Stefanski Responds to Mayfield’s Comments

Kevin Stefanski didn’t engage when asked about Baker Mayfield’s recent social media remarks. During his first press conference as the Falcons’ head coach on Tuesday, he spoke appreciatively of the Buccaneers quarterback, despite Mayfield’s harsh words directed at him last week.

“I have a lot of respect for Baker, both as a player and as a person,” Stefanski remarked. “Rivalries in sports are exciting, and it’s clear there’s a strong one between the Buccaneers and the Falcons. While I won’t delve into specifics, I genuinely respect Baker and believe the Buccaneers have a great team with talented players.”

Following Stefanski’s hiring by the Falcons, Mayfield had a less-than-favorable take on his time with his former coach in Cleveland, taking to ‘X’ to air his grievances. He responded to a post by a Falcons reporter about his past experiences, saying, “Failure is quite a friend… I’m still waiting for an email or call from him after he sent me away like trash. I look forward to facing him twice a year, Coach.”

The two had spent two seasons together in Cleveland, from 2020 to 2021, before the Browns traded Mayfield to the Panthers after acquiring Deshaun Watson from the Texans.

In 2023, Mayfield joined Tampa Bay, where he revitalized his career, earning two Pro Bowl nods and posting a 27-24 record over the subsequent three seasons.

Stefanski wrapped up his time with the Browns with a 45-56 record over six seasons before being let go earlier this month.

As it stands, the Falcons and Buccaneers will now meet twice a year in the NFC South, which promises to add a layer of intrigue to the rivalry.