Baker Mayfield’s Buccaneers story is not as simple as him playing well and earning a big contract after narrowly squeaking by Kyle Trask in a 2023 training camp quarterback battle for the ages.
Mayfield himself said his life success in Tampa and his football renaissance since joining the Bucs are much more about an enhanced devotion to his faith.
He went there last week during a sitdown with the religious-themed Sports Spectrum podcast hosted by former Bears running back Matt Forte.
Mayfield talked about hitting rock bottom in 2022 playing for the Browns, Panthers and Rams in the same season. It also was a “rock bottom” for his marriage and other parts of his life.
Diving into a religious commitment with his wife pulled him out of the struggle, he said.
“God taught me a lesson. He had to take my career “down to the studs” and make me realize I’m more than a football player,” Mayfield said. “There’s much more going on than the game of football. And for me to see that, I had to hit rock bottom. It wasn’t just football.”
The interview was an interesting look inside Mayfield and his newfound devotion to the Tampa Bay community and how he approaches that.
Joe’s not getting all religious here, only sharing what makes the Buccaneers’ franchise quarterback tick.
Joe is most glad that Mayfield is saying he’s found peace, happiness and a home that runs a lot deeper than the names on the Bucs’ 53-man roster. That bodes so well for the team’s future at the game’s most important position.
