Baker Mayfield

Baker Mayfield Bio

Baker Reagan Mayfield is an American professional football quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). Following one season of college football with the Texas Tech Red Raiders, he played for the Oklahoma Sooners, becoming the first walk-on player to win the Heisman Trophy. Mayfield was selected first overall by the Cleveland Browns in the 2018 NFL draft, and he has since set several records during his playing career, including the rookie record for passing touchdowns in a single season.

Early Life and Background

Baker Reagan Mayfield was born on April 14, 1995, in Austin, Texas, to James and Gina Mayfield as the younger of two sons. James, a private equity consultant, encountered financial difficulties during his younger son’s senior year in high school. These struggles forced the Mayfields to sell their home and live in rental homes. Mayfield was given his distinctive name, Baker, which was his mother’s idea, under the condition by his father that he also be named after the 40th U.S. President Ronald Reagan, which became his middle name.Mayfield grew up as a fan of the University of Oklahoma; he attended a number of their games during his childhood. His father played football for three years at the University of Houston, though he never lettered. Mayfield was the starting quarterback for the Lake Travis High School Cavaliers football team in Austin. He led Lake Travis to a 25–2 record in two seasons and won the 2011 4A State Championship. He finished his high school football career totaling 6,255 passing yards, 67 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. He was offered scholarships by Washington State, Rice, New Mexico and Florida Atlantic. Mayfield said “I easily could’ve gone to a place like Florida Atlantic, but my dad pushed me to realize that my dream was to play somewhere big.” He chose to go to Texas Tech, where he was a walk-on.

Path to American Football

Shortly before the start of the 2013 season, Mayfield was named as the starting quarterback following a back injury to projected starter and former Lake Travis quarterback Michael Brewer. Mayfield was the first walk-on true freshman quarterback to start an FBS season opener at the quarterback position. In his first start against SMU, Mayfield passed for 413 yards and four touchdowns. His 43 completions of 60 attempts broke a school record held by Billy Joe Tolliver, and fell only four completions short of the NCAA Division I FBS single-game record for completions by a freshman, held by Luke McCown.After playing for Texas Tech, Mayfield transferred to the University of Oklahoma in January 2014, but had not contacted the Sooners coaching staff. Mayfield further elaborated in an interview with ESPN that he sought to transfer due to scholarship issues and a perception that he had earned the starting position and that further competition was not “really fair.” The alleged scholarship issues were denied by Texas Tech coach Kliff Kingsbury. In February 2014, Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops confirmed that Mayfield would be walking on for the Oklahoma Sooners. Mayfield was not eligible to play until the 2015 season, and he lost a season of eligibility due to Big 12 Conference transfer rules following an unsuccessful appeal of his transfer restrictions.

Baker Mayfield Career

Early Career (2018–2021)

The Cleveland Browns selected Mayfield with the first overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft. Mayfield played in his first NFL game in Week 3 against the New York Jets, replacing an injured Tyrod Taylor with the Browns down 14–0. Mayfield went 17 of 23, passing for 201 yards as the Browns came back and prevailed 21–17, ending their winless streak at 19 games. Mayfield became the first player since Fran Tarkenton in 1961 to come off the bench in his debut, throw for more than 200 yards, and lead his team to its first win of the season.Mayfield finished his rookie season with 3,725 passing yards, and surpassed Peyton Manning and Russell Wilson for most touchdowns thrown in a rookie season with 27. While Mayfield was considered by many to be the favorite for Offensive Rookie of the Year for 2018, the award was won by Giants running back Saquon Barkley. However, the Pro Football Writers of America named him the NFL Rookie of the Year. In 2020, Mayfield led the Browns to their first playoff appearance since 2002 and first playoff victory since 1994. He finished the season with 4,030 passing yards, 30 touchdowns, and nine interceptions through 18 total games. The Browns finished the 2020 regular season 11–5.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Era (2023–Present)

