Baker vs. Stefanski: A New NFC South Rivalry Brewing in Atlanta
The NFC South just got a little more personal.
Earlier this month, Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield stirred the pot with a pointed social media message aimed at newly hired Atlanta Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski. The post, which came shortly after Stefanski landed the Falcons job, made it clear Mayfield hasn’t forgotten their rocky past in Cleveland: “Can’t wait to see [Stefanski] twice a year,” he wrote.
On Tuesday, Stefanski finally responded - and while he kept things professional, there was no denying the subtext.
“Baker’s somebody that I have a ton of respect for as a player and a person,” Stefanski said during his introductory press conference. “I love rivalries in sports, and, obviously, Buccaneers-Falcons have a great rivalry. It’s something that I’m excited about.”
That’s about as close as you’ll get to a coach acknowledging tension without fanning the flames. Stefanski didn’t dive into the specifics of their history, but he didn’t deny it either. He made sure to tip his cap to Mayfield, calling him both a great player and a key part of a strong Buccaneers team.
But let’s not ignore the backstory here - because this isn’t just another division matchup.
Back in January 2022, Mayfield was traded from the Browns to the Panthers, a move that he clearly hasn’t forgiven or forgotten. On social media earlier this month, he claimed he was still “waiting on a text/call” from Stefanski, suggesting the then-Browns coach played a role in shipping him out “like a piece of garbage.”
That trade came on the heels of a turbulent 2021 season in Cleveland, where reports of friction between Mayfield and Stefanski were no secret. When the Browns made the blockbuster move for Deshaun Watson in March 2022 - handing him a fully guaranteed five-year, $230 million contract - it marked the official end of Mayfield’s time in Cleveland. And while Watson’s tenure has been marred by injuries and underperformance, Mayfield has quietly rebuilt his career in Tampa Bay, leading the Bucs to back-to-back NFC South titles in 2023 and 2024.
The only time Mayfield has faced a Stefanski-led Browns team came in Week 1 of the 2022 season, when he started for the Panthers in a narrow loss to his former squad. Since then, their paths haven’t crossed - until now.
Now, with Stefanski taking over in Atlanta, Mayfield will get two chances a year to line up against his old coach. And based on what we’ve seen from Baker - both on the field and online - you can bet he’ll be circling those dates on his calendar the moment the schedule drops this spring.
For his part, Stefanski seems genuinely excited about the opportunity in Atlanta. He told reporters Tuesday, “Atlanta is where I wanted to be,” signaling that this wasn’t just a job opening - it was the job he was targeting.
That sets the stage for a fascinating subplot in the NFC South. The Falcons are looking to rebound under a new regime, while the Bucs - with Mayfield at the helm - are trying to maintain their hold on the division. And now, there’s added fuel to the fire.
This isn’t just about wins and losses anymore. It’s personal. And in a league that thrives on rivalries, the Mayfield-Stefanski saga might just be the next one to watch.