NFL · Biography
Baker Mayfield
Quarterback · Tampa Bay Buccaneers · active · OU 2014-2017
The walk-on who won the Heisman and became Tampa Bay's franchise QB
Baker Mayfield grew up in Austin, Texas, and led Lake Travis High School to the 2011 Class 4A state championship, going 25–2 as a starter. Despite that success, his only scholarship offers came from schools like Washington State, Rice, New Mexico and Florida Atlantic. He chose to walk on at Texas Tech in 2013 and became the first walk-on true freshman quarterback to start an FBS season opener.
He then transferred to Oklahoma, the team he grew up cheering for, enrolling in January 2014, again as a walk-on. From 2015 to 2017 he became one of the greatest quarterbacks in school history. In 2017 he won the Heisman Trophy, the first winner since the introduction of athletic scholarships in the 1950s to begin his college career as a walk-on.
The Cleveland Browns made him the No. 1 overall pick in 2018, and he set a then-NFL rookie record with 27 touchdown passes. After stops with Carolina and the Los Angeles Rams, he found a home in Tampa Bay in 2023, leading the Bucs to NFC South titles and earning two Pro Bowl nods. On September 8, 2026, he signed a three-year, $165 million extension.
As of October 8, 2026, Mayfield is the Buccaneers' active starting quarterback.