Baker Mayfield, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback, has launched a scathing attack on Atlanta Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski, accusing him of treating him “like a piece of garbage.” The outburst was made on social media, capturing the attention of football fans and analysts alike.

Mayfield and Stefanski previously collaborated during their time with the Cleveland Browns. Together, they achieved a 17-13 record over two seasons and reached the NFL playoffs’ Divisional round in 2020. However, their partnership ended on a sour note following a lackluster 2021 season, where the Browns finished 8-9 and failed to secure a playoff spot.

The subsequent offseason saw Mayfield traded to the Carolina Panthers in 2022, coinciding with Deshaun Watson’s arrival at the Browns. This move left Mayfield feeling sidelined and, apparently, without closure from Stefanski.

Responding to a post by journalist D. Orlando Ledbetter on X, Mayfield aired his grievances, stating, “Failed is quite the reach pal. Still waiting on a text/call from [Stefanski] after I got shipped off like a piece of garbage. Can’t wait to see you twice a year, Coach.”

Baker Mayfield (left) has launched an astonishing attack on ex-coach Kevin Stefanski (right)

The quarterback worked under Stefanski in Cleveland, where they spent two seasons together 

With Tampa Bay and Atlanta both in the NFC South, Mayfield and Stefanski will be set for two awkward reunions in the 2026 season.

The pair enjoyed success together in the 2020 campaign, earning Cleveland’s first playoff victory for 26 years after a Wild Card win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. 

They were ultimately beaten by the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Divisional game, before the Browns went 8-9 the following year as Mayfield battled a shoulder injury that required surgery. 

In the subsequent offseason, the franchise handed a staggering five-year, $230million contract to Watson after trading three first-round picks and several other draft assets to the Houston Texans for the three-time Pro Bowler.

With a new starter in town, Mayfield was traded to Carolina before requesting his own release in December 2022 after going 1-5. 

The former Oklahoma and Texas Tech signal caller was claimed off waivers by the Los Angeles Rams, where he enjoyed a successful five-game stint which he has claimed rejuvenated his career before heading to Tampa.

Back in 2022, The Athletic’s Jason Lloyd opened up on the feud between Mayfield and Stefanski which brought the former’s time in Cleveland to an end.

Lloyd claimed the Browns viewed Mayfield as ‘childish and immature’ and that his behavior in the locker room irked some of his teammates, while making him a difficult player to coach. 

Mayfield claims the ex-Browns coach treated him ‘like a piece of garbage’ when trading him

Following a heavy 45-7 loss to the New England Patriots, he was reportedly furious that Stefanski missed a team meeting to instead meet with defensive end Myles Garrett, who had called out the coaching staff in his postgame press conference. He reportedly never missed another meeting again and privately ripped into Mayfield during film sessions.

According to the report, Stefanski continued to lose trust in his quarterback as the season went on, including when he was sacked nine times in a Week 17 game against the Steelers. 

And after the arrival of Watson, who faced more than 20 allegations of sexual assault and misconduct at the time, Mayfield requested a trade while saying he felt ‘disrespected’ by the team.

‘I was told one thing, and they completely did another,’ he claimed. ‘That’s what I’m in the middle of right now.’

Across three years with the Bucs, Mayfield has since established himself as one of the most talented quarterbacks in the NFL, registering 12,237 passing yards for 37 touchdowns while going 27-24.

The 2025 campaign, which saw Tampa Bay go 8-9 and miss out on the playoffs, was his first losing season and failure to make the postseason with the team. 

Stefanski, meanwhile, only put up one winning season with the Browns in the four which followed after Mayfield’s exit, before he was fired on the back of a miserable 5-12 year.