The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have made their biggest quarterback bet in years, locking up Baker Mayfield with a multi-year extension that runs through the 2029 season and makes him the highest-paid player in franchise history.
It’s a four-year deal that includes a three-year extension, and it reflects just how far Mayfield has carried the organization since arriving in 2023. Tampa Bay hasn’t just gotten solid play from him; it has gotten production that stacks up with the best in the league.
Over three seasons, Mayfield ranks third in the NFL in passing yards with 12,237 and second in passing touchdowns with 95. He has completed 66.3 percent of his passes and posted a 97.4 passer rating in 51 starts.
The Buccaneers’ brass left no doubt about how they view him. Owner and Co-Chairman Joel Glazer said Mayfield’s arrival “marked an important new chapter for our organization.”
Glazer also called him “the unquestioned leader of our franchise,” pointing to his competitiveness, resilience and drive to win. He also said the team is “thrilled their family will continue to call Tampa Bay home for years to come,” noting the presence of Mayfield and his wife Emily in the community.
On the field, the results have followed. Mayfield has helped Tampa Bay win two NFC South titles, notch a postseason victory and earn two Pro Bowl selections. He owns single-season franchise records for completion percentage and passer rating, and he is the only quarterback in team history with multiple Pro Bowl nods.
General Manager Jason Licht praised more than the stat line. He called Mayfield “the heartbeat of this team,” and said his toughness and knack for delivering in big moments matter - but his day-to-day leadership matters even more.
Head Coach Todd Bowles echoed that message, saying Mayfield’s energy and confidence lift the locker room. “His belief in himself and this team never wavers,” Bowles said, adding that Mayfield sets the tone every day.
Mayfield’s 2024 season was the best of his career. He threw for 4,500 yards and 41 touchdowns while completing more than 70 percent of his passes, becoming just the fourth player in NFL history to hit 4,000 passing yards and 40 touchdowns with a 70-percent completion rate in the same season.
His impact isn’t limited to Sundays. Through the Baker and Emily Mayfield Foundation, the couple has raised more than $600,000 for early learning programs in Hillsborough County and supported several community initiatives across Tampa Bay.
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Todd Bowles Enters A Buccaneers Season With No More Excuses
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The Athletic recently put Bowles third on its list of NFL head coaches most likely to be fired in 2026, a reminder that the league is always quick to turn up the heat when results lag behind talent. For Bowles, the next stretch is less about explaining away setbacks and more about proving the Buccaneers can take the next step with the pieces already in place. The margin for patience is shrinking, and the season ahead may say plenty about how long that leash really is. [Read more 🡒]