Rachaad White, running back for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, has had the unique experience of playing with an array of talented quarterbacks. In college, he shared the backfield with Jayden Daniels, now with the Washington Commanders, and in the pros, he’s lined up behind legendary signal-callers Tom Brady and Baker Mayfield.
In a recent appearance on “The Doug Gottligleib Show” on Wednesday, Buccaneers running back Rachaad White dropped a surprising admission while reflecting on his experiences with the trio of quarterbacks.
“I say all the time,” White said, quote via the JoeBucsFan website. “I’ve played with [Daniels] and Brady, and I’ve played with Baker. You ask anybody, I’ve said, interview or not, [Mayfield] is the best quarterback I’ve ever played with.”
The Buccaneers selected Rachaad White in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft, just months before Tom Brady’s highly publicized 11-day absence from training camp. The hiatus, reportedly linked to his divorce from Gisele Bundchen, seemed to take a toll on Brady both physically and emotionally. The seven-time Super Bowl champion ultimately retired in February 2023.
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Following Brady’s retirement, Baker Mayfield joined the Buccaneers in March 2023. Team leaders have since praised Mayfield as an ideal replacement, both on the field and in the locker room. However, Mayfield sparked attention last September with his candid remark that the team was “pretty stressed out” and didn’t seem to be having as much fun during Brady’s tenure as starter.
It’s no secret that Tom Brady and Baker Mayfield possess distinct personalities. According to Kevin Skiver of Sporting News, Brady’s intense nature was on full display during Rachaad White’s rookie season, with the legendary quarterback visibly losing his temper with teammates and coaches on multiple occasions.
“Baker is a great guy,” White continued during the interview. “Baker is a dawg. He’s a savage. …That’s what you like about him.”
The contrast between Tom Brady and Baker Mayfield’s personalities is also reflected in their differing ages and career stages. When Brady joined the Buccaneers in March 2020, he was a 42-year-old, six-time Super Bowl champion. In contrast, Mayfield will turn 30 this April. It’s natural that Rachaad White and other young Buccaneers players find it easier to relate to Mayfield, who is closer to their age and life stage.
In a timely coincidence, the comparison between Tom Brady and Baker Mayfield has surfaced once again, just as Brady prepares to make his debut as Fox’s lead in-game analyst this Sunday, calling Super Bowl LVIII (58) between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles.
