Former Bucs Super Bowl-winning head coach Jon Gruden knows a thing or two about quarterbacks. He’s coached several great ones in the NFL and has prepped many prospects getting ready to enter the NFL Draft after his coaching days concluded. He didn’t get to coach Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield, though, but has been watching him with a close eye.

Gruden joined the Pewter Report Podcast on Monday where he talked about several different Bucs-related topics. There were conversations about his Super Bowl winning team from 2002 and also the current 2025 team attempting to win the third Super Bowl title in franchise history. It’s safe to say that Mayfield is a Gruden type of guy.

Former Bucs HC Jon Gruden – Photo by: USA Today

When asked if he would have loved to coach Mayfield, Gruden couldn’t help himself.

“Yeah, I’m jealous, I’ll be honest with you,” Gruden said of how much he’d enjoy coaching Mayfield. “I sometimes watch the Buccaneers, I go ‘That damn Mayfield!’ Some guys love the pressure. They don’t feel pressure – they apply pressure. I’m convinced Mayfield loves the end-of-game situations. He doesn’t want to kick a field goal and trust the defense, he wants to put you away, man.”

Jon Gruden Makes A Fantastic Comparison For Baker Mayfield

While Jon Gruden does live in Tampa and is very well connected to the Bucs, it’d be hard for anyone following the NFL not to be aware of what Baker Mayfield has done this season. Mayfield, who is a legit NFL MVP candidate and the the Bucs have four fourth quarter comeback wins this season, making for a majority of their wins on the season. He’s mostly played great this season but even when he may not be at his best in a game, when the chips are down, he goes all out and puts everything on the line.

There was no better example of that than in Week 2 on Monday night when Mayfield rushed for 15 yards on a fourth-and-10 to keep their chances alive, eventually winning with nine seconds and counting to go.

Mayfield’s game is part gunslinger, part improv, and part willing his team to a win. That’s what made for a fascinating comparison that Gruden made about Tampa Bay’s starting quarterback.

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: USA Today

“He has a playing style (that) I think really excites this team,” Gruden said. “I think guys get off the bench to watch him play. They all want to play hard for their quarterback. His creativity, he’s got a little bit of Brett Favre in him and Rocky Balboa. That’s kind of a cross of who he is, I think. And as long as we got Mayfield, we got a chance every week.”

Gruden was with the Packers for three years starting in 1992, which actually coincided with the first three seasons that Favre was in Green Bay, so he saw him up close and personal. Mayfield has been on the record as well saying that Favre was his favorite quarterback, even recreating his infamous draft day photo when Mayfield was selected first overall.

Between the style of Favre and and the relentless spirit of Balboa, there really couldn’t be a better combination to compare Baker Mayfield, too. The MVP talks have slowed down just a bit after some subpar performances by the offense in Detroit and New Orleans, but Baker Mayfield would trade any personal accolade for team success.

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: USA Today

And when it comes time for Baker Mayfield to make the big play late in the game, he’s more than likely to answer the challenge as he’s done time and time again.

Watch Pewter Report’s Interview With Jon Gruden

Check out our entire conversation with Jon Gruden on the Pewter Report Podcast. We spoke with him for over 40 minutes on several Bucs-related topics that we’re confident that fans while enjoy. And make sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel – PewterReportTV.

You can also see a brief snippet of the interview by watching this clip. It includes Gruden’s comments about Mayfield, plus his admiration for Bucs head coach Todd Bowles and some star defensive players like Antoine Winfield Jr. and Lavonte David.