Prior to December of 2022, Zac Robinson had a healthy respect for Baker Mayfield that was born out or rivalry – Robinson played at Oklahoma State, Mayfield at Oklahoma, though not at the same time – and long-distance admiration of his game. The full Mayfield scouting report wasn't complete for Robinson, however, until Mayfield joined the Los Angeles Rams near the end of a strange 2022 season.
Mayfield spent most of that season with the Panthers, having been traded to Carolina by Cleveland after the Browns acquired Deshaun Watson. However, Carolina waived him during their Week 13 bye and the Rams, who were without an injured Matthew Stafford, quickly claimed him. Famously, Mayfield arrived in Los Angeles on Tuesday evening and, roughly 48 hours later, played all but one drive against Las Vegas, eventually leading the Rams on a 98-yard game-winning touchdown drive on Thursday Night Football.
Robinson, at the time the pass game coordinator and quarterbacks coach on Sean McVay's staff, gave Mayfield a script of about 20-25 plays on Tuesday evening, then met with him the next morning. It was then that Robinson gained an appreciation of the quarterback's makeup that equaled what he already felt about his physical skills.
"It was like at 10 o'clock at night [when Mayfield got the plays] and he came in the next day and I saw his notebook – we had a bathroom break, [so] I saw his notebook – he had highlighters everywhere, color-coded," recalled Robinson. "Right away, I was like, 'Okay, I know the player, I know the talent, but he's made of all the right stuff.' Obviously, that time that we spent together was invaluable during a tough season…he came in and ignited that group. I'm fired up to work with Bake and the rest of the guys. It's a good group of dudes and I'm looking forward to it, for sure."
The group to which Robinson was referring was the cast of blocker and playmakers that he will now be in charge of molding into a prolific unit as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' new offensive coordinator. A glimpse at the Buccaneers' depth chart would tell Robinson all he needs to know about the talent at his disposal, and his previous experience with Mayfield makes him certain they will come together as a cohesive and determined group.
View photos of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson
TAMPA, FL - January 27, 2026 - Offensive Coordinator Zac Robinson of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and his family arrive before his introductory press conference at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - January 27, 2026 - Offensive Coordinator Zac Robinson of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and his family arrive before his introductory press conference at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - January 27, 2026 - Offensive Coordinator Zac Robinson of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and his family arrive before his introductory press conference at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - January 27, 2026 - Offensive Coordinator Zac Robinson of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' family during his introductory press conference at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - January 27, 2026 - Offensive Coordinator Zac Robinson of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during his introductory press conference at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - January 27, 2026 - Offensive Coordinator Zac Robinson of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during his introductory press conference at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - January 27, 2026 - Offensive Coordinator Zac Robinson of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during his introductory press conference at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - January 27, 2026 - Offensive Coordinator Zac Robinson of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' family during his introductory press conference at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - January 27, 2026 - Quarterback Baker Mayfield #6 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during Offensive Coordinator Zac Robinson's introductory press conference at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - January 27, 2026 - Offensive Coordinator Zac Robinson of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' family during his introductory press conference at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - January 27, 2026 - Offensive Coordinator Zac Robinson of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during his introductory press conference at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - January 27, 2026 - Offensive Coordinator Zac Robinson of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during his introductory press conference at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - January 27, 2026 - Offensive Coordinator Zac Robinson of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' family during his introductory press conference at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - January 27, 2026 - Offensive Coordinator Zac Robinson of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' family during his introductory press conference at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - January 27, 2026 - Offensive Coordinator Zac Robinson of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during his introductory press conference at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - January 27, 2026 - Offensive Coordinator Zac Robinson of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and his family during his introductory press conference at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - January 27, 2026 - Offensive Coordinator Zac Robinson of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and his family during his introductory press conference at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - January 27, 2026 - Offensive Coordinator Zac Robinson of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and his family during his introductory press conference at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - January 27, 2026 - Offensive Coordinator Zac Robinson of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers films Bucs Insider with Team Reporter Casey Phillips and Senior Writer Scott Smith after his introductory press conference at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - January 27, 2026 - Offensive Coordinator Zac Robinson of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers films Bucs Insider with Team Reporter Casey Phillips and Senior Writer Scott Smith after his introductory press conference at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - January 27, 2026 - Offensive Coordinator Zac Robinson of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers speaks with the media after his introductory press conference at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - January 27, 2026 - Offensive Coordinator Zac Robinson of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers speaks with the media after his introductory press conference at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - January 27, 2026 - Offensive Coordinator Zac Robinson of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers speaks with the media after his introductory press conference at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - January 27, 2026 - Offensive Coordinator Zac Robinson of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers speaks with the media after his introductory press conference at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TAMPA, FL - January 27, 2026 - Offensive Coordinator Zac Robinson of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers speaks with the media after his introductory press conference at AdventHealth Training Center. Photo By Tori Richman/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
"I knew Baker had been through adversity – he had had great success in Cleveland and then obviously went to Carolina," said Robinson. "He came in right away and was meeting guys for the first time in the huddle on Wednesday's practice and you could just see everybody gravitates towards Baker. That's what you're looking for from that position. You want that true igniter, you want that guy that elevates the rest of the group.
"When you have a guy like that, you have a chance to win every single Sunday. The impact that he has, obviously just as a leader – you can speak to the talent and the type of player he is and all those things, but those guys that give you a chance every single Sunday – and the guys in that locker room know it – it's a big deal."
Mayfield's five-game experience in Los Angeles not only helped an ailing Rams team get to the finish line but it also provided a boost to get his career pointed in the right direction again. The Buccaneers signed him in the following offseason after the retirement of Tom Brady and he has since started all 54 games, playoffs included, and put up some truly expansive numbers. The Bucs have won two division titles in that span, only missing out on a third in 2025 on a tiebreaker. As he heads into his fourth season in Tampa, Mayfield will also be working with a fourth different coordinator since his arrival; Dave Canales and Liam Coen got head coaching jobs after a year each in the position and the Bucs chose to move on from Josh Grizzard after the 2025 campaign. Robinson comes in after spending two seasons as Raheem Morris's coordinator and offensive play-caller with the Atlanta Falcons.
And so Robinson and Mayfield are reunited, which pleases both men. Mayfield attended Robinson's introductory press conference on Tuesday at Bucs headquarters – slipping quietly into the back of the room – and clearly has fond memories of his short stay in Los Angeles. Robinson knows he's an inheriting a quarterback that can win games, and impact them with both his arm and his legs. Not only has Mayfield averaged more than 4,000 passing yards and 30 touchdown passes in his three seasons in Tampa, but he has also hit new career highs in rushing yards in each of the last two years and in 2025 was the second most effective quarterback in the league at turning third-down scrambles into first downs.
"Baker was the number-one pick in the draft for a reason," said Robinson, referencing the Browns' selection of Mayfield to start the 2018 draft. "In terms of the arm, there's not a part of the field that he can't attack. You start there and then you get to the instincts and the feel for the game. You mentioned it, the movement part is huge. You have to be able to move at this day and age in the NFL as you guys know. His ability to throw on the run – he's probably the best in the league at throwing on the run. He's great in the keeper game, great in the boot game. [I am] looking to evolve that part and making sure that we're playing to Baker's strengths and the rest of the guys' strengths. That's a huge part. The third-down conversions, those are tough downs, and when you have a quarterback that can obviously extend those plays and pick up first downs with his legs, that's huge."
