Baker Mayfield clarified remarks about Tom Brady after leading the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a 33-16 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles, explaining that his recent podcast comments on Brady’s leadership were misinterpreted.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield addressed comments made about former quarterback Tom Brady during a recent podcast, explaining that his words had been misinterpreted.
This clarification came after the Buccaneers’ 33-16 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, during which Brady was present in the Fox Sports broadcast booth for his first return to Tampa as an analyst.
Mayfield, who led his team to four touchdowns during the game, had previously commented on the differences between his personality and Brady’s on the “Casa de Klub” podcast. Mayfield had playfully suggested that the intensity Brady brought to the team created a “stressed-out” environment during his tenure in Tampa.
However, after the win, Mayfield insisted that his comments were not meant to be disrespectful, acknowledging Brady’s immense contribution to the franchise and the championship he delivered.
“I think a lot of that got taken out of context, and none of it was personal by any means,” said Mayfield, who led four touchdown drives in the victory. “It’s just what he demanded of the guys, and that’s the aura of Tom Brady. And that’s what he did to bring a championship here.
“Nothing personal, but yeah, talking before the game, he’s obviously happy for me and he knows the guys, so he knows how much I enjoy throwing to Mike [Evans] and Chris [Godwin] [because] he got to do the same. It’s fun to be able to talk about the same experience with a guy like that.”
Brady, in turn, responded to the remarks during the game broadcast, downplaying the notion that his leadership style was stressful. He emphasized the importance of a winning mindset and high expectations, which contributed to his seven Super Bowl victories.
“The building was a little bit different with Tom in there,” Mayfield said. “Obviously, playing-wise, Tom is different. He had everybody dialed in, high-strung environment, so I think everybody was pretty stressed out. … They wanted me to come in, be myself, bring the joy back to football, for guys who weren’t having as much fun.”
Brady’s competitive spirit was evident in his response, though he made no apologies for his approach to the game.
“I thought stressful was not having Super Bowl rings. So, there was a mindset of a champion that I took to work every day. This wasn’t daycare. If I was going to have fun, I’d go to Disneyland with my kids.
“There’s a way to approach this game and it’s with the right mindset to try to push each other outside our comfort zone, and great teammates do that. You come, I have someone like [Rob] Gronkowski, I have someone like Evans — there’s high expectations for us. We got to make sure we go out there and deliver.”
Mayfield, who has taken over the quarterback position for Tampa Bay this season, acknowledged that Brady’s methods were effective, highlighting the respect he has for the legendary quarterback. The game also saw Mike Evans, one of Brady’s former favorite targets, become the Buccaneers’ all-time leading scorer with a first-quarter touchdown, further linking the victory to Brady’s successful era with the team.
Brady received a warm welcome from the Tampa Bay crowd, with a standing ovation and a tribute on the stadium jumbotron during halftime. His return to Raymond James Stadium brought back memories of the Buccaneers’ 2021 playoff victory over the Eagles, adding to the celebratory atmosphere.
The broadcast also revealed that the Chicago Bears had made a serious attempt to recruit Brady before he ultimately signed with Tampa Bay in 2020, a decision that led to the Buccaneers’ Super Bowl LV win.
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