Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield and left tackle Tristan Wirfs have a unique bond. They have been best friends from the start of the 2023 offseason when Mayfield arrived, and they have spent a lot of time together in recent days at the 2024 Pro Bowl.
Both Mayfield and Wirfs talked about their recent shenanigans which included the “big guy” not fitting on all of the rides at Universal.
Baker Mayfield And Tristan Wirfs Have Been Hanging Out, “Drinking A Few Beers”
Having the weekend to unwind after a long season, both Baker Mayfield and Tristan Wirfs have been making the most of it. They even shared a moment during Wirfs’ time with the media.
Mayfield’s blindside protector first discussed what they have been up to.
“Just hanging out a lot,” Wirfs said. “Eating a lot of food, drinking a few beers. It’s just nice, being able to hang out with him and hang out outside of football.”
In the same interview, he was interrupted by his quarterback who came over to say what’s up.
He also added how much it means to be doing these things with his quarterback.
“I think it’s huge being able to be here together just having a good time, messing around,” Wirfs added. “Being here with all these amazing players, I think it’s awesome.”
They have been enjoying some other extracurricular activities, including roller coaster rides. That has not gone as smoothly for the 6-foot-5, 345-pound Pro Bowl offensive lineman.
#Bucs Tristan Wirfs shares what his rollercoaster experience has been like this week in Orlando.
Wirfs added that Baker Mayfield better get him the ball during tomorrow’s Pro Bowl game.#Buccaneers #ProBowlGames pic.twitter.com/HtRk46C0Kt
— PewterReport 🏴☠️ (@PewterReport) February 3, 2024
“I couldn’t fit on a couple. I got to hit the [VelociCoaster] only once. I tried doing it a second time and they couldn’t get it to close so I was like, ‘I probably shouldn’t rode it the first time.’ But, I squeezed in and it was a blast. We were right next to each other, it was fun.”
Mayfield shared his side of their adventures.
“We did a couple of roller coaster rides the other night at Universal,” Mayfield told Pewter Report. “Unfortunately, the big guy didn’t fit on every one of them, but he’s a good support piece. [Laughs] No, we were just having fun and enjoying it.
“I rode more than he could get on. We did the VelociCoaster right when we got there. We got the front row, he fit in that which was great. So then we went back again and they told him the back was better, so we got in the back row and he didn’t fit. They tried about three more rows in front of him, poor guy.”
Baker Mayfield And Tristan Wirfs Really Are Like The “Step Brothers”
At the Pro Bowl Games themselves, Baker Mayfield and Tristan Wirfs have enjoyed interacting with the other players. Wirfs has even gotten Jason Kelce to adopt walking around the field barefoot. Mayfield has been giving his big friend a hard time when it comes to Wirfs talking to his NFC teammates.
“Tristan and I are already pretty close,” Mayfield said.”It’s fun to see him interact with the other guys. He’s just a nervous nellie, so it’s fun to see how his social awkwardness gets around with the other guys. Get to give him a hard time.”
For Mayfield, he has come a long way to being named a Pro Bowl alternate. It was only one calendar year ago that his NFL future was uncertain after splitting time between the Panthers and Rams. It was something that he reflected on with Pewter Report.
“It’s really fun,” Mayfield said on being named to the Pro Bowl. “Obviously, it’s an honor to get voted in and to be around and surrounded by these guys. I think it didn’t really hit me until we were at the hotel hanging out with everybody.
“Just seeing the faces of all the popular and household names. It’s quite the honor and yeah, just a lot of hard work we put into this, and unfortunately we don’t have as many guys here but I get to enjoy it with Tristan.”
With Wirfs having an easygoing personality, he was the perfect choice to be mic’d up during practice, and speaking on how their relationship started, Mayfield quoted a popular Will Ferrell movie.
#Bucs QB Baker Mayfield said at the #ProBowlGames that his relationship with LT Tristan Wirfs is “truly out of the Step Brothers movie.”
#Bucs QB Baker Mayfield said at the #ProBowlGames that his relationship with LT Tristan Wirfs is “truly out of the Step Brothers movie.”
‘Did we just become best friends?’
Mayfield also mentioned that he plans on staying in Tampa for the offseason, but he’ll be a busy guy. pic.twitter.com/zEsJOpdgLk
— PewterReport 🏴☠️ (@PewterReport) February 3, 2024
“It really was right away,” Mayfield said on how quickly the two became tight. “It was one of those things – it’s truly out of the Step Brothers movie. ‘Did we just become best friends?’ We get along great, Meredith [Tristan’s girlfriend] is awesome. We’re both about to be dads here pretty soon so our friendship is obviously unique. Timing-wise of life we’re in the same place.”
Ironically, in the film Dale (John C. Reilly) asks Brennan (Will Ferrell) what his favorite dinosaur is and they both say Velcioraptor. That just happens to be what the VelociCoaster is named after.
Some things are just meant to be.
Looking ahead at the offseason, Mayfield is keeping true to his promise of taking some of his teammates to the Bahamas. You best believe he is taking his best pal with him.
“We’re going to go down to the Bahamas with a couple of the guys after the Super Bowl and then other than that, just start working out and getting back into it,” Mayfield said.
Sounds like someone who wants to continue forming bonds with his boys in Tampa Bay.
