Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield has three words written on his left wrist—a reminder to himself and a recurring theme throughout his career in college and the NFL. The tattoo reads, “Believe in Yourself.” In his seventh year in the NFL, Mayfield is making sure others have the tools and opportunity to believe in themselves as well.

Betting on Yourself

During his high school career, Mayfield threw for over 6,000 yards and 67 touchdowns. Despite these impressive numbers, he was being recruited by smaller Division I schools. However, his father encouraged him to bet on himself and walk on at Texas Tech. Mayfield’s gamble paid off as he won the starting job, becoming the first walk-on freshman to start in the program’s history. Mayfield had a strong freshman season, being named Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year. However, when he wasn’t offered a scholarship as a sophomore, he decided to transfer to Oklahoma.

In his seasons as a starter at Oklahoma, Mayfield threw for over 14,000 yards and 131 touchdowns, with only 30 interceptions. by , his senior year in 2017, Mayfield won the Heisman Trophy by the largest margin in history, earning 86% of the vote and becoming the first walk-on player to win the prestigious award.

In 2018, Mayfield was drafted by the Cleveland Browns as the first overall pick in the NFL Draft. He played for the team for four seasons before being traded to the Carolina Panthers and the Los Angeles Rams. In 2023, Mayfield signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he has thrived, throwing for 28 touchdowns and over 3,000 yards last season.

Space Coast Vipers

While with the Buccaneers, Mayfield’s foundation received an email from a Florida mom whose son’s high school football team was in need of help. The Space Coast Vipers were desperately in need of new equipment that the school couldn’t afford. The Baker and Emily Mayfield Foundation donated nearly $18,000 for brand-new gear.

With the new equipment, the team went on a tear this season, going from a 1-8 record last year to an 8-1 record and a state championship in 2024.

The question is: besides the new helmets and pads, what changed? The answer: the team’s mindset.

Head Coach Jake Owens told reporters that the donation galvanized his players.

“Having someone like that believe in us and believe we could win—it lifted our team,” a Space Coast player told WKMG News 6. “We needed to perform for what he gave us,” another player added.

Message

The donation the Mayfields made was much more than just helmets and pads. The pair helped an entire football team believe that they, too, could be great. It’s a lesson that Mayfield has personified throughout his college and NFL career. But you don’t have to be an NFL quarterback with a million-dollar contract to do the same for others. You never know how much just a little support can make in someone’s life