Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Baker Mayfield

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: July 16, 2026

How Baker Mayfield built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.

Baker Mayfield is a professional American football quarterback known for his collegiate success at the University of Oklahoma, where he won the Heisman Trophy in 2017. Selected first overall in the 2018 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns, he quickly became a central figure in the league. Throughout his professional career, Mayfield has played for multiple franchises, including the Carolina Panthers, Los Angeles Rams, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He is recognized for his competitive intensity, strong arm, and ability to lead teams to unexpected success, most notably revitalizing his career in Tampa Bay with a Pro Bowl selection in 2023. Mayfield has established himself as a resilient starter who continues to impact the NFL landscape through his leadership and performance on the field.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1961: Fran Tarkenton's Debut Performance

In 1961, NFL player Fran Tarkenton established a unique statistical milestone by coming off the bench in his debut game to throw for over 200 yards and lead his team to victory, a feat that would not be replicated until Baker Mayfield accomplished it in 2018.

1999: Kliff Kingsbury named Big 12 Conference Offensive Player of the Week

In 1999, former Texas Tech Red Raider head coach Kliff Kingsbury set a precedent by becoming the last freshman Texas Tech quarterback to be named the Big 12 Conference Offensive Player of the Week prior to Baker Mayfield achieving the same honor.

2011: 2011 4A State Championship Victory

In 2011, Baker Mayfield led the Lake Travis High School Cavaliers football team to a victory in the 2011 4A State Championship. During his two-season tenure as the starting quarterback, he achieved a 25–2 record for the school.

2013: Named Starting Quarterback at Texas Tech

In 2013, Baker Mayfield was designated as the starting quarterback for the season opener after an injury sidelined the projected starter, Michael Brewer. This milestone marked a historic achievement, as Mayfield became the first true freshman walk-on quarterback to start an FBS season opener.

2013: Named Big 12 Conference Freshman Offensive Player of the Year

In 2013, Baker Mayfield was honored as the Big 12 Conference Freshman Offensive Player of the Year, marking a significant early achievement in his collegiate football career.

January 2014: Transfer to the University of Oklahoma

In January 2014, Baker Mayfield transferred to the University of Oklahoma from Texas Tech. He made this move despite having no prior contact with the Sooners coaching staff, citing disagreements over scholarship issues and a desire for a fair competition for the starting quarterback position.

February 2014: Mayfield Joins Oklahoma Sooners

In February 2014, Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops officially confirmed that Baker Mayfield would join the Oklahoma Sooners as a walk-on player.

July 2014: Texas Tech Grants Mayfield's Release

In July 2014, Texas Tech officials finally granted Baker Mayfield a release after previously objecting to his request for immediate eligibility at Oklahoma. This decision forced Mayfield to sit out the entire 2014 season and resulted in the loss of one year of college football eligibility per NCAA rules.

September 2014: Denial of Eligibility Appeal

In September 2014, Baker Mayfield's attempt to appeal his loss of eligibility following his transfer from Texas Tech to Oklahoma was officially denied by the Big 12 Conference faculty athletics representatives.

August 24, 2015: Named Starting Quarterback for the Sooners

On August 24, 2015, Baker Mayfield was officially designated as the starting quarterback for the Oklahoma Sooners following a successful open competition against Trevor Knight.

September 6, 2015: Debut Start Against Akron

On September 6, 2015, Mayfield made his first start of the season against Akron, leading the team to a 41-3 victory by recording 388 passing yards and three touchdowns on 23 completions.

2015: Baker Mayfield's 2015 Collegiate Performance and Orange Bowl Appearance

During the 2015 season, Baker Mayfield achieved significant individual success by recording 3,700 passing yards and 36 touchdowns, leading to a fourth-place finish in Heisman Trophy voting. Additionally, in 2015, he guided the Oklahoma Sooners to the Orange Bowl as part of the College Football Playoff, though the team was ultimately defeated by Clemson with a score of 37–17.

2015: Eligibility and Transfer Restrictions

During the 2015 season, Baker Mayfield became eligible to play for the Oklahoma Sooners, having previously lost a year of eligibility due to Big 12 Conference transfer rules after an unsuccessful appeal of his transfer restrictions.

