Buccaneers' Baker Mayfield reflects on how he, Seahawks' Sam Darnold bounced back from Panthers tenures

Before Baker Mayfield of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Sam Darnold of the Seattle Seahawks landed with their current NFL homes, they spent a portion of the 2022 season as teammates with the Carolina Panthers. 

While speaking with reporters on Wednesday, Mayfield essentially laughed off a question regarding whether or not he and Darnold "reminisce about the good old days" with the Panthers. Mayfield also touched upon how both signal-callers bounced back from their rather forgettable Carolina tenures. 

Both Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold have put Panthers stints behind them

"Sam and I are really close," Mayfield explained, per ESPN's Jenna Laine. "I'm happy for him -- from going a couple different places that weren't great for us to having a good opportunity elsewhere, it's fun to see. I knew he just needed that chance, and he's thriving now. It's good to see, but hopefully not this weekend."

Darnold and the 3-1 Seahawks host Mayfield and the 3-1 Buccaneers this coming Sunday. Both Mayfield and Darnold had been discarded by the teams that made them first-round draft picks in the spring of 2018 when they found themselves competing for the Carolina QB1 gig in the summer of 2022. Mayfield was ultimately named the Panthers starter in August of that year, but then-Carolina interim head coach Steve Wilks decided to roll with PJ Walker after Mayfield suffered a left ankle sprain during the campaign. 

Eventually, Mayfield and the Panthers agreed to part ways in December 2022. Mayfield signed with the Buccaneers in March 2023 and seemingly has found a long-term home with that organization. 

Meanwhile, Darnold enjoyed a career reset when he spent the bulk of the 2023 season as a backup with the San Francisco 49ers. He then helped the 2024 Minnesota Vikings win 14 regular-season games before he received a three-year, $100.5M contract from the Seahawks this past March. 

How Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold helped each other with Panthers

"That whole QB room with P.J. Walker, Sam and I -- it was fun," Mayfield added about working with Darnold in 2022. "[We were] guys that have played ball, knew we needed each other in that room ... We'd just bounce things off [each other], have normal football conversations, grow and learn together and go from there."

As of Thursday morning, ESPN BET had the Buccaneers as 3.5-point underdogs for this Sunday's matchup at the Seahawks. Perhaps that contest featuring Mayfield and Darnold will prove to be a preview of a future playoff game.