Browns Quarterback Baker Mayfield Feeling Confident, Slimmer After ‘Lost’ Sophomore Season

Baker Mayfield spent this offseason trying to find himself. 

Before last season, Mayfield’s identity had always been rooted in on-field success. High school, college, his record-breaking rookie season — he had his doubters, but he always proved them wrong. 

Then the Browns finished 6-10, well short of expectations. Mayfield, who prides himself in breaking from quarterback norms, fell victim to the cliched sophomore slump. After breaking the rookie touchdown pass record in 2019, he threw the second-most interceptions in the NFL last season.

He was used to solving every problem on a football field. And when he couldn’t, it frustrated him so much that he lost sight of who he was. 

“I would say I lost myself not having that success, not finding out what was working,” Mayfield said Friday. “I tried different ways of trying to have that success, and I didn’t find it. I lost myself in that, and I wasn’t able to be who I am for these guys on the team.”

After an offseason of self-improvement, though, Mayfield said he’s in a much healthier mental state. He believes he’s rediscovered his “alpha mentality,” and he’s ready to attack this season. 

He’s also talked to coach Kevin Stefanski and offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt about their vision for Cleveland’s offense. He’s checking on his teammates to see how they’re feeling. He wants them to hold him accountable if they see him fall into the same tendencies that hindered him last season.

Those tendencies include his eating habits. Mayfield looks a lot slimmer entering this season than he looked leaving the last one, and that’s not by accident. 

Mayfield said he weighed more last season than he ever has playing football. Some of the bumps and bruises he took from opposing pass rushers impaired his ability to workout.

So this offseason, Mayfield “cleaned up” his diet this offseason to cut bad body weight and improve his mobility on the play-action bootlegs Stefanski likes to call.

That meant less Mexican food and more meal prep. 

“Being from Texas, I have to have my Mexican food fix,” Mayfield said. “I cut out a lot of that. “Just did a lot of healthier versions and more regimented dieting. It’s just about being smart on the scheduling.”

Wide receiver Jarvis Landry said “it means everything” for Mayfield’s teammates to see him focused on self-improvement. 

“His attitude towards this season is at a heightened level,” Landry said. “It is fun to see him out here. It is fun to see him doing the things he loves with a smile on his face and making plays already.”

That’s what Mayfield is used to hearing from teammates. And after last season, he’s also hearing familiar doubts from outside the building. Can he bounce back after a subpar sophomore season

Mayfield said he wondered the same thing at certain points last season. But he’s rediscovered his confidence, and he’s excited to, once, again, prove those people wrong. 

For a brief time, Mayfield was lost. But entering Year 3, Mayfield says the old Baker is back. 

“I put in the work,” Mayfield said. “(I feel) ready to roll, attack and get back to where I need to be to be the leader for this team and for this franchise.”