Mayfield’s New Chapter with Stefanski at Falcons
It’s been quite a while since Baker Mayfield last played under Kevin Stefanski, but he seems to have fond memories—no hard feelings about his former coach. Following another rough season, the Browns decided to part ways with Stefanski, but he didn’t stay jobless for long. This week, the Atlanta Falcons brought him on board to revamp their offense, focusing on franchise quarterback Michael Penix Jr.
This transition relocates Stefanski to the NFC South, where he’ll be closer to Mayfield, who previously played for Cleveland. Given the troubles Cleveland faced during Stefanski’s time—especially at the quarterback position—fans in Atlanta are holding out some hope. If things remain reasonably stable, there’s potential for improved offensive performance.
With optimism in mind, D. Orlando Ledbetter, writing for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, critiqued how the quarterback situation unfolded with the Browns under Stefanski:
He noted, “Kevin Stefanski started a dumpster fire at quarterback in Cleveland, with Baker Mayfield and Deshaun Watson failing, which set off a chain reaction for the other eleven starters. QB Shedeur Sanders finished last season with seven starts.”
This assessment didn’t sit well with fans, who quickly jumped in to defend Mayfield. They pointed out his impressive 11-5 record as a starter in 2020, as well as leading the Browns to their second playoff appearance in nearly two decades.
Mayfield himself reacted to what he perceived as an unfair critique. He chimed in, stating, “Failure is quite the range, my dear. I’m still waiting for a text or a call from him after I’m shipped like trash. I can’t wait to see him twice a year, coach.”
Reflecting on his time with the Browns, Mayfield had a relatively successful run. He got the team to the playoffs in 2020 and just missed repeating that success in 2021. Unfortunately, he dealt with a knee injury that ended his season early. Many thought he’d return, but then the Browns made a surprising move to trade for Deshaun Watson, putting Mayfield on the sidelines.
Watson, burdened by off-field issues and injuries, never found acceptance in Cleveland. His trade is often viewed as one of the worst moves in NFL history. As for Mayfield, he eventually found a home in Tampa, where he seemed to regain his former prowess, even leading the Buccaneers to the playoffs.
With the tension between Mayfield and his past coach quite evident, the upcoming Buccaneers-Falcons matchup is shaping up to be an event to watch.
