Tez thought he was the MVP for a second.
Buccaneers' Tez Johnson shares hilarious story after 'MVP' chants rained down vs. 49ers originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers welcomed the San Francisco 49ers to Raymond James Stadium on Sunday and walked away with a 30-19 win to improve to 5-1 on the season.
The 49ers came into the game as one of the most banged up teams in the league. Quarterback Brock Purdy, receiver Ricky Pearsall and defensive lineman Yetur Gross-Matos, among many more all missed the game due to injuries.
However, as the game went on, the Buccaneers slowly lost weapons as well. By the second half, quarterback Baker Mayfield was down his top four pass catchers and his top running back, but that didn't stop him from leading the team to a win.
Tez Johnson share hilarious 'MVP' story
One of the biggest moments in the game came in the third quarter. The Buccaneers were up 20-19, and their top pass catcher, Emeka Egbuka, had just been ruled out for the game.
That's when Mayfield dropped back around midfield and launched a 45-yard dart to Tez Johnson for a touchdown. It was one of the most impressive throws and catches you'll see this season, as Johnson held on with his fingertips as he dove to the ground.
When Johnson got up to celebrate, the crowd was chanting, "MVP, MVP, MVP," and for a moment Johnson thought it was him.
Welcome to the show Tez Johnson pic.twitter.com/5JQ53Zm3dQ
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) October 12, 2025
"I'm going to tell y'all a funny story, this is crazy. When I scored and I hear 'MVP' chants, I'm thinking they talking about me," Johnson said postgame. "So, I asked (Sterling Shepard), I'm like, 'Shep, they was chanting MVP?' And he was like, 'Yeah.' I was like, 'I ain't do nothing this year.' Then he was like, 'They talking about Baker, Tez.' And I was like, 'Well, that explains it.'
"But he is the MVP. The one he got the first down on, he said he blacked out, but I mean, that's just Baker. Just like, oh my God, he's a dawg. I don't know what he put in his cereal before the game, but that guy on it every single week."
Those who've followed Johnson since his days with Bo Nix at Oregon know he's a goofy guy that loves to have fun. But, on Sunday, he genuinely thought for a moment the crowd was chanting MVP for him.
"They was chanting MVP.... I ain't do nothing this year."
— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) October 13, 2025
"They talking about Baker, Tez."
Bucs WR Tez Johnson thought Baker's MVP chants were for him 💀
(via @realrockriley) pic.twitter.com/6aAiBib7mz
The catch against the 49ers was Johnson's sixth of the year, and he has 112 receiving yards and a touchdown.
Meanwhile, Mayfield already has more than 1,500 passing yards on the year and another 158 yards on the ground. The Buccaneers' quarterback also has 12 touchdowns compared to just one interception.
As of now, Mayfield's top four options on offense are all injured, so we could see more Mayfield-Johnson connections in the near future.
Category: Football
