FACT CHECK: Did Baker Mayfield Jog Through Hurricane Milton?
A post made on X claims that NFL quarterback Baker Mayfield went for a jog just before Hurricane Milton made landfall.
DANGEROUS: #Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield was seen JOGGING THROUGH HURRICANE MILTON just moments before it hit Tampa.
Baker is DETERMINED to win The Bucs their first Super Bowl in over 25+ years. 😳 pic.twitter.com/cRlwU61HM7
— Ryan Evans (@RyanEvansESPN) October 9, 2024
Verdict: False
Fact Check:
The Florida Division of Emergency Management issued mandatory evacuation orders Oct. 7 ahead of Hurricane Milton. The orders caused millions of people to flee the Tampa Bay Area, according to The Associated Press.
A post made on X claims that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ quarterback, Baker Mayfield, went for a jog just before Hurricane Milton made landfall. The Oct. 9 post’s caption reads, “DANGEROUS: #Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield was seen JOGGING THROUGH HURRICANE MILTON just moments before it hit Tampa. Baker is DETERMINED to win The Bucs their first Super Bowl in over 25+ years. 😳”
The claim is false. Mayfield relocated to New Orleans with the rest of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers ahead of the storm. No reputable sources have reported that Mayfield returned to Tampa since fleeing to New Orleans. (RELATED: No, These Various Clips Do Not Show Hurricane Milton Landfall)
The post claims Mayfield was determined to win the team’s first Super Bowl in over 25 years. This claim is also false. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs to win the Super Bowl in 2021.
When asked for comment, the Senior Director of Communications for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers told Check Your Fact, “I can confirm that is not Baker Mayfield and that the Buccaneers won a Super Bowl four years ago.”
