Baker Mayfield’s candid declaration of his intense dislike for the New Orleans Saints has drawn significant attention amidst the 2025 NFL season, highlighting the rising tensions in the NFC South. Speaking during the offseason, Mayfield’s remarks underlined the fierce Baker Mayfield Saints rivalry, while the Saints themselves wrestle with mounting roster challenges under coach Kellen Moore.
Baker Mayfield’s Rise with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Bold Remarks
After several team changes early in his career, Baker Mayfield found renewed success with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, proving his potential as an effective franchise quarterback. Last season, he guided Tampa Bay to the playoffs, finishing with an impressive passer rating of 106.8, throwing for 4,500 yards and securing 41 touchdowns in 17 games. Former NFL wide receiver Robbie Chosen Anderson, a teammate of Mayfield in Carolina, praised his leadership and competitive spirit, noting,
“Obviously, he wasn’t in the best situation and got in Tampa. And, you know, flourished and shown that he was a number one pick in the draft.”
Anderson further highlighted Mayfield’s ability to inspire his teammates:
“You know he knows how to get guys going. He plays with that energy and that chip on his shoulder.”
This energy has translated both on and off the field, contributing to a contagious confidence within the Buccaneers’ locker room.
Mayfield’s fire became especially evident during his recent appearance on the Pardon My Take podcast, where the conversation turned to his former Buccaneers teammate Mike Evans and Evans’ ongoing streak of 11 consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons. Evans secured this milestone late in a Week 18 game against the Saints during the 2024 NFL season, a game Tampa Bay won 27-19. When asked whether he felt any sympathy over how Evans reached the milestone, Mayfield responded bluntly,
“I hate the Saints, absolutely not.”
Mayfield also admitted that despite holding a playoff-qualifying lead, the Buccaneers intentionally called a pass play late in the game to ensure Mike Evans reached the 1,000-yard mark.
“We decided to throw it on first and ten, just to get Mike [Evans] that 1,000 yards.”
The frankness of his revelations reflected his no-nonsense attitude toward his rivals.
The quarterback’s dominant performance in that same game underlined his intensity; Mayfield completed 25 of 32 passes for 246 yards, with three touchdowns and a single interception. Tampa Bay cruised to a 26-9 victory over the Saints. One viral moment from that match was Mayfield’s mic’d-up exchange with teammate Chris Godwin, during which Mayfield exclaimed,
“My d— got hard as soon as I saw him running in the motion back.”
Godwin later commented on Mayfield’s influence, sharing,
“He plays with that chip. It’s infectious. We want to run harder, block longer – because we know he’s giving us everything he has.”
This swagger and determination have shifted power within the NFC South, signaling the Buccaneers’ rise and the Saints’ decline on the division’s pecking order. Mayfield’s blunt declaration against the Saints thus resonates as more than just rivalry trash talk; it reflects a broader shift in competitive dynamics.
New Orleans Saints’ Struggles Under Kellen Moore’s Leadership
While Mayfield and the Buccaneers gain momentum, the New Orleans Saints face a steep downward trajectory. ESPN’s 2025 roster rankings placed the Saints dead last, 32nd out of 32 NFL teams, indicating a critical state of decline. Analysts Mike Clay, Aaron Schatz, and Seth Walder collectively evaluated all teams and spotlighted several roster weaknesses for New Orleans.
Mike Clay pinpointed the quarterback situation as the most pressing issue for coach Kellen Moore. Following the abrupt retirement of veteran Derek Carr, the 25-year-old rookie Tyler Shough is now the Saints’ primary quarterback option. Clay commented,
“Second-round rookie Tyler Shough is the best bet to emerge as a viable starter, and perhaps he’ll be more pro-ready than most first-year QBs, considering he’s 25 years old.”
Despite Shough’s relative age advantage for a rookie, the Saints don’t have a solid contingency, as backups Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener have failed to impress in their opportunities.
Greg Seth Walder critiqued the offensive line’s capability, identifying significant uncertainties. Rookie Kelvin Banks Jr. is slated to man the left tackle spot, while Taliese Fuaga, who struggled last season, shifted back to his college position at right tackle. Walder wrote,
“If he (Fuaga) can improve, and if Banks can be decent in Year 1, the Saints could be looking at a long future with their tackles in place. Those are big ifs, though.”
The running back group also contributes to the team’s challenges. Aaron Schatz pointed out that injuries and inconsistency plague Kendre Miller, drafted in the third round in 2023 for his size-speed combo but sidelined for much of the past two seasons. Schatz noted,
“Miller was well-regarded for his size-speed combination when the Saints took him in the third round of the 2023 draft. Injuries have kept him off the field for much of the past two seasons – he has played only 14 games with 80 carries, 304 yards and 2 touchdowns in that span.”
With Alvin Kamara aging at 30 and backups like Cam Akers and Clyde Edwards-Helaire yet to demonstrate upside, the Saints’ backfield depth is concerning.
One of the few bright spots for New Orleans is their edge rushers. Mike Clay praised Carl Granderson for his understated impact, writing,
“Carl Granderson has emerged as one of the league’s most underrated pass rushers. His 139 tackles over the past two seasons are the third most at the position, and he has had 14 sacks, too.”
Alongside Granderson, Chase Young remains a persistent pass-rush threat, while veteran Cameron Jordan can still disrupt offenses despite his advancing age. Nevertheless, a strong pass rush cannot compensate for broader roster deficiencies.
The Wider Impact of the Saints’ Decline on the NFC South
Baker Mayfield’s outright disdain for the Saints does more than fuel rivalry—it mirrors the harsh reality faced by New Orleans. The Saints’ precarious position at the bottom of the league rankings points to deeper structural issues requiring a comprehensive rebuild. With Kellen Moore at the helm and a slew of young but unproven players, the Saints face a daunting road ahead.
Meanwhile, Tampa Bay’s ascendancy under Mayfield intensifies the NFC South competition. The Buccaneers not only claim superiority on the field but also project increasing confidence as a division-leading force. Mayfield’s energy and leadership style have transformed the Buccaneers into a cohesive, driven team, while the Saints scramble to find stability and identity amidst a mounting crisis.
As the 2025 season unfolds, the gulf between these division rivals is stark, setting the stage for fierce future encounters marked by heightened emotions and high stakes. Whether Mayfield’s declaration of “I hate the Saints” reflects genuine animosity or strategic competitive edge, it signals a power shift in the NFC South that fans and analysts alike will be watching closely.