The NFL officially released the 2026 regular-season schedule Thursday night, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will give quarterback Baker Mayfield several opportunities to face his former teams.
The most notable matchup arrives early in the season. The Cleveland Browns will travel to Raymond James Stadium in Week 2 for Tampa Bay’s home opener, setting up another meeting between Mayfield and the franchise which selected him first overall in the 2018 NFL Draft.
Mayfield’s Roller-Coaster Browns Career
Mayfield experienced an up-and-down start during his time in Cleveland. However, he helped lead the Browns to major success during his third NFL season.
Cleveland finished 11-5 that year and reached the playoffs for the first time in nearly two decades. The Browns also earned their first postseason victory since the original franchise relocated to Baltimore.
That same season, first-year head coach Kevin Stefanski earned NFL Coach of the Year honors.
Shoulder Injury Changed Baker Mayfield’s Future In Cleveland
A shoulder injury impacted Mayfield’s performance the following season and complicated contract extension discussions with the Browns.
Although Cleveland exercised the fifth-year option on Mayfield’s rookie contract for 2022, the organization later traded six draft picks to the Houston Texans for Deshaun Watson. The deal included three first-round selections, and Watson received the largest fully guaranteed contract in NFL history.
Following that move, Mayfield requested a trade and was eventually dealt to the Carolina Panthers for a conditional late-round draft pick.
Mayfield’s Stops In Carolina And Los Angeles
Mayfield opened his Carolina tenure by beating out Sam Darnold for the Panthers’ starting quarterback job.
However, after suffering an ankle injury in Week 5, Mayfield fell behind P.J. Walker on the depth chart. He later requested his release, which Carolina granted.
The Los Angeles Rams quickly added Mayfield, and he immediately delivered one of the most memorable moments of his career. Despite being with the team for less than 48 hours, Mayfield led the Rams to a dramatic primetime comeback victory against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Revived Baker Mayfield’s Career
The following offseason, Mayfield signed a one-year contract with the Buccaneers after Tom Brady’s retirement.
Mayfield defeated Kyle Trask in the competition for Tampa Bay’s starting quarterback role and has not missed a start since taking over the job.
The Buccaneers will also face every other franchise Mayfield previously played for during the 2026 season. While the Rams matchup in Week 17 carries a different tone, Mayfield will still welcome the challenge of facing reigning MVP Matthew Stafford.
Contract-Year Motivation For Mayfield
Mayfield has built much of his NFL career around proving critics wrong, and the 2026 season presents another major opportunity.
Entering a contract year, Mayfield now has the chance to strengthen his case for a long-term extension with Tampa Bay. Victories against his former teams would only add more significance to an already important season for the Buccaneers quarterback.
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