Baker Mayfield Outlines How ‘Personal’ Motives Were Cherry on Top in Close Win Over Jets

Quarterback Baker Mayfield and his Tampa Bay Buccaneers have become the most clutch team in this 2025 NFL season.

Baker Mayfield Outlines How ‘Personal’ Motives Were Cherry on Top in Close Win Over Jets

Baker Mayfield and former Panthers' head coach Steve Wilks (Image via Imago/FOS/X)

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Baker Mayfield overcame adversity when he was in college. Now, in the NFL, his career trajectory follows a similar pattern as he now commands the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as their franchise QB.

He was once deemed not to be good enough by the Cleveland Browns, even though the organization’s failures were not entirely his fault. When they found a partner in the Carolina Panthers, he was traded away in exchange for a 5th-round pick.

He struggled with the Panthers, leading them to a 1-5 record. The result of that saw then-head coach Steve Wilks prefer to start PJ Walker in his place, which then forced Baker Mayfield to ask for a release.

Then he signed with the Los Angeles Rams and had some monumental wins, which he still credits for helping turn his career around. Now, as the franchise quarterback of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he has led them to two straight playoff berths.

This season, he seems to be motivated more than ever and has now led the Bucs to open their 2025 campaign with three straight wins. The latest one, ironically, comes against the New York Jets, whose defensive coordinator happens to be Wilks.

I loved it. And also their D-coordinator was the one that cut me in Carolina (Steve Wilks). Lot of stuff was personal today.

Baker Mayfield’s said

This was the 30-year-old’s answer when ESPN’s Jenna Laine asked him if there was an underlying motivation to beat the New York Jets. Other than head coach Todd Bowles and Haason Reddick‘s past tenures, Mayfield essentially got back at Wilks for not believing in him.

Baker Mayfield leads back-to-back-to-back game-winning drives

Baker Mayfield has come a long way since those days when the Browns and Panthers did not believe in him. Ever since Todd Bowles took over as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ head coach, he has instilled belief in his QB, and he has since delivered.

In the first game against the Atlanta Falcons, the QB led his team on a touchdown drive that would give them the lead with less than a minute to go. Special teams’ players received the message and did enough to force the Falcons to miss a game-winning field goal.

In their second game, with his back against the wall on a 4th and 10, Baker Mayfield slithered his way to a 1st down. His teammates then finished the job with a Rachaad White TD.

Today was eerily similar. The Buccaneers’ defense had done a masterful job of stopping the Jets from doing anything in the 1st three quarters. In the final period, they scored 21 straight points, which gave them the lead with 1:50 left in the game.

It was up to Mayfield again, and he led his team to march down the field and set up the field goal team with 7 seconds to go. Chase McLaughlin did his job, and the Buccaneers gave their home fans their first taste of victory.

Jets almost tossed the Bucs’ home opener on its head

The New York Jets are rebuilding under new head coach Aaron Glenn. Other than concerns of struggles early on, it did not help matters that he had to rely on journeyman backup, Tyrod Taylor, as Justin Fields continues to stay in concussion protocol.

Garrett Wilson and Jets almost gave Buccaneers a scare
Garrett Wilson and Jets almost gave Buccaneers a scare (Image via FOX Sports NFL/X)

Despite those struggles, the team went on a heady run in the fourth quarter, with Taylor slinging touchdown passes to Garrett Wilson and Allen Lazard.

They still had to stop the Buccaneers from scoring on the next drive to have a chance at winning the game. That chance came when McLaughlin lined up for a field goal just after the 2-minute mark started.

After the ball left his foot, Jets defensive edge Will McDonald jumped over the Bucs’ blockers, used both hands to block the kick, then recovered it, and ran the entire 50 yards to score a touchdown.

Glenn’s ecstatic run alongside McDonald, and then the celebration became viral, as the Jets thought they sniffed a famous win. However, Baker Mayfield still had time to ensure those old feelings fueled them to victory.

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