Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs was selected by the Buccaneers in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft. He spent his first three seasons playing alongside legendary quarterback Tom Brady, followed by a stint with Baker Mayfield, helping the team secure two division titles.
In a recent conversation with Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team, Tristan Wirfs shared insight into the Buccaneers’ quarterback transition from the legendary Tom Brady to their current starter.
“I thought it went pretty smooth,” Wirfs stated via JoeBucsFan website. “I mean, Baker came in and kind of just won everyone over, just with being who he is, you know? His personality is incredible. And he’s a baller. He’s a dawg.”
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Brady led the Buccaneers to a Super Bowl championship in his inaugural season, but his seventh title defense in 2022 was overshadowed by his highly publicized divorce from Gisele Bundchen. In contrast, Mayfield joined the Buccaneers in March 2023 on a one-year deal, seeking to revive his career. Mayfield quickly formed a close bond with Tristan Wirfs, providing a fresh dynamic for the team.
“It was really cool for me, you know. I mean, basically [Mayfield is] a little bit older than me, but, like, somebody — Tom was 22 years older than me — so like having somebody my age and that I could hang out with, go to dinner with, just all that stuff. So I think that really, really helped us click off the bat,” Wirfs on his relationship with Mayfield. “But I thought it was a really smooth transition.”
Mayfield’s resurgence with the Buccaneers was a significant factor in the team’s success. In 2024, he delivered one of the best seasons of his career, ranking third in the NFL with 4,500 passing yards, second with 41 touchdown passes, and fourth with a 106.8 passer rating (per Pro Football Reference). Following the Week 11 bye, Mayfield led the Buccaneers to six wins in seven games, securing the franchise’s fifth consecutive playoff berth.
Buccaneers running back Rachaad White recently sparked attention by declaring Mayfield the best quarterback he’s played with, surpassing even Tom Brady. While Tristan Wirfs didn’t go that far, he expressed his admiration for Mayfield. “Bake’s my quarterback, ride or die,” Wirfs said. “It’s awesome, and I love him to death.”
The BR Rub
Obviously Mayfield isn’t as an accomplished quarterback as Brady. But we do think he’s a better fit for this team as it currently stands. Tom Brady is the greatest of all time at his position. Mayfield is just now finding his comfort zone after a tumultuous start to his career. Will Mayfield lead the Pewter Pirates to a Super Bowl championship? That remains to be seen, but he’s definitely the leader of this team. And for now, that’s exactly what the Bucs need.
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