Bucs' Baker Mayfield Discusses Changing 'Cocky, Immature' Narrative Amid NFL MVP Buzz

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield says it's the outside narrative, not his attitude, that has changed amid his improving reputation as an NFL starter.

Mayfield's comments came after a video of him responding in kind to trash talk from Seattle Seahawks fans before the Bucs' 38-35 Week 5 road win went viral last Sunday.

"Early on in my career, it's looked as 'cocky,' 'immature,'" Mayfield said Wednesday (h/t ESPN's Jenna Laine). "Now it's 'moxie,' 'he's a dog.' Same s--t, different day. As long as you play well, they play the narrative.

"You've just got to be yourself, and I've always been like that."

Mayfield went on to say he believes he is still the same person "at the core" that he was during the earlier stages of his career with the Cleveland Browns, Carolina Panthers and Los Angeles Rams.

"Matured in different ways. Not worried about little things that really don't matter," Mayfield said. "Now, you put it in the landscape of a competitive football game and that atmosphere? That will never change."

Mayfield has seen his MVP odds steadily increase while leading the Bucs to a 4-1 start to the 2025 campaign. He most recently responded to the heckling from fans by going 29-for-33 with 379 passing yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions in Sunday's win over the Seahawks.

▶️ Full Buccaneers-Seahawks Recap

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Through five games Mayfield ranks fourth in the NFL with 1,283 passing yards and is tied for third with 10 passing touchdowns.

Out of 15 quarterbacks to pass the quadruple-digit passing yard threshold ahead of Week 6, Mayfield is the only one who has yet to throw multiple interceptions (he threw his lone pick of the campaign in a Week 4 loss to the visiting Philadelphia Eagles).

The Bucs return to action on Sunday against the visiting San Francisco 49ers. The home team might head into the matchup as the favorite given Mayfield's recent dominance and the injury absence of Niners starter Brock Purdy.