Baker Mayfield was already the dude who hung out at dive bars and took his offensive linemen on a golf trip to the Bahamas.
Now, there's even more insight into what makes Mayfield tick and how Tampa Bay is winning in 2023, despite the retirement of Tom Brady.
The Buccaneers were supposed to be one of the worst teams in the league this season.
Instead, they're 3-1 and in first place in the NFC South entering Week 6.
Bucs general manager Jason Licht had previously praised Mayfield, calling him an awesome dude and intelligent player between the lines.
“He's spotted around town at dive bars with a position group of receivers, with Mike Evans,” Licht said. "It's not fake. He really knows how to be a dude with the team and they love him."
READ MORE ON NFL
The GM recently said more about Mayfield's persona and why the discarded former No. 1 overall pick has initially been the ideal solution for Tampa Bay in a world without Brady.
"He has an eternal chip on his shoulder," Licht told ESPN. "Now he wants to resurrect his career. Everybody was counting him out and saying he sucks."
Bucs offensive coordinator Dave Canales was also complimentary of the former Oklahoma college star who has bounced from Cleveland to Carolina, the Los Angeles Rams and now Tampa Bay in the NFL.
"One thing about Baker, he has great vision and fast eyes, so getting guys moving is a good thing," Canales said. "Bake will find someone."
Most read in NFL
Head coach Todd Bowles said that Mayfield fits the Bucs' (3-1) current identity.
"He's tough, he's gritty, [and] he's a very smart football player," Bowles said. "He's a competitor, he's been like that his whole life, it hasn't changed.
"He has a lot to prove, he's having fun out there, he understands the offense, he's using every piece of (skill-position talent) that we give him, and he's having a good time."
Tampa Bay's division is up for grabs this year.
Tough games against Detroit, Buffalo and San Francisco await on the Bucs' schedule, and it's too early to say anything definitive about a 3-1 team.
But Mayfield has been one of the most surprising early season stories in the NFL this year.
It took Mayfield hearing that he "sucks" to find an ideal situation for him and the Bucs after Brady retired.
ncG1vNJzZmiskaG4tLzOq6tnm5%2BifLS8zquraGllboZyfJNomZqjlad6rq3Yn6CepJRiwaK5z5pkm5mpYsGwuYybqZqcqWK7p7iO