Baker Mayfield stated that his motivation for defeating the New York Jets last season was intensely personal, stemming from his past interactions with then-Jets defensive coordinator Steve Wilks. These details were revealed in the latest season of the Netflix docuseries "Quarterback."
"This is personal for me. Wilks cut me. F--k him," Mayfield said in a huddle before the Week 3 contest.
Mayfield explained in the series that Wilks, who was his interim head coach in Carolina, played a significant role in his departure from the team in 2022. "I could tell that I was not his favorite, which is fine, but the only thing you can really ask for in this business is to be upfront and honest," Mayfield said. He recalled a conversation where he was asked to request his release, rather than being directly told he would be cut. "He's ultimately the one that made that decision, that I wasn’t gonna be active."
Mayfield led the Buccaneers to a 29-27 victory over the Jets in that game. Following the win, Mayfield alluded to the animosity, mentioning Wilks as the defensive coordinator who had cut him in Carolina.
Wilks, in response to Mayfield's comments at the time, downplayed his role in personnel decisions. "I don’t really think an interim head coach has much authority over personnel," Wilks told reporters. "If that’s the case, I wouldn’t have gotten rid of our best player, Christian McCaffrey."
After his release from Carolina, Mayfield played for the Los Angeles Rams for the remainder of the 2022 season. He has since revitalized his career with the Buccaneers, leading them to two playoff appearances and garnering MVP consideration after a 5-1 start to the previous season.