Baker Mayfield in Controversy Following New Development

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Spencer Ostrow | Last updated Sep 17, 2025 11:27 AM ET

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers faced the Houston Texans in the first game of a "Monday Night Football" doubleheader in Week 2. The talk of the night was their 11-play, 80-yard game-winning drive that put them ahead 20–19 late in the fourth quarter and ultimately sealed the victory.

Baker Mayfield showed once again the type of player he is, proving he isn't afraid of big moments. He finished the game 25-of-38 with 215 yards and two touchdowns.

On Tuesday, Mayfield took to social media to share several photos from the win. In the first two slides, he included shots from a fiery moment with just over nine minutes left in the fourth quarter.

On third-and-10, Mayfield scrambled for a crucial first down and looked to be injured after a tackle by Texans defensive end Will Anderson Jr. While the two-time Pro Bowler was down, Houston safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson came over, stood above him and appeared to say something. Mayfield instantly got up, got in Gardner-Johnson’s face and responded.

"Built different. 10 toes down," Mayfield captioned the post.

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A post shared by Baker Mayfield (@bakermayfield)

Gardner-Johnson saw the post and didn't hold back from responding in the comment section.

"Boy this cute but still ringless," Gardner-Johnson said.

Gardner-Johnson was referencing how Mayfield has yet to win a Super Bowl in his eight-year NFL career.

Meanwhile, the Texans' safety won one last season as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles. Gardner-Johnson was then traded to Houston this past offseason in exchange for offensive lineman Kenyon Green and a pick swap.

Immediately after the game, Gardner-Johnson was asked about the confrontation. He refused to address it directly, acknowledging that Mayfield's Bucs won the game.

This isn’t the first time Gardner-Johnson and Mayfield have exchanged trash talk. During the 2023–24 season, when Gardner-Johnson was with the Detroit Lions, he had words ahead of a tough matchup with the Los Angeles Rams and receivers Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua.

“This group probably is one of the better groups we done faced all year, besides that Tampa group," Gardner-Johnson said. "If you give that Tampa group a good quarterback, that’s a great group.”

Mayfield then responded.

“I mean, I don't think he's really watched film because he mentioned Russell Gage," Mayfield said. "You know, we love Russell, but he hasn’t played a snap this year for us. He must be going off the preseason stuff the media was talking about but he didn't play our first game so I'm excited to see him. I think he's a really good player …. just needs to do a little more film study."

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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