Baker Mayfield Puts Kevin Stefanski on Notice After Falcons Writer Labels QB’s Time With Browns a ‘Failure’

Baker Mayfield was painted as the scapegoat during Kevin Stefanski's second year with the Cleveland Browns.

Baker Mayfield Puts Kevin Stefanski on Notice After Falcons Writer Labels QB’s Time With Browns a ‘Failure’

Baker Mayfield and his former HC Kevin Stefanski (Image via BWAMatt/Barstool Sports/X)

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When Kevin Stefanski first got his taste as a head coach, he had Baker Mayfield as the starting quarterback of the Cleveland Browns. In their first season together, the duo reached the playoffs after posting an 11-5 season. However, the following year, they endured a losing season, and Mayfield was painted as the scapegoat.

After the franchise traded for Deshaun Watson, the Oklahoma star requested a trade and was promptly shipped to the Carolina Panthers. Since then, the former No. 1 overall pick became a journeyman quarterback briefly before settling down with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

His resurgence as one of the better signal callers in the league has been used as ammunition whenever anyone has to criticize Kevin Stefanski. Now, after being fired by the Browns and landing on the Atlanta Falcons as their next head coach, a beat writer decided to give him props.

That tweet essentially labeled Mayfield and Watson’s time under Stefanski as a ‘failure,’ and suggested that all the QBs the Browns had were equivalent to a ‘dumpster fire.’

Failed is quite the reach, pal. Still waiting on a text/call from him after I got shipped off like a piece of garbage. Can’t wait to see you twice a year, Coach.

Baker Mayfield replied

This was the 30-year-old’s response when this beat writer’s tweet caught his attention. It seems Baker Mayfield was putting his former head coach on notice after being released by the Browns.

Baker Mayfield will look to answer Kevin Stefanski twice next year

Baker Mayfield and his Tampa Bay Buccaneers started the season strong with a 6-2 record, only to lose seven of their final nine games to close his first losing campaign with the team.

Baker Mayfield and Kevin Stefanski during their time with the Browns
Baker Mayfield and Kevin Stefanski during their time with the Browns (Image via Jordan Moore/X)

Surprisingly, the franchise elected to give head coach Todd Bowles another chance, believing he can still lead the franchise back to the playoffs.

They finished with identical records along with Division rivals, the Carolina Panthers, who eventually made it to the playoffs, and the Falcons. Next season, they know that both the Panthers and the Falcons will look to improve.

What Baker Mayfield and his team can do is to minimize the mistakes from the 2025 campaign and win all their games against division rivals. That means with two games against the Kevin Stefanski-led Falcons, the two-time Pro Bowler and his Buccaneers will be looking for revenge.

After all, now his name has been dragged into a narrative where Falcons reporters are trying to justify the new president of football, Matt Ryan‘s hiring of Stefanski.

Baker Mayfield should be back to his best in 2026

Mayfield did not have the best of times in the 2025 season. He hurt his shoulder in late November, which many attribute to the reason the Buccaneers eventually slipped out of playoff contention.

Next season, after making a complete recovery, the star QB should be back at his best. He will also have his banged-up receivers and offensive linemen back healthy.

Along with that, the franchise fired its offensive coordinator after the average performances Mayfield and his unit produced. Whoever joins next would be tasked with exploiting the QB’s skills.

The franchise has already signed veteran special teams coordinator Danny Smith from Mike Tomlin’s staff after the latter left the Pittsburgh Steelers.

With good coaches and personnel joining, Baker Mayfield may finally have the team that can help him reach his potential. Over the years, they have been very close to winning a lot of games, but something has been holding them back.

This time, the hope is that they do not leave anything on the board when they go up against the likes of the Kevin Stefanksi-led Falcons, or any of their divisional rivals.

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