Wyndham Clark Explains 2016 Mayfield Tweet, Citing Ex-Girlfriend's Cheating

Q: Two sports stars, one old grudge: Will a golf course reunion finally bury the hatchet for Wyndham Clark and Baker Mayfield?

Yes—at least from Wyndham Clark’s side, the hatchet is already buried, and a golf-course reunion would likely serve as a public confirmation rather than a true reconciliation. Clark said on the “Pardon My Take” podcast that his 2016 tweet, “I hate baker mayfield,” came after his then-girlfriend cheated on him with Mayfield while they were in college in Oklahoma. He stressed it was personal, not tied to the Oklahoma-Oklahoma State rivalry. Now, nearly a decade later, Clark says he no longer holds a grudge, calling himself “actually a Baker fan now” and saying he hopes they can have a “bro moment” and play golf together. The main uncertainty is Mayfield’s side. There has been no public response from the Buccaneers quarterback or his camp to Clark’s comments or to the idea of a reunion. So while Clark has clearly extended an olive branch, there is no evidence yet that a meeting is being planned. The timing makes a reunion plausible. Both men are established stars, and both appear to have moved on personally and professionally. Clark is coming off another U.S. Open title and has spoken openly about growth and maturity. Mayfield, now Tampa Bay’s starting quarterback, is focused on contract talks and the 2026 season. If they do meet on a golf course, it would likely be less about settling old scores than showing how far both have moved past a college-era episode.

Q: After a decade, is Wyndham Clark's olive branch to Baker Mayfield a true peace offering or a savvy career move?

It looks like both: a genuine peace offering that also happens to be smart image management. The strongest evidence that Clark means it is the substance of what he said. He finally explained that his 2016 “I hate Baker Mayfield” tweet came from a personal betrayal, not sports rivalry, and he explicitly said he no longer holds a grudge. Calling Mayfield “a homie” and saying he wants a “bro moment” over golf suggests he is trying to close the loop rather than reopen it. Clark’s current life also supports that reading: he has moved on personally and professionally, and there is no sign of an active feud. At the same time, the timing clearly benefits him. Clark made the comments during a high-profile media run just after winning the 2026 U.S. Open, when public attention was at its peak. That matters because he has also been dealing with a complicated public image, including crowd hostility at Shinnecock and lingering memories of past outbursts. By addressing an old, awkward tweet with humor and candor, he humanized himself and took control of a narrative that could otherwise keep resurfacing. So this does not have to be one or the other. The available facts point to a real attempt to move on, delivered at a moment that also helps Clark’s brand. In modern sports media, sincerity and strategy often coexist, and this appears to be one of those cases.

Q: Amid stalled contract talks, how will Baker Mayfield handle a rival's decade-old drama being thrust into the spotlight?

Baker Mayfield is likely to treat Wyndham Clark’s revelation as a minor, long-settled issue and avoid letting it become a distraction during contract talks. There is no public response yet from Mayfield to Clark’s comments, which surfaced June 24 on the “Pardon My Take” podcast. But the context points toward a low-key approach. Clark made clear the 2016 tweet came from a personal incident in college, not a sports rivalry, and he also said he no longer holds a grudge, calling himself “a Baker fan now” and saying he hopes they can eventually play golf together. That matters because Mayfield is currently focused on a much bigger issue: his future with Tampa Bay. He is entering the final year of his three-year, $100 million deal, has said extension talks are “not close,” and has set training camp as his practical cutoff for negotiations before turning full attention to the season. He has also emphasized that once camp begins, the focus will be football and helping the Buccaneers win. Mayfield’s recent public comments have centered on the offense, the upcoming season and his contract situation, not off-field personal history. Given that the incident dates to college, predates his marriage and is being framed by Clark as resolved, the most likely outcome is that Mayfield either ignores it or responds briefly and lightly. In short, all available evidence suggests he will try to keep the story from interfering with contract discussions or preparation for 2026.

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jun 24

Wyndham Clark said on the Pardon My Take podcast that his December 2016 “I hate baker mayfield” tweet came after his then-girlfriend cheated on him with Baker Mayfield.
The 2026 U.S. Open winner said the post was not about the Oklahoma-Oklahoma State rivalry, even though Mayfield starred at Oklahoma while Clark was then golfing at Oklahoma State.
Clark said he no longer holds a grudge against Mayfield, calling himself a fan now and saying the blame belonged with his ex-girlfriend, not the quarterback.
The golfer said he hopes the nearly 10-year-old episode can turn into a “bro moment” and lead to the two athletes playing golf together.