Baker Mayfield addresses 'business side of football' amid contract standoff

Since June, Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield has not hidden that he isn't thrilled about the fact that he remains in the final year of his existing contract heading into the 2026 season. 

During the latest edition of the "4th and South" podcast, Mayfield spoke openly about his situation.

Baker Mayfield makes promise to Buccaneers, fans about his efforts this season

"Everybody’s so close," Mayfield said about the Buccaneers, per the JoeBucsFan website. "There’s no egos in that locker room. It doesn’t matter who you are. You just go about your business. So for me, that feels like home. And so, it makes it easy for me to be just up front and honest. I’ve always worn my emotions and my thoughts on my sleeve. If you like that, great. If you don’t, that’s too bad. I’m not going to change for you. But the guys appreciate that part of it. There’s the business side of football, yes, we all play this for a job. But [my teammates] know that when it comes to game days, I’m ready for a good season. I want my lick back in 2026. We didn’t play well enough in 2025." 

The 2025 Buccaneers entered their Week 9 bye at 6-2 before the club lost seven of eight games, finishing the season with a record of 8-9 and missing the playoffs. The signal-caller suffered a significant injury to his non-throwing shoulder in Week 12 that impacted his play. This past June, one report claimed that the Buccaneers are concerned that Mayfield "continues to neglect" his health with what has been referred to as a "UFC" playing style.

Baker Mayfield says he's feeling great ahead of 2026 season

"I think if it wasn’t and I had the mindset of, 'Oh, I’ve arrived,' I wouldn’t have a job," Mayfield added during the podcast about the figurative chip on his shoulder still growing each year. 

He also suggested that he is feeling better than ever as he prepares for what could become a career-altering season. 

"I think I’m in the best shape I’ve ever been in," Mayfield explained. "It took a while to feel healthy enough to actually train and get to that point. But I feel great. You know, you find your routine in the later years of your career, and you figure out what works for you schedule-wise, workout-wise, diet-wise — all things you need to adjust and adapt to as the years go on. I feel really good. Yeah, last year I was banged up, but I mean, the whole team was." 

Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht confirmed that the club "could plan" to retain Mayfield's rights for 2027 via the franchise tag. It remains to be seen if the two sides will agree to even a short-term extension before Tampa Bay's regular-season opener at the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 13.