Cameras caught Baker Mayfield’s reaction in the tunnel after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers ended at the hands of the Washington Commanders, and it’s certainly hard not to feel for the 29-year-old.
Baker Mayfield’s career year ended in gut-wrenching fashion, with Commanders kicker Zane Gonzalez booting the game-winning 37-yard field goal off the right goal post and in send his team to Detroit:
A DOINK TO THE DIVISIONAL ROUND!!!! @COMMANDERS WIN! pic.twitter.com/TRwyX11zcZ
— NFL (@NFL) January 13, 2025
While the Commanders are celebrating their first playoff win since 2005 (fittingly, a Wild Card Round road win in Tampa Bay), Mayfield and the Bucs head into the offseason wondering what could have been.
After the game, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times shared a video of a crushed Baker Mayfield making his way to the locker room:
A dejected Baker Mayfield leaves the field for the final time in 2024. pic.twitter.com/vTzxwEtafv
— Rick Stroud (@NFLSTROUD) January 13, 2025
Mayfield made a costly mistake in the fourth quarter, botching a handoff that led to a Commanders’ fumble recover at the Tampa 13-yard line. Jayden Daniels found Terry McLaurin for the go-ahead touchdown four plays later, and the Commanders never trailed again.
Baker Mayfield Proves 2023 Wasn’t A Fluke
Mayfield signed a three-year contract extension in the offseason worth $100 million after leading Tampa to a third straight NFC South crown in 2023. Proving it was no fluke, the 2018 first overall pick had a career year with a 71.4 completion percentage for 4,500 yards, 41 touchdowns and 16 picks.
