Baker Mayfield defends himself over Tom Brady’s fighting words as QBs wrestle over 2020 Buccaneers culture

After Tom Brady's retirement, Baker Mayfield took over the reins at Tampa Bay. The QB has stepped up for the Buccaneers, earning support from fans and the Tampa community.

Of course, Brady's addition to the team brought them a Super Bowl win in 2021.

In a recent podcast interview, Mayfield discussed Brady, and how the NFL icon had everyone stressed.

While covering the Bucs Week 4 game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Brady clapped back at Mayfield's remarks. He added that the team wasn't daycare, and their aim was to bring home a Super Bowl.

“I thought stressful was not having Super Bowl rings. This wasn’t daycare. ... If I was going to have fun, I was going to Disneyland with my kids. There’s a way to approach this game and it’s with the right mindset to push teammates," Brady said.

Baker Mayfield didn't wait to let the matter cool down, immediately responding to Brady. According to the Bucs QB, his words were taken out of context.

“A lot of that was taken out of context. None of it was personal. … He did it his own way and that’s why he had seven rings," Mayfield said.

Brady is yet to respond to Mayfield's new comment.

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What exactly did Baker Mayfield say about Tom Brady?

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are certainly not the same team now as they were in 2021 when Brady was playing for them. Mayfield, who joined the team in 2023, spoke about his role in the team on the 'Case de Klub' podcast.

He mentioned how the team looked to bring his personality into the room, which was, as per him, previously stressed due to Brady.

"The building was a little bit different with Tom in there. Obviously, playing-wise, Tom is different. He had everybody dialed in, high-strung environment, so I think everybody was pretty stressed out," Baker Mayfield said.

He went on to highlight his role with the team, expressing how the Bucs wanted him to bring the joy back. Going further, Mayfield said that the team wasn't "having fun" with Brady.

While the Bucs thrived under Brady in 2021, Mayfield has also led the team to playoffs, including their NFC South win in 2023. That was followed by the team's fourth straight playoff appearance after their Wild Card Round win vs the Eagles.