A Reluctant Alliance: Baker Mayfield’s Unlikely Support for the Saints

In a twist of fate that no one could have predicted, Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield found himself in an unusual position after leading his team to a 16-14 victory over the Carolina Panthers in Week 18. The win kept the Buccaneers’ hopes of securing the NFC South title alive, but it also placed Mayfield in a situation he never imagined: rooting for the New Orleans Saints, a team he has openly despised.

The Buccaneers entered the game against the Panthers needing a win to keep their playoff aspirations alive. They succeeded, setting up a bizarre scenario where the Falcons and Saints will face off in a game that holds little significance for either team, yet is crucial for the Buccaneers and Panthers. This means Mayfield, who has made his dislike for the Saints well-known, now has to support the very team he hates.

After the game, Mayfield told ESPN’s Peter Schrager that he would be rooting for the Saints on Sunday. However, he admitted that it wouldn’t be easy.

“Yeah,” Mayfield said when asked if it would be agonizing to root for the Saints. “A tie still gets us in. So, they can still tie.”

While Mayfield was being somewhat humorous, the reality is that a tie between the Saints and Falcons would still secure the Buccaneers’ division title. Given his strong feelings toward the Saints, it’s understandable why some might question whether Mayfield would take a neutral stance in the game.

A History of Dislike

Mayfield’s disdain for the Saints isn’t new. It began to surface after a December 2023 game in which he suffered a late hit from then-Saints safety Tyrann Mathieu. The incident left Mayfield in considerable pain and drew the ire of his teammates. Since then, tensions have only grown.

During an appearance on the Pardon My Take podcast in July 2025, Mayfield was asked about a 2024 game where he threw the ball late to help preserve Mike Evans’s 1,000-yard receiving streak. His response was clear and direct.

“I hate the Saints,” Mayfield said. “Absolutely not.”

The animosity between the two teams didn’t subside in a January 2025 contest, when a big hit on Mayfield sparked a mini-brawl. Later, in the lead-up to a Week 8 game against the Saints this season, Mayfield further expressed his feelings.

“It has not exactly been clean play from their part when we play them,” Mayfield said at the time. “It is a physical game; it is what it is. You expect it [from a] division rival. … Yeah, not much else to say besides for the fact that I do not like them.”

Now, Mayfield finds himself in a position where he needs the Saints to win for his own team to succeed. This development has been met with delight by the Saints, who are clearly enjoying the irony of the situation.

The Bigger Picture

The outcome of the Saints-Falcons game will ultimately determine whether the Buccaneers or the Panthers win the NFC South. With the stakes so high, Mayfield’s reluctant support for the Saints highlights the strange and unpredictable nature of the NFL season.

As the final games of the regular season unfold, fans and players alike are watching closely to see how these last-minute developments will shape the playoff picture. For Mayfield, the challenge is not just about supporting a team he dislikes, but about making the right call for his own team’s future.