Baker Mayfield is one of the more colorful personalities in the NFL—not just for his on-field play, but also for his antics, controversies, and the media attention he draws. In this article, we explore four key aspects of his public persona: how much he makes, “dancing” / celebrations, injury status, and the infamous flag plant incident. By the end, you’ll have a comprehensive picture of where Baker stands today.
1. How Much Does Baker Mayfield Make?
Understanding an NFL quarterback’s income involves base salary, guarantees, incentives, and how contracts are structured from the team’s salary-cap perspective. Here’s what we know about Baker Mayfield’s deal as of mid-2025:
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In March 2024, Mayfield signed a three-year contract extension with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The deal is worth $100 million in base value, with incentives that can push it higher (potentially up to ~$115 million).
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Of that total, $50 million is guaranteed.
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His average annual salary (AAV) under that contract is around $33.33 million per year.
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Contract structure: in 2024 he made ~$30 million, fully guaranteed; in 2025 also ~$30 million (with $20 million guaranteed); and in 2026 he is set to earn ~$40 million, subject to guarantees and incentives.
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Recently, the Buccaneers restructured some parts of his contract to give him more guaranteed money in 2026. Especially, ~$30 million was guaranteed for 2026, which previously had none guaranteed. This shows both the team’s confidence in him and the maneuvering needed under the NFL’s salary cap rules.
So, in summary: Baker Mayfield is making among the upper tier of quarterback salaries, particularly given his performance in Tampa Bay, and has good financial security via guarantees.
2. Dancing / Celebrations
While “dancing” is a looser term, what people often refer to are Baker’s post-game or post-play celebrations. One of the most famous is the flag plant (covered more in section 4). But in general:
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Baker is known to be expressive and emotional, especially during college football and in moments of big wins. His personality shows through not just in his throws but in celebrations, trash talk, and media appearances.
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There’s no widely documented routine or official “dancing” practice by him, but his spontaneous celebrations (such as flag planting, chest pumps, fist-pumps) are part of his appeal.
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These celebrations sometimes court controversy, but they also endear him to fans who like players with passion and swagger.
Because of that, “dancing” here symbolizes his flair, his persona, his competitive fire—not that he’s literally a dancer, but he uses expressive physical celebration as part of his brand.
3. Is He Hurt? Injury Status
As of the latest updates (mid-2025 training camp / preseason), here is what we know about Baker Mayfield’s health:
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Mayfield suffered a contusion (bruise) to his throwing hand during a training camp practice. Specifically, he hit his hand on a shoulder pad during a practice session.
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Scans and examinations indicate the injury is not serious/long-term. He is considered day-to-day.
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Because of the soreness he had missed some practices, but coaches expect him back by the next practice sessions. He’s expected to resume full participation once the team returns to practice after rest.
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In addition to this hand issue, there’s no current indication of other major injuries. His previous seasons have had injuries at times (ankle, shoulder, etc.), but none are presently reported as impacting his status significantly.
So yes—he is hurt, but only mildly. The injury is being handled conservatively, and he is expected to return soon without missing much time.
4. The Flag Plant: What Happened & Why It’s Controversial
Perhaps the most famous of Mayfield’s celebrations is the flag plant incident. It comes up often when people talk about “dancing” or bold celebrations, so here’s the full story:
What He Did
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In 2017, Baker Mayfield, then playing for the Oklahoma Sooners, planted the Oklahoma flag in the middle of the “O” at Ohio State’s midfield logo after beating Ohio State 31-16 in Columbus.
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This act stirred a lot of backlash, as some saw it as disrespecting Ohio State’s home field and their mascot/logo. It wasn’t just planting the flag—it was doing so on the symbol of the opponent. That makes it more provocative.
His Defense & Reactions
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Mayfield has defended the flag planting, saying that celebratory acts are a part of college football rivalries and that it’s part of the culture. He has argued that teams should accept losing (i.e. if you lose, you lose, but don’t make too big a deal of celebrations). ESPN.com
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When the media and fans discussed whether flag planting should be banned (some wanted limits on postgame celebrations), Mayfield pushed back, suggesting that prohibitions against expressive behavior can damage the competitive and emotional fabric of college football.
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He also apologized after the flag-planting incident in some contexts, acknowledging that it offended some people. But over time, it has become part of his legacy and one of those signature “memorable moments” that people continue to talk about.
The Bigger Implication & Trend
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His 2017 flag plant is often considered a spark or at least a prominent example of how celebrations and symbolic gestures are becoming more visible in college football rivalries. Other teams have since had similar incidents—planting flags, using rival logos, etc. Some view them as overstepping; others see them as part of “sports theater.”
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The controversy also feeds into discussions on sportsmanship, tradition, rivalry decorum, and what is acceptable behavior in college vs pro levels. Many fans believe spirited but respectful rivalry is fine; others believe some acts cross a line.
5. Putting It All Together: Where Baker Mayfield Stands Now
Here are some key takeaways combining all the themes above:
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Earnings & Value: Mayfield has significantly revived his career in Tampa Bay. His contract, performance, and recent restructuring show that the team values him highly. The guarantees in his deal reflect that confidence.
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Persona & Celebrations: His “dancing”—or more generally, his expressive celebrations—are part of what make him a compelling figure. The flag plant is symbolic of his competitive fire and willingness to push boundaries.
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Health & Durability: Aside from a minor throwing-hand contusion, Mayfield is healthy and expected to return to full participation soon. The day-to-day injury status suggests management is cautious. If he remains healthy, he should be able to carry forward his momentum.
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Public Image: The flag plant controversy, while sometimes polarizing, hasn’t derailed his reputation. Instead, it contributes to the narrative of him being an emotional, passionate competitor who doesn’t shy away from attention. For many fans, that’s a positive; for others, it’s provocative.
6. FAQs & Further Questions
Here are some questions fans often ask, with quick answers:
| Question | Answer |
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| Will Baker Mayfield miss the start of the 2025 season? | Unlikely. The current injury is minor and considered day-to-day. Practices missed during training camp should not impact the regular season unless setbacks occur. |
| Is flag planting allowed / penalized? | In college football, there are no universal rules completely banning it, but schools and conferences sometimes fine or penalize teams for unsportsmanlike conduct or behavior that incites conflict. The symbolic act itself isn’t automatically penalized unless rules are broken. |
| Is Baker Mayfield still a top QB in the league? | He is not widely considered among the very top tier like Patrick Mahomes or Josh Allen, but his recent stats are very strong. With high completion rates, yardage, and leadership on a competitive team, he ranks well among starting QBs. |
| What are his future prospects? | If he maintains health and continues performing, arguably more financial security and possibly another contract extension might come. Also, more opportunity to make playoff runs could further cement his standing. |
Conclusion
Baker Mayfield’s journey is one of resurgence, high stakes, personality, and some controversy. He makes a lot of money, rightly so given recent performance; he celebrates actively (sometimes provocatively); he has minor injury issues, but nothing currently alarming; and the flag plant incident remains one of his most memorable moments, defining part of his identity in the public eye.
Whether you love him or have criticisms, there’s no denying Mayfield continues to be one of the more interesting characters in modern football—both on and off the field.
