Revealing an unexpected twist in her love story, the wife of Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield shared how a simple internet search nearly derailed their budding romance.
Emily Wilkinson, who has stood by the former top draft pick for seven years now as his spouse, confessed that her first Google inquiry into Mayfield before their initial date left her quite unsettled.
During Netflix’s series ‘Quarterback’, Wilkinson reflected on how their mutual friend Patrick played matchmaker back in late 2017, assuring her that Mayfield was a really easygoing guy.
Yet, Wilkinson’s online search didn’t exactly showcase his sports achievements. Instead, it unearthed a slew of personal and professional controversies surrounding him.
“I also knew nothing about Baker,” Wilkinson candidly admitted. “Patrick, who set us up, suggested just Googling him, expecting I’d come across his Heisman success and learn about his admirable character.”
Instead, Wilkinson was immediately greeted by reports of Mayfield’s February 2017 arrest in Fayetteville, Arkansas, where he faced misdemeanor charges of public intoxication, disorderly conduct, fleeing and resisting arrest.
Baker Mayfield’s wife, Emily Wilkinson, said a Google search nearly stopped them from dating
‘When I Googled him, I saw that he got arrested in Arkansas,’ Wilkinson added. ‘I saw that he did some very profane things on the sideline of the Kansas game. [And] He stuck the flag in the middle of Ohio State. The top five headlines were not favorable.’
The ‘profane’ incident occurred during Oklahoma’s November 2017 clash against Kansas, where Mayfield grabbed his crotch and shouted obscenities toward the Jayhawks sideline after players refused to shake his hand before the game began.
Months earlier, Mayfield had also sparked outrage by planting an Oklahoma Sooners flag in the middle of Ohio State’s turf following a marquee victory in Columbus.
Despite the far-from-ideal first impression, Wilkinson decided to give the quarterback a chance and the pair began dating in December 2017 – just days after Mayfield went on to win the Heisman Trophy.
The couple tied the knot in July 2019 and now share two children together: daughter Kova Jade, born in April 2024, and son Maverick Thorne, born in April 2026.
Wilkinson’s comments come amid a standoff between Mayfield and Tampa Bay.
Mayfield is currently in the final year of his contract with the Buccaneers, the team with which he experienced a career resurgence after rough stints with the Cleveland Browns, Carolina Panthers and Los Angeles Rams.
A number of controversies on and off the field – such as when he planted an Oklahoma Sooners flag in the middle of Ohio State – had initially made Wilkinson wary of dating the signal-caller
However, the couple now share two children together: daughter Kova Jade, born in April 2024, and son Maverick Thorne, born in April 2026.
While the Buccaneers are in ‘no rush’ to extend Mayfield, according to NBC Sports, the quarterback has set a deadline to get a deal put together before the start of training camp.
If the two sides are unable to reach an agreement, and the Buccaneers choose not to franchise tag Mayfield, NBC’s Mike Florio reports that the Pittsburgh Steelers ‘should be ready to make a move.’
Pittsburgh will be looking for a new quarterback in 2027 after Aaron Rodgers is set to retire from the sport.
Mayfield may not be the worst option for them, considering he was top-10 in the league in passing yards and passing touchdowns in 2025.