Baker Mayfield - Player, buccaneers Event: Press Conference | Date: 2026-09-09 | Full transcript (primary source).
Baker Mayfield addressed the media during a press conference on September 9, 2026, following the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' preparations for their upcoming game. The session focused on the team's strategy and mindset as they prepare to face a seasoned quarterback, highlighting the challenges and expectations for the season ahead.
Transcript
Mayfield: All right, what's your guy guys? Yeah, I feel like anytime you go against a you know a veteran quarterback that's been there done that You know, there's an element of you know disguise and what you have to do defensively to you know prepare for him and you know get him to think a little bit post snap and You know, he's obviously one of the best in the league at doing that.
Mayfield: Yeah, I think that the biggest thing for him was consistency You know We do have a defense that does put a lot on a guy like him at the linebacker position and do different things and you know He stepped up to the plate and now he's just we have to see where he takes it and now the real the real fun starts.
Mayfield: Yeah, you know anytime you got you get that honor, it's a huge honor and blessing and You know the way I go about my things and you know You don't want to be excuse my like like you don't want to be the douche that walks in here and kind of like You know inserts himself so I did it my way and you know lead by example do the right things Speak up when something needs to be said and a lot of that has to do with playing linebacker by the same time That's who I am. So You know, it's an honor to be in that position.
Mayfield: I don't get butterflies. I think just a little more excitement at this point just playing so many games and I think you just envision yourselves making plays night before and More more of that than necessarily butterflies, but that definitely gets the blood flowing and get the juices on.
Mayfield: Yeah, I think the number one thing is decision-making accuracy You know as a defender that's if a quarterback is very accurate and knows where to go with the ball. I think that You know, it makes it hard to cover it makes it hard to you know do certain things and You know Then you throw in the dynamic of being able to extend plays and you know That's what really makes a quarterback difficult to play against.
Mayfield: You're saying repeat that question Oh You're saying they they had they gave they threw some pick sixes and fumbles over cover. Okay, I got it No, I think that you know every week you go through, you know certain guys who carry the ball loosely You know get to get punch outs and things of that nature and then you know It goes into you know disguises and coverages and you know, trying to get in certain windows I think those plays just happen and when you get your hands on the ball, you're good. The goal is to go score.
Mayfield: Try to go after him a little bit what's your advice to him? When he's stepping up anything like this outside really just be him I mean, he's a hell of a player, you know, he can play the run He can play the pass, you know, he's not afraid of anybody and I think and so him as long as he just plays his game I mean, there's not a lot that are better than him and we all make each other better like that.
Mayfield: You know when I'm logging down my side, he's gonna have opportunities when he's logging on his side I'll have opportunities and we'll play off each other like that.
Mayfield: He can play inside a nickel can't they Scott can't you can Tikey Antoine they've all had time in nickel How does that help Todd Bowles in terms of being able to disguise maybe where you guys are lining up who you're covering? Where you're coming from if you guys decide to blitz is that is that it kind of like a like an ace up his sleeve?
Mayfield: A little bit I say so for sure. I mean, it's one of the hidden things with this defense the versatility between everybody I mean everybody's very first you can play almost any spot and so we can disguise a lot I mean teams aren't gonna know when we're playing man when we're playing zone And so as the season continues to progress and we continue to work those disguises It'll be exciting to see what this defense turns into.
Mayfield: Todd Bowles and Jason might they revamped that defensive line and when you're a DB having pressure certainly helps you on your side How much what are bugs fans looking forward to seeing in this defensive line at this upcoming season?
Mayfield: Yeah, I mean we're gonna hold and make the quarterback hold the ball, but they're gonna get there I mean they've been getting there all throughout training camp and you know, we can see it I mean it's happening in practice. It's happening during the scrimmages It's happening during the preseason and we'll work off of each other like that But those guys I mean you just seen another level of intensity from them from that entire group, you know They're really really close probably the closest group They've been since I've been here and you know, they're putting the work in they put in work before practice You know, you know people are rolling into the parking lot. They're already, you know, they're still working You know people after practice and all that work is gonna pay off You know, we see it time and time again and you know, bang coming in and bringing that dog mentality You know, it's infectious to the entire team. Not just the P line.
Mayfield: When you're going to guess it's more like that, right off the bat What do you think is the best part about starting off the season? You don't have opportunities guaranteed opportunities I mean they want to get their season started off right, you know They want to get in rhythm early and so ball is guaranteed to go in the air and ball in the air belongs to us You know, that's the mentality that we have that's what we're going into the game thinking and we know we're gonna get tested early And so it's an incredible opportunity for us You know, there will be no better feeling than when we take away, you know, three four in a session.
Mayfield: Thanks, thank you. Thank you.
Mayfield: Hello everybody Not answer that one no Obviously very excited that we're all back, you know last year not how he drew it up with I don't think we played one game with everybody healthy and you know, it's You know, we lose Cody early and then guys are in and out and you know, we're just really excited it's been a great fall camp so far and going into week one with Everybody healthy everybody clicking ready to go, you know, it's it's good to have everybody back out there.
Mayfield: No, obviously extremely ecstatic for him he's earned it As we all see phenomenal leader phenomenal teammate great friend Can't say enough good things about him and just really happy for him.
Mayfield: I Don't know I mean we're obviously really excited for him really happy for him. We're happy that he's gonna be here for a while You know, but never once did he change who he was, you know, it was never a distraction nothing like that I you know, we love the guy will play hard for him. No matter what we're just happy to see him get his deal.
Mayfield: I Mean he's a catalyst out there, you know, we see him and he brings energy and it makes it it brings everybody else up and you know it makes you want to play harder for him makes you want to play harder with them and You know if he's gonna put his body on the line for us and lower his shoulder and do that I mean, we'll we have to match that every single play. So You know, he's a he's a blast to play with and a blast a block for I'll say that.
Mayfield: Yeah, I mean, of course we want to get back to that, you know, that's a goal for us We had in 24. We had a great running game You know being able to control the clock give the defense time to rest and get out there and get quick stops You know allow us to set the tempo of the game and you know It's just a confidence thing in the whole line as an offense as well when when we're clicking and running the ball well It's you know, that's what we practice for that's what you want and it makes the game so much You know, it slows the game down so much for us. So We love it. Obviously and we're trying to get back to that every day.
Mayfield: Yeah, he's able to make us right sometimes, you know You know playing offensive line as a group, you know You want to block every single play perfectly and have the back hit the whole leg is drawn on paper but it's not always like that and you know buck he's a Phenomenal athlete where he's able to make a guy miss or you know set up a block for us And like you said, sometimes he's cutting it out the backside where the ball is not technically supposed to go But he's making great plays and and has that speed to be able to to get out there. So He provides a nice extra element for us. And when just like I was talking about Baker, you know He makes our running game very exciting.
Mayfield: Yeah, I mean it's they've got a big D line there's there's no question about that, you know, obviously adding Dexter Lawrence and You know Jonathan Allen that's there's two big names that they added both great players a lot of respect for both of them and You know, it's people it's a full D line a full too deep that we have to account for.
Mayfield: All right, thank you. Thanks guys.
