Baker Mayfield got the deal he wanted.
Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers agreed on a new contract Tuesday, five days ahead of the season opener.
A person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press it's a $165 million, three-year extension. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team didn't announce the terms.
In a release, team owner Joel Glazer said the contract extension was the "largest in the history of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers," reflecting the organization's belief in Mayfield's leadership "both on and off the field."
"His competitive spirit, resilience and commitment to winning embody everything we want in our players," Glazer said. "Baker and his wife, Emily, have made a meaningful impact in the Tampa Bay community and we are thrilled their family will continue to call Tampa Bay home for years to come.”
At a news conference on Wednesday, Mayfield and general manager Jason Licht were quick to thank the Glazer family for allowing the extension to get done.
Mayfield called the contract "life-changing."
"Obviously, this is the biggest deal in franchise history, and that doesn't go unnoticed," he said.
Mayfield, in the last year of a three-year, $100 million deal, had set a deadline for getting a new contract by the start of training camp, and said he felt “disrespected” when he didn’t get it. At that point, he thought the negotiations were off until after this season.
"I told my agent that I was done talking about it unless something really changed," Mayfield said.
On Monday, he learned talks resumed last week, and he wasn't aware a deal was complete until about 6 p.m. A day later, the extension was completed.
"I got the official call to agree to terms while I was at the movie theater watching the new "Cars (20th Anniversary)" movie with all the kids and some teammates," Mayfield said at a news conference Wednesday. "I had to step away from Lightning McQueen for a second to get the deal done."
Mayfield revived his career in Tampa Bay after replacing Tom Brady in 2023. He was entering the final season of his three-year, $100 million deal with the Bucs.
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"I think we both knew deep down that we'd eventually get something done," Licht said.
Mayfield, who was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft by Cleveland, made the Pro Bowl in each of his first two seasons in Tampa while leading the Bucs to consecutive NFC South titles. He was an MVP candidate through the first half of last season when the team started 6-2, but struggled with injuries and tailed off.
"It's not just about how he plays, but who he is as a person. He and his wife Emily do outstanding work in the community," Licht said. "The players feed off his energy, toughness, style of play, and leadership. The entire building does too, along with the city and the fan base. It's an awesome thing. It was a no-brainer to want him locked up for as long as we can.
"One of the things I love most about Baker is that you never have to wonder how he feels. We got another example of that last month. But that passion is what makes him who he is as a player, and we're excited that he'll be here for the foreseeable future."
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Mayfield, who injured his left shoulder in a late November game against the Los Angeles Rams, started all 17 games last year for the third season in a row and passed for 3,693 yards and 26 touchdowns, with 11 interceptions. It was his first season in Tampa Bay with less than 4,000 yards and his lowest TD total.
"There was a time when I used a lot of negative things as motivation, but now I've found the fire within. I still have so much to prove," Mayfield said. "This isn't me saying, 'I've made it.' "
The quarterback said the contract won't change the way he plays. No.
"The guys joke about it, and it's all in good fun, but I'm going to lead regardless of what my contract says or what people on the outside think," he said. "I'm going to lead the best way I can, be myself, play with passion, and try to be the best quarterback on the field."
The Bucs, who open the season on the road against Cincinnati, will try to bounce back from an 8-9 record that caused them to miss the playoffs. The Bucs are the consensus betting favorites to win the NFC South for the fifth time in six seasons.
"For me, it's less about enjoying the moment and more about recognizing the opportunity I have to continue leading this building," Mayfield said. "That means working harder and pushing this team harder.
"I've never had a moment where I thought, 'OK, I've made it.' If I felt that way, I should probably retire. There's still a lot of hunger and drive in me, and I want to keep it that way."
WUSF's Rick Mayer contributed to this report.
