Browns: Baker Mayfield defined his career with one gesture

Baker Mayfield defined his tenure with the Cleveland Browns in 2020 but the biggest moment wasn’t on the field but off the field.

Baker Mayfield went through a lot in 2020. He dealt with adversity with teammates getting hurt, sick, in trouble, and all other sorts of wacky moments. Yet, he stayed strong. He led the team to the playoffs despite a rotating offensive line ahead of him, set franchise records, and made fans realize he was the man for the Browns quarterback job indefinitely. He set his career up for success in 2020 both with his play on the field and his behavior off.

Mayfield dealt with a lot, but he didn’t deal with anything close to what Browns-superfan Tom Seipel went through. Seipel was in the midst of a terminal battle with cancer when word got out that he wanted to go to a Browns game one last time. His wish came true, and Seipel went to First Energy Stadium to watch the Browns beat up the Steelers in the last game of the year and clinch a playoff birth.

Seipel passed away on Saturday after his battle, but his memory lives on, in part due to the time he spent with Mayfield. When word got out that Seipel wanted to see one last game, Mayfield and his wife, Emily, made it happen. They put Seipel in their personal suite at the stadium, so that he could watch the Steelers lose handily to the good guys.

Seipel’s life had been defined by giving to others, as his interview with Cleveland.com shows. He spent years in Nicaragua working with children at rescue homes and giving them the attention and affection they were in need of. Seipel would even start his own program to help the disaffected youth of the area.

Seipel spent his life stepping up and caring for others, it was only fitting that Mayfield would return the gesture.

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Mayfield would end up driving Seipel back to where they were staying after the game. A gesture that he didn’t need to make, a move no one expected him to make, especially not during a pandemic. Yet, a masked-up Mayfield is seen on video, driving Seipel and others back to their hotel, just a short time after leading the Browns to the playoffs.

Because that’s who Mayfield is. Yes, he’s passionate, and yes, he makes mistakes from time to time. He’s also a man who understands the bigger picture. Who is growing up in front of our eyes.

Seipel passed away but he’ll forever be a beloved member of the Browns fanbase. He’ll forever be linked to Mayfield in a way that will forever define the young quarterback’s career and life. Mayfield’s gesture of kindness will forever make him beloved by the city.

A man who goes above and beyond both on and off the field.

Just like Tom Seipel. Caring for others is selfish and arguably the noblest of acts one can share. While these two men were vastly different, they shared that one trait and it will forever link them both.

Rest easy, Tom.