Believe it or not, it was not that long ago that Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold, the first and third picks of the 2018 NFL Draft, were teammates competing for a starting job with the Carolina Panthers. Less than four years later, all three parties have found major success.Mayfield figured himself out with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Carolina Panthers made the playoffs with Bryce Young and Darnold will be playing in the Super Bowl Sunday.In a sit-down interview with Fox News Digital during Super Bowl media week, Mayfield admitted the entire situation was “interesting.” But as someone who has a similar journey to Darnold, he can’t help but root for him.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM “I’m so happy for Sam, having similar stories and journeys, really happy for him. He’s fought through and come out better on the other side. He’s found a home in Seattle. Hopefully, they get it done for his sake,” Mayfield said.”In Carolina, not every situation is right for it. We were there together, different staff, different GM, all that. Then you hire Dave Canales. I know he’s going to help Bryce Young develop and make him become a better player. When you have belief like that, and it starts to change the culture after it’s been bad for a few years, that’s the confidence that people — you don’t want to underestimate that.”That’s exactly what happened to Mayfield, who never quite found his footing with the Cleveland Browns, then went to Carolina before being traded to the Los Angeles Rams to back up Matthew Stafford for less than half a season. Then he had big shoes to fill by replacing Tom Brady in Tampa Bay, but it’s all worked out.”It just takes being in the right fit and understanding as a QB what system you want to be in, and you have to be able to be on the same page with everybody,” Mayfield said. “Through all the ups and downs, don’t lose your self-confidence and understanding that as long as I can learn something from each opportunity, good things will happen.”Mayfield admittedly is a guy who holds grudges. He had some things to say about former Panthers head coach Steve Wilks earlier in the season, and he took a shot at new Atlanta Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski, his first NFL coach, last week.Mayfield took exception to a tweet from an Atlanta-based journalist who wrote about Stefanski’s tenure in Cleveland, specifically the number of quarterbacks he had to work with because none seemed to stick. The writer said Mayfield “failed” in Cleveland.”Failed is quite the reach pal,” Mayfield responded on X, referencing a note from the reporter who said Mayfield and Deshaun Watson, who remains on the Browns’ roster, failed in Cleveland. “Still waiting on a text/call from [Stefanski] after I got shipped off like a piece of garbage. Can’t wait to see you twice a year, Coach.”RAMS’ PUKA NACUA REACTS TO MATTHEW STAFFORD’S MVP, 2026 RETURN: ‘I ALMOST DID A BACKFLIP'”For me, anytime, whether it’s a good relationship or b
Baker Mayfield opens up on ex-teammate Sam Darnold revitalizing career, Kevin Stefanski joining NFC South
