NFL Issues Final Decision on Baker Mayfield Incident

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Chris Phelps | Last updated Oct 18, 2025 5:26 PM ET

Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers continued their hot start to the 2025 NFL season, jumping to 5-1 after a 30-19 win over Mac Jones and the San Francisco 49ers in Week 6. Mayfield continued to shine in his third season with the Bucs, completing 17-of-23 passes for 256 yards and two touchdowns while adding another 14 yards on the ground.

With just 44 seconds remaining in the second quarter, Mayfield hit wide receiver Kameron Johnson for a 34-yard touchdown to give Tampa Bay a 20-13 lead. However, at the tail end of the play, the former Oklahoma Sooners quarterback took a big hit from 49ers cornerback Upton Stout, which led to a roughing the passer penalty, allowing Tampa Bay to attempt a two-point conversion. It failed.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) stands in the pocket against the Seattle Seahawks.Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images

Typically in the NFL, players are fined up to $17,389 for a first roughing-the-passer offense, with the amount increasing to $23,186 for a second violation. However, on Saturday, the league announced that Stout was not fined for his hit on Mayfield, despite the penalty called on the play.

While Upton wasn’t fined for his illegal tackle on Mayfield, other players from the Buccaneers-49ers game were. Tampa Bay cornerback Kindle Vildor was fined $7,430 for “striking/kicking/tripping/kneeing,” while San Francisco offensive tackle Trent Williams was fined $11,593 for unnecessary roughness “away from the play.”

Baker Mayfield plays better when he takes hits. He immediately gets up and starts chirping pic.twitter.com/vMiQqgV1Oi
— Rate the Refs (@Rate_the_Refs) October 12, 2025

While Mayfield had only one teammate fined in Week 6, the NFL issued 21 fines across 2,323 total plays, a rate of 0.9%. In fact, zero roughing the passer fines have been handed out through the first six weeks of the NFL season, but three players have been charged for roughing the kicker.

Up next for Mayfield and the Buccaneers, a battle with Jared Goff and the Detroit Lions in Week 7's edition of "Monday Night Football."

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

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