When Tez Johnson, a 22‑year‑old rookie wide receiver, caught a 45‑yard touchdown pass from Baker Mayfield during the Buccaneers vs 49ers Week 6 clashRaymond James Stadium, the stadium erupted in a wave of MVP chants that the rookie mistakenly thought celebrated him.
Game‑day context and the backflip
The home crowd of 65,237 was already buzzing. Tampa Bay entered the showdown without its top three receivers—Mike Evans, Chris Godwin Jr. and Jalen McMillan—all sidelined by injuries. In their stead, Johnson, a seventh‑round pick (227th overall) from the University of Oregon, was thrust onto the field for 26 snaps.
On a third‑quarter drive, Mayfield slotted a perfect lob over the middle. Johnson sprinted, leapt, and secured the ball at the 45‑yard line before sprinting into the end zone. What followed was a flawless backflip that sent the camera crew scrambling for a better angle. Within seconds, the clip was looping on the Buccaneers’ Twitter feed, already topping two million views.
The MVP chant misunderstanding
As the crowd’s roar morphed into a chant of "MVP! MVP!", Johnson’s face lit up. "When I scored and I hear MVP chants, I’m thinking they’re talking about me," he later told veteran wideout Sterling Shepard in the locker room. Shepard, who signed with Tampa Bay after a stint with the New York Giants, merely replied, "Yeah," prompting the rookie to add, "I ain’t do nothing this year." The moment became a meme before Shepard clarified, "They talking about Baker, Tez." Johnson’s bewildered grin turned into a laugh, and he capped it with, "Well, that explains it. But he is the MVP."
The exchange was replayed on ESPN’s SportsCenter, CBS Sports highlights, and Sports Illustrated’s "Play of the Day" segment, cementing the incident as one of the most talked‑about moments of the week.
Baker Mayfield’s performance and MVP talk
Mayfield, the 29‑year‑old quarterback who arrived in Tampa Bay via a trade from the Carolina Panthers on March 15, 2023, completed 17 of 23 passes for 256 yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions. His stat line nudged his season totals to 1,487 passing yards, 14 TDs and just three picks through six games—numbers that keep his name firmly in the NFL MVP conversation.
When asked about the chant, Mayfield cracked his trademark humor: "I mean, if I weighed 142 pounds, I’d probably be able to fly too, but I haven’t weighed that since 6th grade." The quip, delivered during the post‑game press conference, drew laughter from the media pool and added fuel to the MVP debate.
Coach Todd Bowles and the Buccaneers’ momentum
The win lifted Tampa Bay to 5‑1 on the season, marking their fifth straight victory after a rocky 1‑1 start. Todd Bowles, the franchise’s 13th head coach, praised Johnson’s athleticism but warned, "We’ll work with him on understanding the flow of the game better—though Baker’s response was exactly what this team needs right now."
Bowles’ philosophy of blending veteran savvy with rookie exuberance appears to be paying off. Alongside Johnson, fellow Oregon alumnus Bucky Irving, a fifth‑round pick (145th overall) in the 2024 draft, has been carving out a niche as a dual‑threat back.
What’s next for Tampa Bay and Tez Johnson
Next up, the Buccaneers head to Ford Field in Detroit for a primetime Monday Night Football showdown against the Detroit Lions on October 28, 2025. The matchup is billed as a test of the Buccaneers’ depth, especially with the lingering injuries to Evans, Godwin Jr. and McMillan.
For Johnson, the backflip will likely become a career‑defining highlight reel moment, but the real work begins in practice. "I’ve got a lot to learn, especially when the crowd is louder than the playbook," he joked in a post‑game interview.
- Touchdown: 45‑yard reception, 1:08 left in 3rd quarter.
- Final score: Buccaneers 30, 49ers 19.
- Season record: 5‑1.
- Mayfield’s season stats: 1,487 yards, 14 TDs, 3 INTs.
- Viral metric: 2.7 million views of the backflip clip by Oct 21.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did the MVP chants affect Tez Johnson’s confidence?
The chants gave Johnson a burst of excitement, but the quick clarification from teammate Shepard kept him grounded. He admitted the mix‑up was funny and said it motivated him to work harder for future touchdowns.
What does Baker Mayfield’s performance mean for his MVP candidacy?
Mayfield’s flawless 17‑of‑23 passing line and two‑TD effort pushed his passer rating into the league’s top tier. With a 5‑1 record, the Buccaneers are positioning him as a dark‑horse contender for the season’s Most Valuable Player award.
Why were the Buccaneers missing their top receivers?
Mike Evans is nursing a hamstring strain, Chris Godwin Jr. is out with a foot injury, and Jalen McMillan suffered a high‑ankle sprain in the previous game. Their absences forced coach Bowles to lean on younger talent like Johnson and Irving.
When is the Buccaneers’ next game and who are they facing?
The Buccaneers play the Detroit Lions on Monday, October 28, 2025, at 8:15 PM EST. The game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN and marks the team’s first road test of the season.
What role did coach Todd Bowles play in handling the rookie’s mistake?
Bowles praised Johnson’s athleticism while emphasizing the need for situational awareness. He used the incident as a teaching moment, noting that “understanding the flow of the game” is as important as raw talent.
