Ex-MVP Quarterback Says Baker Mayfield Is An Elite Closer
September 10th, 2025
Fourth-quarter comeback No. 4 of Baker Mayfield’s tenure in Tampa caught the eye of a former league MVP.
Retired quarterback Rich Gannon, the 2002 MVP, has seen enough of the revitalized version of Baker Mayfield in Tampa.
Speaking on SiriusXM NFL Radio this week, Gannon launched into a moving explanation of Mayfield’s greatness. And Gannon is no Jon Gruden, who slobbers over every player because he loves every one of them and rarely will critique because he wants to get back into coaching.
Gannon calls it straight when it comes to quarterback play. He says Mayfield is among future Hall of Fame quarterbacks when it comes to crunch time.
“On a day where Bucky Irving was held to 37 rushing yards on 14 carries, this [Bucs] team has a belief system, and there’s a handful of quarterbacks in the leaguethat get your attention late in the game,” Gannon said.
“Like if you’re the Bucs, you always think that with Baker Mayfield with the ball in his hands at the end of the game, ‘we got a chance.’ And I think what’s special about players like Mayfield and Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes and those type of players — and I think Mayfield’s in that group when you talk about his performance late in games — Baker Mayfield has belief system in himself, a belief in himself that is is way up on the charts.
“Now you could say it’s a borderline, you know, overly confident, arrogant or whatever,I think he’s a different player than he was when he was in Cleveland. I think he’s matured. I think he’s a more humble player. But he’s never lost the inner belief that he can get it done with a little bit of time left on the clock. And I think it’s the teammates know that. The coaches know that. But what’s special about him is the opponents know that. Like you know with this guy with the ball in his hands, like something bad could happen if we don’t find a way to get him on the ground. And I still think he’s one of the hardest quarterbacks to sack. Not the biggest guy, but he is slippery in the pocket.”
Powerful stuff from Gannon.
Yes, the Bucs have a true franchise quarterback.
READ NEXT
Baker Mayfied Says He Doesn't Like Playing In Night Games