Baker Mayfield just dropped nearly $18K like it was a game-winning pass—and it’s totally reshaping a Florida high school football program! The Tampa Bay quarterback’s generous donation of $17,900 is turning the locker room into a whole new ball game.
From new gear to boosted morale, this isn’t just a check; it’s a game-changer. The 29-year-old’s making moves off-field that’ll have the next generation of players throwing passes and touchdowns of their own—just with a little more swagger!
Baker Mayfield’s $17,900 Boost Propels Florida High School Team to Glory
Mayfield just made a huge play off-field, donating $17,900 worth of equipment to the Space Coast Vipers High School football team in Cocoa, Florida. His contribution reshaped the program, helping turn a struggling squad into State contenders. The Vipers, who finished 1-8 last year and hadn’t seen much success in the past six seasons, are now heading to their first-ever SSAA 1A State Championship.
Coach Jake Owens, who returned to the team in Feb. after a break from coaching, faced an immediate problem: the team’s helmets were falling apart. “They had gotten some helmets, but they were already falling apart,” Owens explained. The program needed 60-70 new helmets, and that’s where Mayfield stepped in.
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Junior LB Jacob Starkey’s mother Stephanie Starkey reached out to the Baker & Emily Mayfield Foundation for help. The result? 70 shiny, matte black Riddell SpeedFlex helmets (retailing at nearly $500 each), plus pads from Riddell, Razor, and Z-Cool. “Baker and Emily… made lifelong fans,” Owens said, praising the couple’s generosity.
That gift helped fuel the Vipers to a 9-3 record, including a 21-19 win over Umatilla to punch their ticket to the championship. It’s their first playoff win in school history and a program-high 9 wins this season. “They go out every week and they play for each other,” coach Owens asserted, noting the bond among players.
The team’s success has also energized their small community. With standing-room-only games and local businesses showing support, the Vipers have become a source of pride. And it all started with Mayfield’s gesture. Owens summed it up perfectly:
“These young men will understand one day that they might get that same opportunity to make that same impact on someone, and they’ll do it.” Baker Mayfield’s donation is about shaping the next generation.