Tampa St. Petersburg, FL, September 20, 2026 — The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have announced their 2026 home opener will feature a matchup against the Cleveland Browns at Raymond James Stadium. The game is set to mark a notable reunion, as Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield will be facing his former team.

The 2026 NFL season will begin with the Buccaneers hosting the Browns for their first home game of the year. Raymond James Stadium, located in Tampa, Florida, will serve as the venue for this anticipated contest.

A significant storyline surrounding the game is the appearance of Baker Mayfield. Mayfield was the starting quarterback for the Cleveland Browns from 2018 until his trade to the Carolina Panthers in 2022. He later joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the 2022 season and has since become a key player for the team.

The circumstances of Mayfield’s departure from Cleveland and his subsequent journey through the league add a layer of intrigue to this specific regular-season matchup. Fans and analysts are expected to closely watch how Mayfield performs against the franchise where his NFL career began.

Further details regarding the specific date and time for the 2026 home opener, as well as ticket information, are anticipated to be released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers organization at a later date. The league’s full 2026 schedule is typically unveiled in the spring prior to the season’s commencement.

This matchup against the Cleveland Browns marks one of the key games on the Buccaneers’ 2026 schedule, highlighting both divisional play and inter-conference rivalries, with the added narrative of Mayfield’s return to a familiar opponent.


Story summarized from the original created by By Jefferee Woo, Times staff,By Luis Santana, Times staff on www.tampabay.com, see more information here.

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