Not all superheroes wear capes; some suit up with shoulder pads and cleats. Just ask Tampa Bay, and they’ll tell you who’s out there fighting their battles every Sunday—Baker Mayfield. Even the GOAT, Tom Brady, and legend Michael Strahan have been singing his praises. And that’s saying something, right?

Let’s set the scene! Tampa kicked off with a strong 4-2 start before that dreaded four-game skid. Now, look at their lineup. No Mike Evans, no Chris Godwin, no Jaylen McMillan, no Tristin Wirfs—it’s like they’re running a $246 million “who’s out” list. Yet somehow, Mayfield keeps them in the hunt every week. Michael Strahan put it simply: “Baker Mayfield did everything in his power to try and win this game!”

And Brady? Oh, he was practically floored. After watching Mayfield pull off a pass on fourth down with Nick Bosa all over him, Brady called it “the greatest play” he’s ever seen from a quarterback. Burkhardt couldn’t believe it either. The two were in awe as Rachaad White made the catch, with Brady saying, “That’s one of the best plays I’ve ever seen a QB make.” High praise from a guy who’s seen it all.

Meanwhile, do you remember the whole “Baker vs. Brady” drama? Mayfield said, “I think everybody was stressed out [during Brady-time],” to which Brady fired back, “This wasn’t daycare.” But hey, that’s ancient history now—water under the bridge.

As for Strahan, he didn’t just toss out compliments for show. Despite all the heat he’s been taking, he’s standing by his words: Mayfield is a fighter, plain and simple. But here’s the thing, the Bucs QB’s good performances are only limited to saving Tampa, it cannot help Strahan.

Baker Mayfield’s good day at field cannot save Michael Strahan from backlash

The 49ers walked off with a 23-20 W over the Bucs. Even if you did not watch it, you can guess that it was an FG sealing the deal for San Francisco. But Baker Mayfield still got everyone—literally and figuratively—talking. His stat line for the night? A modest 116 yards, 1 touchdown, a 62.1% completion rate, and an 82.0 passer rating. And these numbers were enough to impress Michael Strahan. But, uh-oh, Strahan…. wish he’d kept a lower profile. He’s now in the hot seat with fans for reasons far beyond the game.

So, what’s the deal? During Fox’s special Veterans Day broadcast from Naval Base San Diego, Strahan was spotted during the national anthem standing with his hands interlocked (clasped in front), rather than over his heart. And yeah, it was enough for the keyboard warriors to get all riled up. So much so that they wished Veterans Day to all but specifically did not wish it to Strahan. One post read: “HAPPY VETERANS DAY TO EVERYONE EXCEPT MICHAEL STRAHAN!!” The kind of reaction that has been circulating since Sunday’s broadcast.

For some context, Strahan has deep ties to the military; he grew up in a military family, with his dad serving 23 years in the U.S. Army. Strahan’s even called himself a “military brat,” a label he wears with pride. And it’s not like he was ignoring protocol—he stood respectfully, just with a different hand placement. So, knowing that many fans have also come out in his defense, saying, “He has more respect for this country than you ever will,” to the haters. Well, it was a breath of fresh air. To see that not everyone was ready to drag him over this.

But we know social media can be unforgiving. In the heat of Veterans Day and emotions running high, Michael Strahan’s small stance at choice became a major talking point. Well, you can tell that the fans’ reactions did not get to him with the way he went on with broadcasting.