Buccaneers WR Tez Johnson thought MVP chants were for him and you have to respect the confidence

You have to respect the confidence. After scoring his first career touchdown on a 45-yard bomb from Baker Mayfield that helped seal the Buccaneers’ 30-19 win over the 49ers, rookie wide receiver Tez Johnson for the most part, did what any normal human would do in that moment by celebrating like a madman.

Tez Johnson TD + Flip Celly

TEZ JOHNSON TD! WHAT A CATCH AND WHAT A FLIP

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— NFL (@NFL) October 12, 2025

I said “for the most part” because the Tez Johnson flip in the end zone was crazy.

I wouldn’t be surprised if the NFL handed him a fine for that after tweeting about it. That’s become a staple of how things work these days, right?

Anyways, Tez Johnson heard fans chanting MVP after his tuddy and immediately assumed that they were for him.

MVP Chants for Tez Johnson or Baker Mayfield?

"They was chanting MVP…. I ain't do nothing this year."

"They talking about Baker, Tez."

Bucs WR Tez Johnson thought Baker's MVP chants were for him 💀

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— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) October 13, 2025

“Let me tell y’all a funny story,” Johnson said postgame. “When I scored and I hear MVP chants, I’m thinking they’re talking about me… So I asked [Sterling Shepard], I’m like, ‘Shep, they was chanting MVP?’ And he was like, ‘Yeah.’ I was like, ‘I ain’t do nothing this year.’ And then he was like, ‘They’re talking about Baker, Tez.’ And I was like, ‘Well, that explains it.’”

That right there is the kind of delusional self-belief you want in a seventh-round, rookie wide receiver who just scored his first regular season NFL touchdown.

The kid had one catch all game. That catch was sick though and for about 30 seconds, he was living a childhood dream of having an entire NFL stadium ready to crown him MVP of the league.

The play itself was a beauty. With Tampa Bay clinging to a one-point lead in the third quarter, Mayfield uncorked a deep shot downfield to Johnson, who hauled it in and took it to the house.

Baker Mayfield has been cooking this season, so obviously, the chants were for him but in Tez’s defense, the adrenaline was probably off the charts. If you catch a game-breaking touchdown and stick the landing on a full flip, you’re allowed to think you just became the face of not only the franchise, but the entire league for at least a few seconds.

Reality Check (and a Great Quote)

Johnson’s stat line heading into the game was modest. He racked up just five catches for 67 yards through four games. Sunday’s grab was his first touchdown and his only reception of the afternoon. Still, when asked about the chants, he laughed it off and gave his quarterback his flowers:

“Baker’s the MVP right now,” Johnson said. “He’s been playing like it.”

And he’s not wrong. Mayfield’s resurgence has Tampa Bay sitting comfortably at 5-1 and in complete control of the NFC South. Baker Mayfield himself has a passer rating of 108.5 with 1,539 yards, 12 touchdowns and 1 interception over the Bucs’ first six games.

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