Baker Mayfield and Tampa Bay Buccaneers Donate $10K for Teen Who Died in Crash on Way to Game Against Chiefs

Mar. 15, 2025

Photo:David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty; GoFundMe

David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty; GoFundMe

QuarterbackBaker Mayfieldand the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are showing their support for the family of a fan who tragically died while on the way to their game against the Kansas City Chiefs last week.

The teamhas donated $10,000 to a GoFundMe in honor of Connor Barba, of Norman, Okla., who died in a three-car accident, while traveling from his home to Kansas City for last week’sMonday Night Footballgame in which the Bucs took on the Chiefs. His mother Megan Barnett was seriously injured and transported to a hospital in Tulsa, Okla., but survived.

News of the accident reached Mayfield, who played at the University of Oklahoma in Norman where he won the Heisman trophy in 2017. The quarterback said he was “honored and humbled” to know that Barba was such a big fan.

He continued, “I would have loved to have met him. As a new parent, this really hits home for me. I realize there are no words that can provide true comfort at a time such as this, but I hope that Megan makes a full recovery and that she draws strength from the outpouring of support she is receiving from around the country."

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The 18-year-old was driving his mother — who had surprised him with tickets to the game for his birthday — when an oncoming car veered into their lane on a rural highway in southeast Kansas on Saturday, Nov. 2.

The boy’s uncle told the news station that the teen “really wanted to seeBaker Mayfieldplay” while his mom “wanted to see the Chiefs” and was likely hoping to catch a glimpse ofTaylor Swiftcheering on boyfriendTravis Kelce.

On Friday, Nov. 8 in a post on the GoFundMe, which has raised over $128,000 so far, organizer Seth Brooks shared an update on Megan’s condition.

“Thank you to everyone for the continued support you’ve shown Megan’s family during this difficult time, including the Tampa Bay Buccaneers,” Brooks wrote. “Your kindness means so much to us.”

Brooks added that Megan is in the ICU and has had multiple surgeries and “may have one or two more while she is hospitalized.”

source: people.com