Stefanski, who coached Mayfield in Cleveland in 2021 and 2022, spoke to the press after taking the Falcons’ job on January 17, following his firing by the Browns on January 6. He declined to revisit the social-media clash in which Mayfield responded to a reporter’s tweet about his former coach’s Cleveland tenure.
The backstory that fuels the ongoing chatter centers on the Browns’ 2022 Deshaun Watson trade. Stefanski orchestrated the deal, sending multiple first-round picks (the 2022, 2023, and 2024 first rounds) and additional selections in exchange for Watson, who was signed to a fully guaranteed five-year, $230 million contract. Mayfield was subsequently traded to the Panthers in July 2022.
Mayfield’s career subsequently rebounded after a difficult 2021 season in Cleveland. He went on to play for the Rams and then joined Tampa Bay on a prove-it one-year, $3 million contract for 2023, delivering Pro Bowl-caliber seasons and two consecutive NFC South titles. After 2023, Mayfield signed a three-year, $100 million extension with the Buccaneers.
The ongoing dynamic adds an extra layer of intrigue to this season’s Falcons-Buccaneers matchups, though Stefanski did not engage in specifics of the past dispute, emphasizing respect for Mayfield and a focus on the teams’ on-field competition.
