Skip to content

Mayfield enjoyed beating Hue Jackson: 'Human nature' to want revenge

Gregory Shamus / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield isn't apologizing for his actions last year toward his former head coach, Hue Jackson.

Jackson joined the division-rival Cincinnati Bengals as a special assistant to the head coach following his firing by the Browns. Mayfield seemingly responded to the decision after the Browns beat the Bengals in November, as he appeared to snub Jackson after the game and wrote on social media that the coach is "fake."

After an offseason to reflect on those criticisms, Mayfield stands by his choices.

"I said what I meant," Mayfield told ESPN's Mina Kimes. "Don't stand up in front of us the week before and try to tell us you're doing everything for us, then go take a job with a team we play twice a year. It was one of those honesty and respect things."

"I'm not gonna lie to you and say that the first time I played Hue did not feel good. It's human nature to want to get revenge," he added.

Mayfield took the rivalry a step further in the second matchup when he appeared to stare down Jackson after throwing one of his three touchdowns in the 26-18 win.

Jackson is currently out of the league after losing out on the Bengals' head coaching vacancy to Zac Taylor following Marvin Lewis' exit.

While he doesn't regret taking the job with Cincinnati, Jackson said there are no hard feelings between the two men, though they haven't spoken since the season ended.

"Baker's gonna be Baker," Jackson told Kimes. "He was disappointed that I left and was with a team in the division. ... That was his feeling and I have to respect it."

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox