Baker Mayfield received short, foul-mouthed text message from Bucs GM after getting paid

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield found out about his new contract this offseason in an unconvential way.

While out to dinner with his wife, teammate Tristan Wirfs, and Wirfs's girlfriend, Mayfield received a text from GM Jason Licht: "Hey listen, you're a mother------. Congratulations.” Mayfield always wanted to remain in Tampa but grew worried as the offseason went on. While he was out to dinner, Licht was negotiating with his agent to end the drama once and for all.

“I was like, are you serious?” Mayfield told The Athletic. “So I hung up the phone and was able to celebrate with those three. The relief, I was like, ‘Yes, this is what I wanted, and it wound up happening.’ It was so surreal.”

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Mayfield signed a three-year, $100 million contract to build off a successful 2023 campaign with the Buccaneers . The contract included a seismic $28,875,000 signing bonus with an impressive $50 million guaranteed.

Mayfield had career bests of 4044 passing yards and 28 touchdowns during a 2023 season where Tampa Bay returned to the NFL playoffs.

Against the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Wild Card round, Mayfield torched the reigning NFC Champions for 337 yards and three touchdowns in a blowout 32-9. Against the Detroit Lion in the next round, the Bucs QB threw for 342 yards and three more scores as Tampa nearly pulled off an improbable upset over one of the league's best teams.

Mayfield was one of a few players who Buccaneers GM Jason Licht either extended or resigned this offseason, including: tackle Tristan Wirfs for five years, $140.63 million, receiver Mike Evans for two years, $41 million, and defensive back Antoine Winfield for four-year, $84.1 million.

Evans, the first player Licht drafted back in after being named general manager in 2014, has recorded an NFL-record 10 straight 1000+ yard receiving seasons to start his career.

Mayfield is expected to take on more responsibilities with new Bucs offensive coordinator Liam Coen this season. The pair previously worked together during a brief stint with the Los Angeles Rams in 2022.

“Baker has the keys to the bus,” head coach Todd Bowles said at a recent press conference. “He’s driving it. He’s comfortable, we’re comfortable with him. We’re both in a great place right now."

“Baker is going to be the same every day. He works his tail off to be the best he can be. The guys believe in him and would run through a brick wall for him. I don’t see any change.”

“I’ve always been one to wear my emotions on my sleeve and speak my mind, and sometimes that’s rare," Mayfield told the Athletic . But if you ask any of my teammates that I’ve played with inside the locker room, they understand exactly who I am."