At this time last year, Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield received lofty praise from ESPN Sportscenter anchor Scott Van Pelt and then Eagles center Jason Kelce during the 2024 Pro Bowl Games weekend. At that time, Mayfield was putting the finishing touches on a career year that re-established him as an NFL starting quarterback.

Legendary Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning was the one passing praise onto Mayfield this time around.

Manning was complimentary of how he has handled the adversity and challenges during his career in stride after putting up even better statistics this past season.

Peyton Manning: Baker Mayfield Has “Been Fun To Watch These Past Couple Of Years”

Legendary QB and AFC Pro Bowl HC Peyton Manning – Photo by: USA Today

It’s one thing to be praised by a credible media personality and a future Hall of Fame center. When a Hall of Fame quarterback thinks you’re doing something right though, the words hold that much more weight.

Peyton Manning, one of the best quarterbacks in NFL history, is forging another legacy through his broadcasting of the Manningcast on Monday Night Football as well as being the AFC Pro Bowl head coach.

That makes him one of the more qualified voices when it comes to assessing quarterback play, and Manning views Baker Mayfield’s accomplishments through the lens of knowing what it takes to be an elite quarterback and the challenges that come with it.

“What Baker has done adjusting to the different systems he’s played in – several playcallers in his first few years in Cleveland and went to the Rams and played good after three days of practice and what he’s done in Tampa since he’s been there,” Manning said. “Obviously another change [with Josh Grizzard replacing Liam Coen as Bucs’ offensive coordinator]. Look, if you play well in the NFL at quarterback, oftentimes they’ll hire your offensive coordinator as a head coach.

“That’s kind of a compliment to the quarterback as well. It’s part of it, and you learn to adjust. Baker’s a pro, Baker can speak all those different languages. It’s easy for him to adjust, but it’s not – it doesn’t make it easy. It’s impressive what he does, and it tells you a lot about him and his ability to adjust and improvise. He’s been fun to watch these past couple of years in Tampa.”

Bucs QB Baker Mayfield – Photo by: USA Today

Mayfield is the definition of a competitor, and his ability to adjust is a credit to his football knowledge and perseverance. Plenty of quarterbacks experience offensive system changes early in their career and it derails them. Others are given up on and never become starters again.

Then, there is No. 6 for Tampa Bay.

Someone who bet on himself with a one-year deal after it did not work with the Browns and Panthers, and there was no future with the Rams with Matthew Stafford coming back from injury. Not only did he win the Bucs’ starting quarterback job in 2023 over Kyle Trask, but he led them to a 9-8 record and to the Divisional Round.

Mayfield turned that into a nine-figure deal, and he rewarded the team by throwing for 4,500 passing yards and 41 passing touchdowns along with completing 71.4% of his passes and having a 106.8 passer rating. Those were far and away the best numbers he’s put up, and while the Bucs failed to win in the Wild Card playoff game, there is no question that they have found a franchise quarterback whose arrow continues to point up.

Peyton Manning knows it is not easy to have a different offensive coordinator every year, and at this point, Baker Mayfield would make a great offensive mind after his own playing career for all of the knowledge he possesses in different systems. Until then, he will continue to throw adversity to the side in favor of touchdowns.