Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers agree to a three-year, $165 million extension, keeping Tampa Bay’s franchise quarterback under contract through 2029.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have ended any doubt about Baker Mayfield’s future.

Just days before the 2026 regular season begins, Tampa Bay agreed to a three-year, $165 million contract extensionwith Mayfield, locking up the quarterback who has become the face of the franchise in the post-Tom Brady era.

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The new deal averages $55 million per season and keeps Mayfield under contract through 2029. It’s also the richest contract in Buccaneers history. NFL Network reported the agreement Tuesday after talks had appeared to stall earlier in the summer.

That’s a major jump from Mayfield’s previous three-year, $100 million deal, which averaged $33.3 million annually.

The message from Tampa Bay is clear: Mayfield isn’t a bridge quarterback anymore.

He’s the guy.

Since joining the Buccaneers in 2023, Mayfield has thrown for 12,237 yards, 92 touchdowns and 56 interceptionswhile earning two Pro Bowl selections and helping Tampa Bay win two NFC South titles.

That production, combined with his leadership inside the locker room, gave Mayfield leverage in negotiations. He had made it clear earlier in the offseason that he wanted a deal that reflected his status among the league’s established starters, and the Buccaneers ultimately moved much closer to that territory.

The timing also matters.

Mayfield entered training camp without a new deal after setting a deadline for negotiations, and there was legitimate uncertainty about whether talks would resume before the season. Instead, the two sides found common ground just before Week 1.

For general manager Jason Licht, the extension provides stability at the most important position on the roster.

For Mayfield, it’s another remarkable chapter in a career that once looked headed toward permanent journeyman status after stops in Cleveland, Carolina and Los Angeles.

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Now he’s being paid like a cornerstone.

The Buccaneers have spent the past several seasons building around Mayfield, and this contract removes one of the biggest distractions hanging over the team entering 2026.

Tampa Bay didn’t just keep its starting quarterback.

It made a franchise-level commitment to him.