Baker Mayfield finally has chance for Kevin Stefanski revenge game

When the Atlanta Falcons hired Kevin Stefanski to be their head coach this offseason, it got the attention of Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield.

Mayfield played under Stefanski with the Cleveland Browns, until Mayfield was tossed aside and jettisoned so the team could acquire Deshaun Watson.

Not only did they part ways with Mayfield, who helped the Browns win their first playoff game since 1994, but Mayfield claims his former coach never even called or texted him following the trade.

Baker Mayfield has been waiting for this meeting with Kevin Stefanski

Shortly after the Falcons hired Stefanski this offseason, Mayfield responded to a post on X that referred to him as time in Cleveland as a failure with some fiery words:

"Failed is quite the reach pal. Still waiting on a text/call from him after I got shipped off like a piece of garbage. Can’t wait to see you twice a year, Coach."

Sunday's game in Tampa Bay will be the first of those two divisional meetings, and it is a massive game in the NFC South.

Not only for Mayfield's quest to get some sort of revenge against his former coach, but also because it would move Tampa Bay ahead of Atlanta in the NFC South standings and bring it to within a half-game of first place behind the Carolina Panthers (who lost on Thursday night to the Green Bay Packers).

The division is, once again, completely wide open, and now that Mayfield is back and healthy and in the Tampa Bay lineup, it has to like its chances, especially after a dominant, statement win over the Panthers in Mayfield's return a week ago. 

For his part, Mayfield tried to downplay his offseason comments this week. When asked if Stefanski's lack of a call still eats at him, Mayfield simply said that no, he is doing fine. 

Mayfield signed a new three-year, $165 million extension with the Buccaneers just before the start of the season. He has been the team's starting quarterback since the start of the 2023 season. Mayfield has played against Stefanski one other team in his career, losing to Stefanski's Browns in Week 1 of the 2022 season when Mayfield was the starting quarterback for the Panthers.