The evolving dynamic between Tom Brady and Baker Mayfield has recently stirred up the NFL gossip mill. Brady, the legendary quarterback who led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a Super Bowl victory, and Mayfield, the current Bucs starter, have found themselves at the center of an interesting narrative.

Mayfield’s recent comments painted Brady as someone whose perfectionist style created a “high-strung” and “stressed out” atmosphere within the team. In response, Tom Brady didn’t directly engage but instead took to Instagram with what many believe was a cryptic shot aimed at Mayfield. In the now-infamous Instagram story, Brady posted the message, “Discipline reveals the commitment you have to your dreams,” ending it with a ring emoji. This was a not-so-subtle nod to his seven Super Bowl rings. The timing of the post, coming just after Mayfield’s remarks on the “Casa De Klub” podcast about the Bucs’ locker room under Brady, raised eyebrows. While Brady didn’t name anyone directly, the coincidence was enough to spark buzz among fans and analysts. The “discipline” quote could be seen as Brady subtly reminding everyone that his intense focus and demand for perfection were what brought him—and the Bucs—so much success.

Baker Mayfield had previously spoken about his experience joining the Bucs. “The building was a little bit different with Tom in there. Obviously, playing-wise, Tom is different. He had everybody dialed in, high-strung environment, so I think everybody was pretty stressed out,” The Bucs QB highlighted on the podcast that his mission was to bring back the fun and lift team morale after the veteran QB’s high-pressure environment.

Tom Brady’s relentless work ethic and obsession with perfection made him famously demanding, both on teammates and coaches. Throughout his 23-year career, he developed a reputation for holding everyone to the highest standard, a trait he honed during his time with the New England Patriots under Bill Belichick. This intensity, while leading to a mountain of success, could also be difficult for some players to handle. It’s no surprise that Mayfield, stepping into Brady’s shoes, felt the need to differentiate himself and create a more laid-back environment for his teammates.

Interestingly, not all of Brady’s former teammates share Mayfield’s view. Kyle Rudolph, who played with Brady during his final season, spoke about how the legend managed to remain positive despite the external pressures he faced, particularly with his very public divorce from Gisele Bündchen in 2022. “If anyone had the right to sometimes be an a–hole, it was Tom. He never was,” Rudolph said, emphasizing how Brady treated everyone with respect, regardless of their role on the team. Nevertheless, the present Tampa QB is making waves in the NFL.

Baker Mayfield’s performance in Tampa Bay: A new era post Brady?

Baker͏ Mayfield has undoubtedly brought ͏a different vibe to the B͏ucc͏aneers. His performance through and through has been compared to the former Bucs’ quarterback. In his seco͏nd season as the B͏ucs’ starting quarterback, Mayfield has led ͏the team to a strong start͏, sitting at 2-0 heading into Week 3 of the 2024 N͏F͏L season. Doubted before 2023, Mayfield silenced critics with a playoff win and secured a new three-year contract.

While the 29-year-old’s approach may͏ be more ͏relaxed, ͏he’s no slouch when it͏ comes ͏to results. With a 129.1 quarterback rating, second only to Derek Carr, Mayfield has tossed five touchdowns and just one interception, exuding confidence under center. Mayfield’s leadership has brought energy back to the Bucs, with offensive stars like ͏Chris Godwin ͏and Mike Evans thriving under his ͏command͏.

Comparing ͏him͏ to Brady might feel unfair given the latter’s incredible ͏career, but Mayfield has made his ͏own mark. His 33 t͏ouchdown passes since the start of the ͏2͏023 season are the third most͏ in th͏e ͏league, trailing only Dak Prescott ͏and Jordan Love. It’s clear that while ͏Mayfield might not carry͏ the same intimidating perfectionism as͏ the ex-Pats QB, he’s found a͏ way to win that suits th͏e team’s current makeup.

Moving on from that, be sure to catch our latest Think Tank exclusive interview with Doug Sanders, full of insights on the NFL season, college football, NIL, and more!