Why did Oklahoma NFL star Baker Mayfield sport a 'Mizzou Grandma' sweatshirt?
Baker Mayfield is putting together one of his strongest NFL seasons yet with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but it was his attire that stole the spotlight at a routine midweek media session.
TAMPA, Fla. - Baker Mayfield is putting together one of his strongest NFL seasons yet with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but it was his attire that stole the spotlight at a routine midweek media session.
Mayfield showed up sporting a sweatshirt that read "Mizzou Grandma," complete with the Missouri Tigers logo, while speaking to Tampa Bay media members on Wednesday.
It's not exactly a look you'd expect from Mayfield, given his college football stardom and Heisman Trophy rise with Mizzou's new conference rival, the Oklahoma Sooners.
As it turns out, Mayfield lost a bet with Buccaneers reporter Casey Phillips, a proud Mizzou alum who also previously worked with the Rams during their time in St. Louis.
When asked about any Mizzou connection, Mayfield began the press conference with a laugh: "I don't have one. It's Casey Phillips."
He then walked off the podium to show the sweatshirt in full, met with some laughs from media members. Then someone asked jokingly, "Did you borrow that from [Casey's] grandma?"
"It's definitely not mine," he quipped with a smirk, before pivoting the conversation in a different direction. "Let's get started."
According to posts from Phillips on X (formerly Twitter) and fellow Buccaneers report River Wells, Mayfield donned the sweatshirt after losing a bet to Phillips.
FOX 2 has reached out to Phillips and others to try to confirm more about what the bet entailed, but based on video from the start of the news conference, it appears to be one in good fun.
It's worth noting that Mayfield's college team, the Oklahoma Sooners, lost in dramatic fashion to Mizzou in Columbia last month. The Tigers rallied for 20 fourth-quarter points to defeat the Sooners, 30-23, in their only head-to-head matchup.
Mayfield is well into his seventh NFL season and second with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He is projected to finish with personal career-bests in many primary offensive categories this season, currently on pace for 35 touchdowns and more than 4,000 passing yards this season.
The Buccaneers are fighting for a playoff spot, particularly the AFC South division title, with a record of 6-6 with five games remaining in the 2024 campaign.
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