Football Fouls: Star Quarterback Baker Mayfield Sues Father's Company for $12M

When you think of football, quality time spent among friends and family is what usually comes to mind. This football season, however, the latest play is taking place off the field and in an Austin, Texas, courtroom.

Local Austin news outlet KXAN reports that Tampa Bay Buccaneers star Baker Mayfield is taking legal action against his father’s company to the tune of $12 million. The lawsuit was filed on November 22 in U.S. District Court by Mayfield against a company his father and brother partially own. The star quarterback is accusing the Camwood Capital Management Group of not holding up their end of a $12 million settlement agreement.

The messy dispute, which has spilled into the courts, centers on allegations that Camwood failed to repay Mayfield after money was transferred to the company without his authorization. Mayfield claims his family’s business misused funds that were supposed to be paid back with interest, leaving him to deal with the financial aftermath.

Mayfield’s lawsuit claims that over $12 million was taken from him between 2018 and 2021. The money was transferred to various Camwood entities including Texas Contract Manufacturing Group and a few other subsidiaries without Mayfield’s consent. According to the legal filing, those funds were used for general operating expenses, like payroll, but Mayfield didn’t receive any equity in the companies in return.

The lawsuit details an alleged agreement between Mayfield and Camwood to settle the disputed funds. Back in January 2024, the two sides came to a “confidential settlement and release agreement” that laid out three conditions. These conditions included a repayment of $11.7 million plus interest which was set to start in September 2024. Ostensibly, the parties further agreed to refinance an existing loan to help fund the repayment. Camwood also allegedly agreed to give Mayfield full access to company financial records so that Mayfield could track where his money went.

According to Mayfield’s attorneys, none of these conditions have been met. The lawsuit states that Camwood has yet to repay any of the $12.2 million they allegedly owe, and the company has refused to provide the financial records or refinance the loan as agreed.

The case gets complicated because Camwood Capital is owned by Mayfield’s father, James W. Mayfield. The quarterback’s brother Matt, also has a stake in the company. Baker Mayfield, along with his wife, Emily, and their company, Team BRM, LLC, are listed as plaintiffs in the lawsuit.

Baker’s legal team had previously filed a petition in August 2023 asking for Camwood’s financial records from 2018-2023 and requesting depositions from key witnesses to try and figure out where the money went. However, those efforts weren’t fruitful, leading to Baker filing his lawsuit.

Mayfield is asking for no less than $11.74 million, plus interest, attorney fees, and any other relief the court thinks is appropriate.