in 2020 and Stefanski was named NFL Coach of the Year, Mayfield went 6-8 in an injury-filled 2021 season in which the Browns finished 6-10.
This relatively mild regression triggered a series of personnel moves that would lead to not only the worst trade in NFL history but the worst contract in NFL history.
Want to know why the Houston Texans have made the playoffs each of the last 3 seasons? It’s because Stefanski traded Cleveland’s 2022 first round pick, 2023 first round pick, 2024 first round pick, 2023 third round pick, 2022 fourth round pick and 2024 fourth round pick in exchange for quarterback Deshaun Watson in March 2022, then signed him to a fully guaranteed, 5-year, $230 million contract.
Stefanski proceeded to let Mayfield dangle in the wind for 4 months before trading him to the Carolina Panthers for a fifth round pick in July 2022 — football purgatory.
Mayfield eventually requested his release from the Panthers after going 1-5 as the starter then managed to revamp his career and reputation in a short time with the Los Angeles Rams at the end of the season.
New Life for Mayfield’s Career With Bucs
Mayfield got a “prove it” 1-year, $3 million contract to be Tampa Bay’s starter in 2023 after Tom Brady’s second retirement and delivered the first of 2 consecutive Pro Bowl seasons and 2 consecutive NFC South Division titles.
After the 2023 season, Mayfield signed a 3-year, $100 million contract he will be in the final season of in 2026.
Falcons Head Coach Kevin Stefanski Breaks Silence on Drama With Bucs QB Baker Mayfield