Baker Mayfield’s NFL Career: Built on Touchdowns, Torn Labrum, and Too Many Apologies

Baker Mayfield’s life has been anything but ordinary.

Born on April 15, 1995, in Austin, Texas, Mayfield grew up in the heart of Longhorn country but shocked many by becoming an Oklahoma Sooners fan.

His football career began at Lake Travis High School, where he led the Cavaliers to a 25-2 record and a state championship.

Despite his impressive stats—6,250 passing yards, 67 touchdowns, and only eight interceptions—Mayfield was rated as just a three-star recruit and received only three Division I offers.

Betting on himself, he chose to walk on at Texas Tech.

At Texas Tech, Mayfield made history as the first walk-on true freshman quarterback to start a season opener in NCAA history.

He dazzled in Cliff Kingsbury’s air raid offense, throwing for nearly 1,500 yards in just five games.

But a sprained MCL sidelined him for weeks, during which freshman Davis Webb took over and stole the spotlight.

When Mayfield returned, tensions between him and Kingsbury became apparent, culminating in Mayfield’s decision to transfer after the season.

Kingsbury denied claims that Mayfield wasn’t offered a scholarship, but the quarterback was adamant about his reasons for leaving.

In January 2014, Mayfield transferred to Oklahoma—his dream school—without notifying the coaching staff.

After sitting out the 2014 season due to NCAA transfer rules, Mayfield earned the starting job in 2015 and never looked back.

He dominated the Big 12, throwing for 3,700 yards and 36 touchdowns, earning a trip to New York as a Heisman finalist.

Though he finished fourth, it was clear Mayfield was just warming up.

The 2016 season saw Mayfield take his game to new heights under legendary head coach Bob Stoops.

One of his most memorable performances came in a shootout against Patrick Mahomes, where the two quarterbacks combined for an astonishing 1,383 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Mayfield ended the season with 3,965 passing yards and 40 touchdowns, finishing third in the Heisman race behind Lamar Jackson and Deshaun Watson.

However, his off-field antics began to overshadow his on-field brilliance.

In early 2017, Mayfield was arrested for public intoxication and fleeing police.

He apologized, but the incident hinted at deeper issues.

Despite the controversies, Mayfield thrived under new Oklahoma head coach Lincoln Riley in 2017.

He led the Sooners to a victory over Ohio State and famously planted the Oklahoma flag in the middle of Ohio Stadium—a move that drew backlash and yet another apology.

Later that season, he was stripped of his captaincy for unsportsmanlike conduct during a game against Kansas.

Still, Mayfield capped off his college career with the 2017 Heisman Trophy, throwing for 4,627 yards and 43 touchdowns.

As the 2018 NFL Draft approached, Mayfield was one of the most polarizing prospects.

Critics questioned his maturity and mechanics, but the Cleveland Browns took a gamble, selecting him first overall.

The Browns, desperate for a franchise quarterback, believed Mayfield could be their savior.

He didn’t disappoint initially.

After starting as the backup to Tyrod Taylor, Mayfield got his chance in Week 3 against the New York Jets.

Down 14-0, he led the Browns to a comeback victory, ending their 19-game winless streak.

Mayfield broke Peyton Manning and Russell Wilson’s rookie record for passing touchdowns, finishing the season with 27.

The Browns went 7-8-1, their best record since 2007, and Mayfield became a superstar overnight.

But fame came at a cost.

Heading into his second season, critics argued Mayfield was more focused on commercials than football.

He struggled mightily, throwing 21 interceptions—the second-most in the league—and leading the Browns to a disappointing 6-10 record.

The media turned on him, and Mayfield’s brash attitude didn’t help matters.

The 2020 season brought hope with new head coach Kevin Stefanski, who turned Mayfield into more of a game manager.

Leaning on a dominant running game featuring Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt, Mayfield led the Browns to an 11-5 record and their first playoff appearance since 2002.

In the Wild Card round, Mayfield delivered Cleveland’s first postseason win since 1994, defeating the rival Pittsburgh Steelers.

Though they lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in the Divisional Round, Mayfield’s future seemed bright.

Then came the 2021 season—a disaster from start to finish.

Mayfield suffered a torn labrum in Week 2 and played through the injury, re-aggravating it multiple times.

By Week 17, after a four-interception performance against the Steelers, the Browns placed him on injured reserve.

He finished with career lows in passing yards (3,010), touchdowns (17), and interceptions (13).

The Browns, once hopeful about their quarterback, decided to move on.

In a shocking move, Cleveland traded for Deshaun Watson in 2022 despite Watson’s legal controversies.

To rub salt in the wound, they signed Watson to a record-breaking $230 million fully guaranteed contract, effectively ending Mayfield’s tenure as the starter.

Mayfield, once the face of the franchise, was relegated to either being Watson’s backup or finding a new team.

His NFL career, once brimming with promise, now hangs in the balance.

Mayfield’s rise and fall is a cautionary tale of talent meeting adversity.

His fiery personality and undeniable skill made him a star, but injuries, controversies, and inconsistent play have left him fighting for his NFL future.

Whether he can resurrect his career remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: Baker Mayfield’s journey has been unforgettable.