Baker Mayfield Gets Revenge Tour with Bucs' 2026 Schedule

Subsequently, Mayfield requested and was granted a trade, as the Browns shipping him to the Carolina Panthers for a conditional late-round draft pick.

Mayfield initially beat out Sam Darnold for the starting job in Carolina, but after suffering an ankle injury in Week 5, he was kept behind P.J. Walker on the depth chart. This compelled Mayfield to request his release, which the Panthers granted.

The Los Angeles Rams scooped up Mayfield, who famously led them to an epic comeback win in prime time on the road against the Las Vegas Raiders, despite having been on the roster for less than 48 hours.

The following offseason, Mayfield signed a cheap one-year deal with the Bucs, who were looking for a new starter following Tom Brady's (for real this time) retirement. He beat out Kyle Trask for the job, and hasn't missed a start for Tampa Bay since.

Joining the Browns on this year's schedule is every other team Mayfield suited up for along the way, though the Rams will only get appreciation from the 2017 Heisman Trophy winner. He'll still relish the chance to go toe-to-toe with last year's MVP, Matthew Stafford, when the Bucs host the Rams in Week 17.

Things won't be so cozy against a pair of division rivals.

Mayfield has made it clear he doesn't look back fondly on his time in Carolina

Stefanski is now the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, and Mayfield didn't mince words when presented with the opportunity to reflect on their time together in Cleveland:

That's six games Mayfield will play this season against his old teams, hoping to remind them that he's still the talented playmaker who heard his name called first on draft day.

He's made a career out of proving the doubters wrong, and entering a contract year, he's got another opportunity to prove to the Bucs that he's worthy of a long-term extension.

If he can leave all his former teams in the loss column along the way, it'll make it all the sweeter when he cashes in again next offseason.