On March 15, 2023, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed Mayfield to a one-year, $4.00 million contract that includes a signing bonus of $2.87 million. Mayfield was brought in to compete against Kyle Trask and John Wolford to determine who would be the successor at starting quarterback to Tom Brady after he retired after the 2022 NFL season. In Week 15 against the Packers, Mayfield posted a perfect passer rating, completing 22 of 28 passes for 381 yards and four touchdowns in a 34–20 win. He was the first opposing quarterback to ever have a perfect passer rating at Lambeau Field. He was named the National Football Conference (NFC) Offensive Player of the Week for this performance.On March 10, 2024, Mayfield signed a three-year contract extension with the Buccaneers, worth up to $100 million, with $50 million guaranteed. In Week 17, Mayfield was 27-for-32 for 359 yards and a career-high five touchdown passes in a 48–14 win over the Panthers, earning NFC Offensive Player of the Week. Needing a win against the Saints to clinch the NFC South, Mayfield led three touchdown drives in the second half and rallied his team from a double-digit deficit to secure their fourth straight division title. Mayfield finished the season completing 71.4% of his passes for 4,500 yards and 41 passing touchdowns, becoming the fourth player in NFL history to have at least 4,000 passing yards, 40 passing touchdowns, and at least a 70% completion percentage in a single season.

Driving Style and Strengths

Mayfield is known for his competitive nature and ability to extend plays with his mobility. He combines strong arm strength with quick decision-making, excelling in intermediate passing routes. His ability to improvise and make plays outside the structure has been a hallmark of his career. Mayfield has developed a strong rapport with his coaching staff, particularly in his time with the Buccaneers, where his leadership and resilience have been instrumental to the team’s success.

Notable Events and Milestones

Mayfield is currently the all-time leader in playoff passer rating. He holds several NFL records, including the rookie record for passing touchdowns in a season with 27. Mayfield became the first walk-on player in NCAA history to win the Heisman Trophy in 2017, a achievement that solidified his status as one of college football’s greatest quarterbacks. His game-winning 98-yard drive with the Rams in 2022 is considered one of the most memorable performances of his career, demonstrating his clutch ability in critical moments.

Baker Mayfield Career Wins

Baker Mayfield has accumulated significant victories throughout his career, from his college Heisman Trophy win to his NFL playoff victories. His career has been marked by numerous memorable wins against top competition and game-changing performances when his teams needed them most.

NFL Highlights

Mayfield has secured notable victories throughout his NFL career, including leading the Cleveland Browns to their first playoff win since 1994 in the 2020 season. With the Buccaneers, he has led the team to four consecutive NFC South division titles. In 2023, he posted a perfect passer rating against the Packers, becoming the first opposing quarterback to achieve this feat at Lambeau Field. His most dominant season came in 2024 when he threw for 41 touchdowns and led the Buccaneers to a 9–8 record despite numerous injuries to key offensive players.

College Highlights

During his college career, Mayfield led the Oklahoma Sooners to a Big 12 championship in 2017. His standout performance came in the 2017 Sugar Bowl where he was named MVP after leading Oklahoma to a 35–19 victory over Auburn. Mayfield’s college career culminated in his 2017 Heisman Trophy victory, where he received 732 first-place votes and a total of 2,398 points, making him the first and only walk-on player to ever win the prestigious award.

Baker Mayfield Family

Family Background and Racing Lineage

Baker Reagan Mayfield was born to James and Gina Mayfield as the younger of two sons. His father, James, played football for three years at the University of Houston but never lettered. Despite not having a professional football career, James Mayfield had a significant influence on his son’s athletic development, encouraging Baker to pursue his dream of playing at a major university despite financial difficulties that forced the family to sell their home during Baker’s senior year of high school.

Personal Life

Baker Mayfield married Emily Wilkinson in July 2019. In December 2023, the couple announced they were expecting their first child, a girl, who was born in April 2024. During his tenure with the Browns, Mayfield starred in a continuing series of ads for Progressive Insurance, showing him living “at home” in FirstEnergy Stadium with his wife and performing household chores. Mayfield is also an investor in USL Championship soccer club OKC Energy, demonstrating his interest in sports beyond football.

2025 Season Performance

Baker Mayfield led the Buccaneers to a 5–1 start despite losing key receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin to injuries again, throwing for 12 touchdowns to just 1 interception during that span and sparking discussion about his candidacy for the NFL MVP Award. The Buccaneers then proceeded to lose four of the next five games, namely to the Detroit Lions, New England Patriots, Buffalo Bills, and Los Angeles Rams, with Mayfield suffering an injury to his non-throwing shoulder in the loss to the Rams. He finished the 2025 season with 3,693 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions to go with a rushing touchdown. Despite the mid-season struggles, Mayfield’s performance early in the season demonstrated his continued development as a quarterback and his ability to elevate the Buccaneers’ offense even without his top weapons.