Lewis and Grizzard understand that the "Superman" plays are a byproduct of Mayfield's hyper-competitiveness, which is overall a very positive part of his profile as a player. Lewis said that Mayfield still plays with a chip on his shoulder, even after reviving his career in Tampa with his two best NFL seasons yet.
"He's always out to prove himself, but he's his own worst enemy," said Lewis. "We've just to get him out of harm's way. I like his competitive nature, but I don't like it to the extent where he keeps getting hit and he won't be available. He's getting older, he turned 30, so I joke with him now, 'Welcome to the 30 Club. You're older now, so that's hits you took in your 20s might affect you a little differently in your 30s. Just to get him to start being smart, take less hits, throw it away, maybe get down. Be competitive in situations called 'gotta have it' situations – first down, touchdown, end of the game, things like that. But I love him to death. I wouldn't trade him for nothing or his competitive nature."
The Buccaneers believe that Mayfield can have an even better season in 2025 because, for the first time in years, he isn't absorbing a new offensive system. Tampa Bay did lose its one-season offensive coordinator, Liam Coen, to the head job in Jacksonville, but by promoting Josh Grizzard from within and maintaining most of the coaching staff, they have put Mayfield and the rest of the offense in a position to operate with valuable continuity. Statistically, it won't be easy for Mayfield to improve on his numbers from last season too much; in addition to setting team records in passer rating (106.8) and completion percentage (71.4%), he set a career-high with 41 touchdown passes and was top-four in the league in those three categories plus passing yards (4,500) and completions (407). Grizzard, Mayfield and company are more focused on team success in 2025 after being eliminated from the playoffs in the first round this past January.
They will have a much better chance to achieve those goals if Mayfield is available for 17-plus games. Lewis said he and Mayfield have some variation of that conversation quite frequently.
"All the time, even in practice," said Lewis. "I might say, 'Hey man, you've got to get down there.' 'You don't think I can run him over?' 'I know you can run him over but I'd rather you'd get down and I have you for the next play.' But that's just him joking and his competitive spirit. But that's the next step for him moving forward, because the older you get your mobility and ability goes away sometimes. So you have to be smart. Just start getting him to play heady and understand situations and getting out of harm's way. That would help us a lot because that would also limit turnovers because he's thinking in that manner. You don't have to be a Superman."
In Mayfield's very first start for the Buccaneers, in Week One of the 2023 season in Minnesota, the Bucs had the ball in their own territory in the fourth quarter of a 17-17 tie. On a first-and-10, Mayfield took a shotgun snap and put the ball into White's breadbox on a zone-read play before reading the defensive end crashing down and pulling the ball back out. Mayfield took off to his right but cornerback Byron Murphy closed in quickly and had a chance to pull the quarterback down just behind the line of scrimmage. However, Mayfield powered through Murphy with a vicious stiff-arm and picked up five yards. The play, and Mayfield's exuberant command to Murphy to, 'Get your weight up,' delighted and energized his teammates. The Bucs would go on to score the game-winning field goal on that same drive.
Mayfield's coaches and teammates clearly love him for moments such as that. His coaches, however, want to convince him to pick his moments wisely. It's still a work in progress.