Baker Mayfield did not cover himself in much glory in his controversial transfer from Texas Tech to the Oklahoma Sooners. However, he hit the ground running with the Sooners, swiftly establishing himself as the team’s lead quarterback.

Mayfield’s had an immediate impact in his first game with the Cleveland Browns, helping the team break its 635-day winless streak. Mayfield heads into his fourth year with the Cleveland Browns, who are quietly optimistic that the star quarterback can bring the glory days back to Cleveland.

This piece will look at Baker Mayfield’s wife, Emily Wilkinson. It will look at her relationship with Baker, her uncompromising support of his decisions, and her career.

Baker attempted to catch Emily’s attention by following and unfollowing her on Instagram after she rejected his advances

Baker Mayfield and Emily Wilkinson's wedding

Baker and Emily met in 2017 thanks to mutual friends. Mayfield was immediately attracted to Emily, but she was skeptical about dating a football player. After failing on multiple attempts to get Emily’s attention, Baker resorted to following and unfollowing her on Instagram. Eventually, Emily agreed to meet Baker for lunch. ESPN’s Mina Kimes revealed:

“At the time, Wilkinson was living in Los Angeles. She says she was wary of dating a ‘punk football player’ and ignored Mayfield’s advances for months: He repeatedly followed and unfollowed her on Instagram, trying to get her attention. Finally, in late December, they exchanged messages.”

Sparks flew when Baker and Emily started dating, and within a few months, Baker proposed. The couple had only dated for about six months, but they were sure that they wanted to spend the rest of their lives together.

Emily and Baker wed in a private ceremony held in California in June 2019. The couple recently took to Instagram to exchange sweet anniversary messages. Emily wrote:

“You are everything I’ve ever dreamed of and more! Looking back on the last year, we’ve laughed, we’ve cried, and we’ve learned a ton. Cheers to a million more years of endless laughter, sleepy pillow talks, late night dancing, and questionable golf games. Thanks for being the best husband! I love you!”

Emily supported Baker’s decision to stand during the national anthem after he’d previously pledged to kneel

Baker Mayfield and Emily Wilkinson

In light of racial injustice in America, Baker revealed that he would kneel during the national anthem as a show of solidarity with the Black community. However, as the season drew closer, Baker backtracked on his decision and stated that he’d chosen to stand.

He wrote on Twitter that he’d chosen to stand because kneeling led to discussions about the gesture rather than meaningful conversations about how to achieve unity. Baker went on to state that he would respect any decision taken by any of his teammates and that he still had passion for equality. He wrote:

“My heart is even more passionate than it was months ago, due to the fact that we are not close to where the country needs to be. I love this country, but these challenges and adversity are an opportunity for much needed change for issues that have been going on for far too long.”

Emily showed her support by re-sharing the message on her Instagram Story, and posting the message, ‘Proud wife.’

Emily works as a media correspondent and has previously worked as a bartender and a patient coordinator

Emily Wilkinson

Emily Wilkinson was born on 4th April 1991, to Lori and Dave Wilkinson. She grew up alongside three siblings in Omaha. Her most famous sibling, Sammy, is a musician and a fashion entrepreneur. Emily landed a job as a bartender immediately after graduating from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She then got a job at Galanis Plastic Surgery in Los Angeles as a patient coordinator. Unfortunately, Emily had to leave her job to move with Baker to Cleveland, where his NFL team is based.

She described the move as ‘bittersweet’ as she was leaving a job she loved to spend her time with the man she loves. Emily is currently an Instagram model and also works as a media correspondent. She worked with Cleveland’s 3News during the pandemic, and in one of the segments, she revealed how difficult it was for Baker to adjust to staying indoors. She said:

“He cannot sit still, it’s like has to be doing something! He needs to be entertained or doing something or moving around… The garage has turned into the gym so [Baker’s] still able to get his band work, his weights, his normal stuff like that.”

Emily also offered words of hope for people struggling during the pandemic. “There’s always light at the end of the tunnel,” she said. “It’s the perfect time to band together, lean on loved ones and strangers alike when you need it and just keep smiling. It’s gonna get better.”

Wilkinson said leaving their Ohio home for North Carolina was difficult

Baker Mayfield’s stint as the Browns’ QB ended unceremoniously as the Heisman Trophy winner asked to be traded. He saw the team’s signing of Deshaun Watson as evidence of his impending replacement as starting QB. The Browns traded him to the Carolina Panthers. 

Wilkinson wrote on Instagram Stories that the couple expected Baker to continue playing for the Browns for at least another season. “It’s obviously been an emotional couple of days,” Emily wrote. “No part of me thought it’s be the last time we’d leave that house together or the last time we’d shut it down to head out on our off-season adventures.”

Emily said the house held many memories, including happy times with friends and family. She continued: “We had our first Christmas there together; set up and decorated our first Christmas tree there. I am leaving Cleveland with such fond memories. I’m leaving this house with a full heart.”

Wilkinson said leaving brought a lot of sadness, but there was a silver lining. She wrote: “It means it was a good ride. More adventures will come. More homes will house memories. But there’s just something about that first place. Thank you, CLE. You’ll forever hold a special place in my heart.”