There’s no shortage of storylines brewing in the NFC South, but one of the spiciest just got a little hotter. Baker Mayfield and Kevin Stefanski are set to cross paths again - this time as division rivals - and while Stefanski is doing his best to downplay the tension, Mayfield’s recent comments suggest this matchup is going to be anything but ordinary.
Let’s rewind for a second. Mayfield, now the starting quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, didn’t hold back when asked about his departure from Cleveland, where Stefanski was his head coach.
When reports surfaced suggesting Stefanski “had nothing at quarterback” during his Browns tenure, Mayfield took it personally. His response?
A pointed message: *“Can’t wait to see you twice a year, coach.” *
That’s not exactly subtle.
Fast forward to Stefanski’s introductory press conference as the new head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, and naturally, he was asked about Mayfield’s comments. Stefanski kept it classy and measured - the kind of response you expect from a coach trying to keep the focus on football, not feuds.
“Baker’s somebody that I have a ton of respect for as a player and a person,” Stefanski said. “I love rivalries in sports, and obviously the Buccaneers and Falcons have a great rivalry.
It’s something that I’m excited about, but I would not get into the specifics of those types of things other than to say I have a ton of respect for Baker as a player, as a person. That’s a great team with a great player.”
Translation: Stefanski isn’t looking to stoke the fire - at least not publicly. But let’s be real: this storyline isn’t going anywhere.
The first time the Falcons and Bucs meet next season, you can bet the cameras will be locked in on the pregame handshake (or lack thereof), the in-game interactions, and whatever postgame soundbites come out of it. It’s the kind of subplot that adds fuel to a divisional rivalry already loaded with playoff implications.
While Stefanski was fielding questions in Atlanta, Mayfield was across the division in Tampa, attending the introductory press conference for the Bucs’ new offensive coordinator, Zac Robinson. And if there’s one thing clear from Robinson’s remarks, it’s that he’s all-in on Baker.
“I’m fired up to work with ‘Bake’ and the rest of the guys,” Robinson said. “Baker was the No. 1 pick in the draft for a reason.
In terms of the arm, there’s not a part of the field that he can’t attack. You start there and then you get to the instincts and the feel for the game.”
Robinson and Mayfield aren’t strangers. They worked together briefly with the Rams, and now they’re reuniting in Tampa with something to prove. Both are looking for a bounce-back year, and both know exactly what’s at stake.
“His ability to throw on the run - he’s probably the best in the league at throwing on the run,” Robinson added. “He’s great in the keeper game, great in the boot[leg] game. [I am] looking to evolve that part and making sure that we’re playing to Baker’s strengths and the rest of the guys’ strengths.”
That’s a clear signal: the Bucs’ offense is going to be built around what Mayfield does best - improvisation, mobility, and big-time arm talent. And with both Tampa Bay and Atlanta finishing 8-9 last season, there’s a real opportunity for either team to take control of a wide-open division.
Robinson went on to emphasize Mayfield’s experience and football IQ, noting how much he can handle schematically.
“I know Baker so well, and I know the experience that he’s had. Obviously, Baker’s experience with the system, the amount that he can handle from a capacity standpoint is huge and all those things will kind of take care of themselves. At the end of the day, coaching the quarterbacks like you coach quarterbacks - obviously you can put more on certain people’s plate when they’ve played and seen so much football like Baker, which we’re looking forward to.”
So here’s where things stand: Mayfield has a new offensive coordinator who believes in him, a system that’s going to cater to his strengths, and two annual matchups against a coach he clearly feels has something to answer for.
Stefanski, meanwhile, inherits a Falcons team with talent and expectations. He’s taking the high road for now, but the rivalry is already simmering - and when the Bucs and Falcons finally meet, it’s going to boil over.
Circle those dates on the calendar. This one’s personal.