The Heisman winner reflects on his emotional Oklahoma homecoming while signaling a desire for a long-term Tampa Bay extension that mirrors the winning culture of his collegiate days
NORMAN, Okla. - Baker Mayfield is back where it all started.
The Oklahoma legend and current Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback returned to Norman this week to host his football camp, and the moment clearly hit him hard.
Mayfield opened up about how special it feels to be giving back in the same place that launched his career.
“It’s really surreal,” Mayfield said. “If you had told me when I was younger that I’d have my own camp here, I wouldn’t have believed it.”
That quote says everything about the journey. From walking on at Texas Tech, to lighting up the Big 12 at Oklahoma, to becoming the No. 1 overall pick and now a established starter in the NFL, Baker has come full circle.
Seeing him back on campus running a camp for young Sooner fans is pretty cool.
While in Norman, Mayfield also addressed his future with the Buccaneers. He made it clear that he wants to stay in Tampa long-term and that both sides are motivated to get a deal done.
“I would love to be there,” Mayfield said. “I think both sides want to get it done, and it’s a matter of finding that middle ground and what makes both sides happy. Like I fell in love with Norman, our family, we fell in love with Tampa. It’s a great place to raise kids and be around, so regardless of what happens, I think we’ll spend our offseasons there. Obviously, it’s a little brutally hot, but it’s good for training.”
“But I want to be there long term. They’ve treated me right, and it’s the first place I’ve gotten to that feels like Oklahoma when it comes down to football is football, how can they put you in the best position to have success on the field and how can they give you the resources to help you out. So, it’s a great place.”
That’s high praise from Baker. Comparing the culture in Tampa to what he experienced at Oklahoma says a lot. He clearly feels wanted and valued there.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Mayfield is looking for a new contract that pays him at least $50 million per year before training camp begins in five weeks. The two sides are reportedly “nowhere close” right now, but the Buccaneers remain confident they can reach an agreement in time.
This situation feels very Baker. He’s coming off another strong season and wants to get paid like one of the top quarterbacks in the league. At the same time, he’s expressed genuine loyalty to the organization that took a chance on him after his rocky stints in Cleveland and with the Panthers.
It sounds like he truly wants to stay in Tampa and build something long-term.
For Sooner fans, it’s always awesome seeing Baker back in Norman. He remains one of the most beloved players in program history, a guy who brought swagger, competitiveness, and winning football back to Oklahoma during his time in the Sooner State.
Whether he’s signing autographs at camp or talking about his future, he continues to represent OU the right way.
At 31 years old, Mayfield is in the prime of his career and coming off another solid season with the Bucs. Getting that big-money extension would be a well-deserved reward for a player who has had to prove himself at every stop.
It’ll be interesting to watch how the contract situation plays out over the next few weeks.
But one thing is clear, Baker still has deep love for Norman and Oklahoma, and Norman will always have love for him.
