Mayfield calls Panthers exit personal, Wilks denies influence

Baker Mayfield said the victory felt personal after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers rallied to beat the New York Jets 29-27 in Week 3, and New York defensive coordinator Steve Wilks fired back on Friday, disputing Mayfield's suggestion that Wilks had a role in his exit from the Carolina Panthers. The exchange has highlighted lingering tensions from the 2022 season as both men prepare for the Jets' Monday night trip to Miami.

"I loved it," Mayfield said after the Buccaneers' comeback win, adding that it was "their defensive coordinator who cut me in Carolina." At his weekly media availability, Wilks praised Mayfield's play before pushing back on the characterization. "I have a lot of respect for Baker. Tremendous football player," Wilks said. "I do not really think an interim coach has that much authority over personnel. If that were the case, I would have never gotten rid of our best player, Christian McCaffrey."

The two accounts reflect different interpretations of what happened in Carolina. Wilks became the Panthers' interim coach after Matt Rhule was fired in October 2022, and the team traded running back Christian McCaffrey to the San Francisco 49ers about 10 days later. Wilks...