Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield looks back fondly on his time with the Cleveland Browns.
Mayfield and the Buccaneers will take on the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. It is the first time visiting the team that drafted him first overall since he rehabbed his career with the Bucs. Mayfield told reporters Wednesday that he remembers the good parts of his time there more than the bad.
“I think anytime there’s history between a franchise, a coaching staff, anybody, there’s always, you want to come out on the winning side of that no matter what. Obviously, it’s very different there, staff-wise and everybody,” he said.
“Yeah, spent four years there, going into year four here. Started my career there; a lot of ups and downs. But for me, this week is doing the little things right, continuing to try and just place the ball where it needs to go and then obviously making the corrections I need to, and ball security.”
Mayfield put up a decent performance as a passer in last week’s 33–27 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. He went 23 of 28 passing for 216 yards; he added 5 rushes for 30 yards and a touchdown. But ball security was a major issue.
He had three costly fumbles in the game: one was recovered for a touchdown by Bengals linebacker Demetrius Knight Jr.; another occurred in the red zone, and the Bengals offense drove down the field and scored another TD; the third halted a critical drive in the fourth quarter and led to a field goal that essentially iced the game.
Mayfield stressed the importance of fundamentals and working on small details to correct mistakes. He will need to be at his best this week against the Browns defense, because defensive coordinator Mike Rutenberg and Bucs offensive coordinator Zac Robinson know each other well: they were both on the Atlanta Falcons coaching staff in 2025.
Mayfield also has experience with Browns head coach Todd Monken. Monken served as OC in 2019, Mayfield’s second year in the pros.
“My year with Todd wasn’t the best year for the Browns in 2019; we were kind of all over the place, but Todd’s obviously an aggressive play caller, wants to spread the ball out,” he said.
“That’s just his history and background. Yeah, obviously known him for years. So we’ll see what happens, but for me, it’s going up against the defense. It’s going up against ‘Rudy’ and those guys on that side of the ball.”
Baker Mayfield #6 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers throws the ball during the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio, on Sept. 13, 2026. (Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
“With any experience, there’s ups and downs, good and bad. Ultimately you remember the good more so than the bad: first time having a playoff win since ‘94 there, and going on the road and doing it in Pittsburgh. So, it’s a lot of good memories there. A lot of teammates that are friends for life. But it’s a very different building now,” he said.
After four years in Cleveland, Mayfield was traded to the Carolina Panthers in 2022. He played the Browns in Week 1 of that season, and they lost 26-24. He was traded to the Los Angeles Rams midway through the season, but revived his career there and signed with the Bucs in 2023.
A reporter asked Mayfield what he took away from that time in his life, five years removed from the trade.
“A lot of things. I think probably the biggest one, trying to be the same person each and every day for the guys in the locker room, the people you work with, the staff that you’re around each day. That some things are out of your control,” he said.
“If you’re trying to get it fixed, then you’re not worried about the football aspect of your job; you’re probably letting some things slide and fall by the wayside. So, I think controlling who I am each and every day, trying to lead the best way possible, and control the offense and ultimately win.”
