The tension between Baker Mayfield and Kevin Stefanski has been loud for months, but the quarterback finally broke his silence on Thursday. As the Atlanta Falcons prepare to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, Nov. 1, the personal drama takes center stage. Mayfield made it clear he never received a call or text after being traded away from the Browns. That silence lasted years, and the Bucs star says he is finally done waiting for a phone call from his old coach.
Mayfield signed a massive three-year, $165M extension to stay in Tampa, proving he is no longer looking back at Cleveland. When asked if the lack of contact still stings him, he gave a blunt answer. “No, I’m doing all right,” he said, showing he has moved past the anger, according to Heavy.com. He expected a call after the deal went down, but that call never came.
Stefanski Offers High Praise Despite Silence
While Mayfield stays quiet on the phone, Stefanski is willing to talk about his former player. The Falcons coach did not address the lack of contact, but he did speak highly of Mayfield’s skills. Stefanski sees a player who can still break games open with his legs and his arm. Stefanski stated, “Yeah, he’s still a playmaker,” regarding what he observes differently from Mayfield compared to their time together in 2021. He noted that Mayfield keeps making plays down the field and that he is extremely talented.
The coach added that no play is ever over when Mayfield has the ball in his hands. “No play is ever over. He’s just going to constantly make plays down the field. He can run. He’s extremely talented,” Stefanski said. This praise comes from the man who traded Mayfield for multiple first-round picks to get Deshaun Watson. It is a complex situation, but the coach seems ready to face the player on the field without bringing up the past.
Falcons Find Stability With Penix
Although Mayfield discusses the past, the Falcons concentrate on their future with Michael Penix Jr., and Pro Bowl safety Jessie Bates III has fully supported the young quarterback. Bates says the team feels different when Penix is on the field. Bates remarked, “It’s just different when No. 9 is out there,” expressing his pride in Penix for continuing to defy the odds, according to Yahoo Sports. He wants Penix to know he is the franchise player Atlanta needs.
Since the lefty dominated defenses during college, Bates has been a fan of Penix. He has watched the quarterback grow into a leader. “I’m proud of him man, he’s a franchise quarterback and I hope that he knows that…I’ve just watched him become mature and embrace that leadership role,” Bates said. The team beat the San Francisco 49ers 29-20 on Sunday, Oct. 25, and the momentum is building around the new starter. If Penix stays healthy, the Falcons could be building a real foundation for the long term.
What To Expect Sunday
The matchup on Sunday, Nov. 1, at Raymond James Stadium will be the first time Mayfield starts against Stefanski as a franchise quarterback. Mayfield was 29-30 as the Browns quarterback, but the team went 11-5 in his third season and won a playoff game. After that, the team went 6-8 in 2021, leading to the trade that started this whole feud. Now, the two men who built that history will face off in a critical NFC South game.
The Falcons need to run the ball and stop the run to win, but the offense will lean on Penix to move the chains. Mayfield will try to prove he is still the best player in the room. The silence from 2021 might never be broken, but the scoreboard on Sunday will tell the real story.
