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Atlanta Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski broke his silence on recent criticism from his former quarterback Baker Mayfield during his introductory press conference on Tuesday (January 27).
"Baker's somebody that I have a ton of respect for as a player and a person," Stefanski said of the now-Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback, who will play the Falcons at least twice annually, via ESPN. "I love rivalries in sports and obviously Buccaneers-Falcons have a great rivalry. It's something that I'm excited about, but I would not get into the specifics of those type of things other than to say I have a ton of respect for Baker as a player, as a person. That's a great team with a great player."
Mayfield previously said he was "still waiting on a text/call" from Stefanski after the Browns had traded him off "like a piece of garbage" in 2022 while responding to an X post shared by Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporter D. Orlando Ledbetter, who claimed the quarterback "failed" during his stint in Cleveland.
"Failed is quite the reach pal. Still waiting on a text/call from him after I got shipped off like a piece of garbage. Can’t wait to see you twice a year, Coach," Mayfield wrote, referring to Stefanski joining the NFC South Division rival Atlanta Falcons, ensuring that the two would face each other at least twice a year.
Mayfield, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, helped the Browns end an 18-year playoff drought in 2021, but ultimately went 29-30 as a starter in Cleveland, requesting a trade after the franchise acquired Deshaun Watson in a blockbuster sign-and-trade during the 2022 offseason. The former Heisman Trophy winner was acquired by the Carolina Panthers, who ultimately released him and spent five games with the Los Angeles Rams before his career renaissance with the Buccaneers, leading Tampa Bay to two NFC South Division titles in 2023 and 2024.
