Tom Brady took a break from his Fox commentary duties on Sunday to address Baker Mayfield's recent remarks about the Super Bowl champion's tenure with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Mayfield, who signed a contract extension with the Bucs in March, is set to be Brady's long-term successor in Tampa. Earlier this month, Mayfield discussed how his personality differed from Brady's.
"The atmosphere in the building was noticeably different with Tom around," Mayfield said. "Clearly, Tom's approach to the game was unique. He kept everyone focused and the environment was intense, which I think made everyone quite anxious. ... They wanted me to bring my own style, to reintroduce the fun element to football for those who weren't enjoying it as much."
Brady, who guided Tampa to a Super Bowl win in the 2020 season, is now an analyst for Fox. He responded to Mayfield's comments during the Bucs' victory over the Eagles on Sunday. "I didn't find it stressful; I found it challenging," Brady said. "My mindset every day was that of a champion. This isn't a playground. If I wanted to have fun, I'd take my kids to Disneyland.
There's a specific way to approach this game, and it involves pushing each other beyond our limits. Great teammates understand this. When I had players like Rob Gronkowski and Mike Evans, there were high expectations. We had to ensure we delivered."
Following Sunday's game, Mayfield, who has yet to win a Super Bowl, clarified that his comments had been misconstrued. "A lot of what I said was taken out of context, and it wasn't personal at all," Mayfield explained. "Tom's demands and the atmosphere he created were instrumental in bringing a championship to Tampa.
Nothing personal, but yes, talking before the game, he's clearly supportive of me. He knows the team well, so he understands how much I enjoy playing with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin because he had the same experience. It's enjoyable to share that kind of experience with someone like him."
Mayfield also recognized the effectiveness of Brady's methods. "Some things were taken out of context," Mayfield said. "He achieved success his way, which is why he has seven Super Bowl rings. There's not much more to say."
Brady was warmly received by the Tampa fans when his image appeared on the jumbotron on Sunday. "I think he brought us some luck today," Evans said. "The last time we faced the Eagles with him, it was a playoff game we won. So, it brought back positive memories for everyone."