June 1, 2016: Big 12 Rejection of Transfer Rule Proposal

On June 1, 2016, the Big 12 faculty athletic representatives initially voted against a proposal that would have granted walk-on players the ability to transfer within the conference without being penalized with the loss of a year of eligibility.

December 2016: Heisman Trophy Finalist Announcement

In December 2016, Baker Mayfield and his teammate Dede Westbrook were officially named as finalists for the 2016 Heisman Trophy, with Mayfield ultimately placing third in the final voting results.

2016: Baker Mayfield's 2016 Season Performance

During the 2016 football season, Baker Mayfield demonstrated exceptional performance for the Oklahoma Sooners. He began the year with a notable 323-yard, two-touchdown performance against Houston, maintained a high level of play through rivalry wins, and concluded the regular season with a dominant five-game winning streak in 2016, contributing significantly to his team's success throughout that year.

November 4, 2017: Record-Breaking Bedlam Series Performance

On November 4, 2017, Baker Mayfield delivered a historic performance for Oklahoma against Oklahoma State, throwing for a school-record 598 yards. During the game, he completed 24 of 36 passes for five touchdowns while also adding a rushing touchdown, leading his team to a 62–52 victory and securing a perfect 3–0 record as a starter in the Bedlam Series.

November 2017: Controversial Sideline Incident Against Kansas

In November 2017, Baker Mayfield became the center of a controversy during a game against Kansas after he grabbed his crotch and shouted profanities at the opposing coach following a series of pregame slights and on-field hostility. Consequently, Mayfield issued a formal public apology, and head coach Lincoln Riley subsequently disciplined him by benching him for the start of the following game against West Virginia.

December 2, 2017: Oklahoma Wins Big 12 Championship

On December 2, 2017, Baker Mayfield guided the Oklahoma Sooners to a 41–17 victory over the TCU Horned Frogs in the Big 12 Championship Game. This win secured Oklahoma's third consecutive conference title and earned Mayfield MVP honors, while also clinching a spot in the College Football Playoff.

December 9, 2017: Baker Mayfield Wins the 2017 Heisman Trophy

On December 9, 2017, Baker Mayfield made college football history by winning the 2017 Heisman Trophy with a dominant performance, securing 732 first-place votes and 86% of the total possible points. This achievement is particularly notable as he became the first walk-on player to ever receive the prestigious award.

2017: Mayfield's Eligibility Extension

Due to a successful amendment of the Big 12 transfer rules in June 2016, Baker Mayfield remained eligible to represent the University of Oklahoma on the field through the 2017 football season.

2017: 2017 Sugar Bowl Victory and MVP Award

During the 2017 Sugar Bowl, Baker Mayfield guided the Oklahoma Sooners to a decisive 35–19 win against Auburn, contributing 296 passing yards and two touchdowns to earn the game's MVP honors.

2017: Participation in the 2017 Sugar Bowl

In 2017, Baker Mayfield competed in the Sugar Bowl as part of the University of Oklahoma football team, an event that was announced concurrently with his Heisman finalist status in December 2016.

July 24, 2018: Baker Mayfield Signs Rookie Contract with Cleveland Browns

On July 24, 2018, Baker Mayfield officially signed a four-year rookie contract with the Cleveland Browns, a deal valued at $32.68 million in guaranteed salary following his selection as the first overall pick in the NFL draft.

2018: Selected in the 2018 NFL Draft

In 2018, Baker Mayfield reached a significant career milestone when he was selected as the first overall pick by the Cleveland Browns in the NFL draft.

2018: 2018 Rose Bowl Semifinal Defeat

In 2018, during the Rose Bowl national semifinal game, Baker Mayfield and the Oklahoma Sooners suffered a narrow 54–48 loss to the Georgia Bulldogs.

2020: Cleveland Browns 2020 Playoff Success

During the 2020 season, Baker Mayfield led the Cleveland Browns to their first playoff appearance since 2002, marking a major turning point for the team.

2022: Mayfield's Departure from Cleveland

Following internal conflicts and a dip in performance, Baker Mayfield left the Cleveland Browns in 2022 to continue his career with the Carolina Panthers and the Los Angeles Rams.

2023: Baker Mayfield Joins the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

In 2023, Baker Mayfield joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he played a pivotal role in leading the team to two consecutive division titles and a playoff victory. During this time, he also secured two consecutive Pro Bowl selections and established himself as the all-time leader in playoff passer rating.