Baker Mayfield recently criticized his former coach Kevin Stefanski over their past in Cleveland. This stems from a fresh NFC South rivalry spark after Stefanski's move to the Atlanta Falcons.

The Initial Social Media Jab

Mayfield, now thriving as Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB, fired off on X (formerly Twitter) around January 20, 2026. He replied to an Atlanta writer calling him a "failed" QB under Stefanski in Cleveland, posting: "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."

This references Mayfield's 2022 trade from the Browns after two seasons (2020-2021) under Stefanski, when Cleveland chased Deshaun Watson in a deal that later backfired massively. Mayfield has since revived his career in Tampa, leading the Bucs to stability post-Tom Brady.

Stefanski's Diplomatic Reply

At his January 27, 2026, introductory presser as Falcons head coach, Stefanski took the high road. "Baker's somebody that I have a ton of respect for as a player and a person. I love rivalries in sports and obviously we’ll see them twice a year." He sidestepped specifics, focusing on positivity amid the NFC South matchups ahead.

  • Key context: Stefanski was just hired by Atlanta two weeks prior, replacing amid QB talks like Michael Penix Jr.
  • Browns fans saw it as classic Stefanski—classy but evasive, per forum chatter.
  • Rivalry hype: Falcons-Bucs games now carry extra edge.

Timeline of the Dust-Up

  1. Jan 17, 2026 : Stefanski hired by Falcons; writer critiques his Cleveland QB history.
  1. Jan 20 : Mayfield blasts on X, no contact post-trade gripe surfaces.
  1. Jan 26-27 : Stefanski's presser response goes viral, emphasizing respect.

Broader Buzz and Multi-Viewpoints

Media lit up—ESPN called it Stefanski "taking the high road," while Bucs outlets framed it as rivalry fuel. Browns fans on Reddit and forums vented: some back Mayfield's rawness, others say he overlooks Stefanski's playoff wins with him (like Cleveland's first in 25 years).

Analysts note Mayfield's edge suits his gunslinger persona, but Stefanski's calm fits his 2020 Coach of the Year vibe. Older clips (e.g., 2022 YouTube) show past tensions, but this feels tied to the trade sting and new divisional stakes. Speculation? Expect fireworks in 2026 Bucs-Falcons tilts.

TL;DR : Mayfield vented about no post-trade outreach from Stefanski ("shipped like garbage"); Stefanski praised him and hyped rivalries—classic pro football shade with respect layered in.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.