A conversation on digging deep and realizing there is always something greater than football.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield has always been open about his faith. He’s discussed countless times before on how much his faith plays a big role in his life. It’s a theme we’ve seen across the NFL from stars like Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker, Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud, and Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels. But ahead of this third Sunday of the Lenten season, Mayfield joined the good folks at Sports Spectrum Friday to discuss several aspects of his faith. Notably, how a lesson from God brought him back to reality on his identity.
When talking about his transition into the NFL from college and realizing he made it as a football player, Mayfield revealed how he was only focused on that rather than being something more.
“[God] had to take my career down to the studs and make me realize I am more than a football player. There’s much more going on than the game of football,” said Mayfield. “For me to see that, I had to hit rock bottom.”
The veteran quarterback would add how challenges in his marriage, a lack of vulnerability as a person, and his career being ‘stripped down’ made him open his eyes and ‘dive back in’ to his faith and accepting grace.
“For me to see that, I had to hit rock bottom.”
Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield on the latest Sports Spectrum podcast pic.twitter.com/QCD7EvxBy4
— Sports Spectrum (@Sports_Spectrum) March 22, 2025
Mayfield’s faith journey also reflects his personal growth as a father, a topic he discussed on the podcast, noting how becoming a “girl dad” has deepened his spiritual and emotional maturity. That maturity, though, will also spread into the locker room.
When asked if a young player comes and asks him who Jesus was to him, Tampa Bay’s signal caller would set aside his helmet and put his faith in front of everything else.
“Jesus is grace, perfection. Somebody that sacrificed everything, that gave us this opportunity to live life.”
Whether it is immediately following a game or on podcasts and TV shows, Mayfield sharing his words on faith is refreshing and a trend we are beginning to see from more and more players.
You can check out his full podcast appearance below.