Baker Mayfield has found his perfect home with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but prior to that move, he was on the NFL scrap heap.
After failed moves with the Cleveland Browns and Carolina Panthers, Baker had a one-way ticket out of the league as a starter until Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay threw him a lifeline in 2022.
Baker would come in and play four games after being moved on by the Panthers midseason, and would win just one of those games, but it was a stirring 17-16 come-from-behind win over the Las Vegas Raiders as Baker had barely gotten off the plane and was thrust into the mixer.
Now, as a two-time Pro Bowler, Mayfield and his Bucs are going back to SoFi Stadium, and Baker left in no doubt what his time with McVay and Co. Meant to him.
“There's no way for me to sugarcoat it, it was pivotal in my career, in my journey," Mayfield said. "It helped me find the fun in football again, that joy. Just getting to learn from those guys. Obviously, it looks a lot different now that Raheem Morris is gone, Zac Robinson, Liam [Coen], but Sean's [McVay’s] been there the whole time.
"It was instrumental in my career, something I'm forever grateful for, and it'll be fun to go back and see some familiar faces."
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Buccaneers facing crucial Week 12 clash
Having lost three of their last four games, the Buccaneers have seen their lead in the NFC South evaporate, and their once high standing in the NFC gone.
Now comes a chance to re-establish themselves at the pointy end of the NFC conversation, and right now, there is no bigger test in football than the Rams at SoFi.
Firing on all cylinders on both sides of the ball, Mayfield's return to L.A. Is going to be a tough one, and if he can lead his team to what would be an unlikely win, then Tampa Bay might be back in the minds of NFL fans.
That is a tall order, but Tampa Bay has the weapons.
It will be an emotional return for Mayfield, but once he steps on the field, it'll be business as usual.
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