Bucs' Mayfield and Falcons' Stefanski Told to 'Figure Out' Beef

NFL coaches say QB and new Falcons coach will have to settle their differences on the field.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 11:19pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting an intense confrontation between an NFL quarterback and coach, their faces and bodies broken down into fragmented, overlapping shapes and planes.The personal feud between two NFL rivals will force them to settle their differences on the field.Cleveland Today

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield and new Atlanta Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski, who previously worked together in Cleveland, have a personal beef that will spill over onto the field this upcoming NFL season. Bucs head coach Todd Bowles said the two will have to 'figure out' their issues themselves, as the league won't allow them to 'get in the ring' and 'knock each other out'.

Why it matters

The Buccaneers-Falcons NFC South rivalry is already intense, and the personal animosity between Mayfield and Stefanski will only add more drama and intrigue to their divisional matchups. Their feud could impact the on-field performance and strategy of both teams as they compete for a playoff spot.

The details

Mayfield, who was traded from the Panthers to the Buccaneers last season, accused Stefanski of not contacting him after the trade and treating him 'like a piece of garbage' during their time together in Cleveland. Mayfield said he 'can't wait to see you twice a year, coach' in a social media post directed at Stefanski. Bowles said the league won't allow the two to physically fight, so they'll have to settle their differences on the field when the Bucs and Falcons play.

  • The NFL schedule will be released next month.
  • Mayfield and Stefanski worked together for two seasons in Cleveland.

The players

Baker Mayfield

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback who previously played for the Cleveland Browns and Carolina Panthers.

Kevin Stefanski

The new head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, who previously worked with Mayfield in Cleveland.

Todd Bowles

The head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

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What they’re saying

“I think that's something that they have to figure out from that standpoint since we can't have a boxing match where they get in the ring with each other and knock each other out. You know we're going to back our guy Baker, and I'm sure they're going to back their coach as well. It's a division game, so it's already going to be a tough-fought, hard-fought game, so it just adds to it.”

— Todd Bowles, Head Coach, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

What’s next

The NFL schedule will be released next month, revealing the dates of the Buccaneers-Falcons divisional matchups where Mayfield and Stefanski will have to settle their differences on the field.

The takeaway

The personal feud between Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield and new Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski will add an extra layer of intensity and drama to their NFC South rivalry games this upcoming NFL season, as the two will have to let their on-field performance do the talking.