Kevin Durant Hypes Baker Mayfield After Unreal 1st Down Run While Avoiding 5 Defenders

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield has had a hand in all their wins of the 2025 season so far.

Kevin Durant Hypes Baker Mayfield After Unreal 1st Down Run While Avoiding 5 Defenders

Baker Mayfield came up clutch again (Image via Baker Muse/X)

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Baker Mayfield is having a season that many would consider his ultimate redemption arc, especially when recollecting his struggles to land a stable job after the Cleveland Browns made him the scapegoat.

Now, at age 30, and having stability in both his professional and personal spheres, the quarterback seems to have found that extra bit of motivation to will his team to win games.

In this 2025 campaign, the star quarterback has contributed to quite a few 4th quarter heroics, as the Bucs stood with a 4-1 record before welcoming the San Francisco 49ers for their Week 6 clash. In this game, his running backs kept the home team in the front, with 2 touchdowns in the first half. Still, the visitors were just a point behind in the 3rd quarter.

Many believe it is situations like this that have brought out the best in the Bucs QB, and he proved that logic when facing a 3rd and 14. When the ball was snapped, 49ers DC Robert Saleh devised a scheme to open up lanes for two of his d-linemen.

As they charged towards him, Mayfield slithered out of a sack and then ran towards his left. Two pump fakes made one defender miss, and as he ran towards the first down marker, two 49ers tried to tackle him.

But that was not going to slow the Texas native down. As he approached the marker, he stretched his hand to ensure the ball broke the plane before he went down.

Aye Baker, you f***in HOOPIN!

Kevin Durant wrote on X

That was NBA superstar Kevin Durant, an avid football fan, who could not resist tweeting while watching Baker Mayfield show his mettle. The quarterback’s performances are winning over some high-profile fans.

Baker Mayfield’s connection with Tez Johnson draws MVP chants

That play had the Buccaneers fans hyped, as they probably realized their quarterback was not going to let his team lose. A couple of plays later, he proved his mettle as a passer.

With the home team still pegged to their side of the field, the Bucs ran a pass play. After Baker Mayfield stepped back, he noticed wide receiver Tez Johnson breaking free from his cover.

The QB stepped up and launched a deep throw, forcing the rookie wideout to stretch and catch it as he crossed the goal line. As soon as officials signaled a touchdown, Bucs fans started to chant ‘MVP’. That chant, though, left Johnson confused.

When I scored, and I heard the ‘MVP’ chants, I’m thinking they talking about. So I asked Shep (Sterling Shepard), ‘Shep, they was chanting MVP?… I ain’t do nothing this year.’ He was like, ‘they’re talking about Baker Tez.’ That explains it.

Tez Johnson told reporters in the locker room

That humor aside, the wideout agreed that it was apt that the fans were chanting for his quarterback, as he has been nothing but a ‘dawg’ this season, stepping up when it matters.

Former league MVP believes it is Baker Mayfield’s turn to win the award

Usually, when a player is being touted as a potential MVP candidate, award voters look at the statistics to see if it backs up those claims. But in Baker Mayfield’s case, former league MVP Matt Ryan believes it is the intangibles that are pushing him towards that award.

Baker Mayfield against the 49ers
Baker Mayfield against the 49ers (Image via Tampa Bay Buccaneers/X)

Baker Mayfield was outstanding. You talk about coming into this game without Mike Evans, without Chris Godwin, Emeka Egbuka goes down early… It’s the guts, it’s the intensity, and then it is the ability to find guys down the field… He’s been outstanding He’s gotta be the frontrunner for MVP in the league.

Matt Ryan said on CBS Sports

During this 5-1 run, Baker Mayfield has thrown for 1539 passing yards, 12 touchdowns, and just 1 interception. He is also running with the ball for the most average yards of his career.

Those numbers are close to the top in every quarterback category. If he can keep it up, maybe he will finally be able to have the last laugh over the other teams who did not believe in him.

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