When Baker Mayfield joined Peyton and Eli Manning on Monday Night Football’s ManningCast, fans expected football talk, not a flashback to one of the most embarrassing moments of his life. But the Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback did what few athletes can pull off: he turned his own arrest into comedy gold.
During Monday’s Cowboys–Cardinals broadcast, Eli asked Mayfield how he practices scrambling, and his quick reply left the booth cracking up. With perfect timing and easy confidence, he delivered a line about his Fayetteville past that instantly turned into a highlight
The Moment Baker Mayfield Flipped His Own Scandal Into Comedy
Mayfield’s moment on the show tied back to his well-known 2017 arrest while he was playing for the Oklahoma Sooners. He’d been charged with public intoxication, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, and fleeing after a night out in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The police report described him as having “slurred speech” and “difficulty walking down stairs” before trying to run from officers.
The memory resurfaced in the most unexpected way. Mayfield’s timing and confidence turned a painful chapter into a lighthearted one. The Mannings burst out laughing, Peyton grinning as he said, “Hey, it’s all about getting better reps,” while Eli shook his head in disbelief.
According to ESPN’s report from that night, police in Washington County said Mayfield had slurred speech, struggled to walk down stairs, and had food all over the front of his shirt before they stopped him. When officers tried to talk to him, he suddenly sprinted off, forcing one to chase and tackle him. Instead of dodging the past, he owned it and, in doing so, reminded everyone how much he’s evolved from that chaotic night.
After the incident, Mayfield had apologized publicly, promising to do better and not bring negative attention to the people he represented. Seeing him joke about it years later, as a confident NFL veteran, made the ManningCast exchange feel like a full-circle moment of maturity and self-awareness.
Fans Reacted To The Arrest Joke Like It Was A Touchdown
The internet couldn’t get enough. Within minutes, clips of the moment were everywhere, and the fan comments were just as entertaining as the joke itself. One fan laughed, “I love how casually Baker talks about the time he got arrested lmao,” perfectly capturing the mix of shock and admiration everyone felt. It wasn’t just that he said it; it was how effortlessly he owned it.
Another fan wrote, “Baker… what a legend. Arrested in Fayetteville and won the Burlsworth Trophy. An elite Arkansas double dip.” That comment hit home for college football fans who remember just how wild that chapter of his story was.
Then came a crowd favorite: “Baker is a national treasure.”
The praise kept coming. One comment read, “Baker Mayfield is low key what Johnny Manziel wishes he was. Love Baker. Bonus points for him,” comparing him to another polarizing quarterback who couldn’t quite balance fame and success.
Another fan added, “He makes it harder to hate him all the time,” and that sentiment felt universal. The internet, for once, agreed on something; Baker’s humor turned an old lowlight into a moment of charm and redemption.
Mayfield’s delivery wasn’t defensive or forced. It felt natural, confident, and effortlessly funny. He didn’t try to rewrite history or avoid the topic. Instead, he laughed at himself, invited everyone else to do the same, and reminded people why his story has become one of the most unexpectedly likable in the league.
Published: Nov 5, 2025 02:34 pm