Baker Mayfield Reflects on His Motivation Against the Jets

Baker Mayfield found some extra motivation last season when facing the Jets.

The Buccaneers quarterback shared insights on Netflix’s “Quarterback” about his past with Steve Wilkes, who was the defensive coordinator for the Jets and briefly the interim head coach at Carolina when Mayfield was released in 2022.

“This is personal for me. Wilkes cut me. He beat that guy,” Mayfield mentioned during a pre-game rally prior to their Week 3 matchup.

“He was the defensive coordinator there before becoming interim head coach, and that’s when our relationship began to deteriorate,” Mayfield elaborated in the interview.

In a particularly candid moment, he said, “I get that I’m not his favorite, and that’s alright. But honestly, all you want in this business is transparency.” He recalled a time when he was seeking to be either released or deactivated, stating, “I told them, if you want to cut me, just say it, but if you’re gonna release me, that’s fine too.” Ultimately, the decision to deactivate him was made by Wilkes.

Fast forward to their matchup, Mayfield led a thrilling drive that ended in a game-winning field goal, securing a 29-27 victory over the Jets. Afterward, he couldn’t help but comment on the ice-cold vibe with Wilkes.

“Also, their defensive coordinator used to talk to me in Carolina. There’s a lot of personal stuff involved today. Haason Reddick, former Jet… just a lot of old connections,” he reflected.

In response days later, Wilkes addressed the situation, stating, “I don’t think the interim head coach has much power over personnel moves. If I did, I wouldn’t have let go of Christian McCaffrey, our star player.”

Mayfield, who played for the Rams in the latter part of 2022, has managed to revitalize his career, leading the Buccaneers to two playoff appearances and sparking MVP discussions after a strong 5-1 start last season.