I searched through recent reports and could not find any credible evidence that Emily Mayfield (née Wilkinson) has publicly admitted to a “failing marriage” in the exact terms of that headline. What is true, however, is that Baker Mayfield himself has made some very candid revelations about deep struggles in their marriage during a low point in his career — and many media outlets have characterized those as signs of the relationship being under serious strain. Below is a fuller breakdown of what is known, what was actually said, and what is speculation or reporting spin.
What’s Known: Baker’s Admissions & the Couple’s Struggles
1. “Rock bottom” in marriage and career
In March 2025, on the Sports Spectrum podcast, Baker Mayfield offered a very raw, introspective observation about a dark period in his life. He said:
> “God taught me a lesson … He had to take my career down to the studs and make me realize that I’m more than a football player. … I had to hit rock bottom. And it wasn’t just football. It was in our marriage.”
“We weren’t doing well at all. … At this time, we were trying to have kids. It wasn’t going well.”
“As a guy you put on the mask. But behind closed doors, who are you really? … Until my career got stripped down, I was hiding a lot.”
In other words, Baker attributed a significant part of his personal meltdown to both professional failure and marital distress.
2. Emily’s support during “dark times”
While Emily hasn’t publicly used dramatic language about a failing marriage, Baker has praised her consistency and support during their worst seasons:
> “There were a lot of dark times that we went through together … She’s always been the support piece and always believed in me and just been consistent.”
“She’s even‑keened even when I might need a foot right in my rear end to get going.”
So the narrative in many media accounts is that Emily remained steady even while the marriage was under stress.
3. Spiritual turnaround & “dive into the Word”
Baker described how he and Emily leaned heavily into their faith during the roughest times. He said that, in trying to save their relationship and his identity beyond football, he “dove into the Word” (i.e. Scripture) and accepted grace.
He framed their recovery as not a sudden fix, but as ongoing “constant work.”
4. Family and other pressures
The couple faced additional emotional weight in trying to start a family. Baker explicitly said that conceiving was a struggle for them during that low period.
Moreover, in other public matters, the couple has also been involved in a legal dispute with Baker’s father’s business (Camwood) claiming issues of contract breach and financial transparency — though that is more a financial/family-legacy matter than purely marital.
What Wasn’t Found: No Public “Confession” from Emily
I found no source in mainstream or trustworthy media showing Emily herself saying something like: “Our marriage is failing” or “I admit the marriage is failing.”
The narrative of a “failing marriage” appears mainly via media interpretation of Baker’s admissions rather than direct statements by Emily.
It’s possible the headline you saw is a spin or exaggeration (common in entertainment/celebrity reporting) based on Baker’s words.
Emily’s public communications tend to lean more toward gratitude, faith, and encouragement of her husband, rather than conflict.
Possible Timeline / Context
Here’s a rough sketch of how events may have unfolded, based on what Baker and the media have shared:
Period What Happened on the Field What Happened Off the Field / Marriage What Baker/Media Said
Early career / Browns era Baker was rising, strong performance Early marriage years with Emily; they relocated multiple times Media saw them as a power couple
Around 2022–2023 Baker’s career became unstable (team changes, inconsistent play) Emotional strain, marriage under pressure, difficulty conceiving Baker says he “hit rock bottom” and that marriage “wasn’t doing well at all”
Mid 2023–2025 Baker finds resurgence with Buccaneers Marriage recovery phase, leaning into faith, support from Emily Baker’s public reflections, interviews, spiritual framing
So What “Admission” Might the Headline Be Referring To?
Likely, the “personal admission on ‘failing marriage’” in that headline is a journalistic reinterpretation (or exaggeration) of Baker’s self‑revelation about marital struggle. The core truths are:
Baker openly admitted the marriage went through a phase of serious distress.
He connected those struggles to broader identity and career collapse.
He expressed how vulnerability, faith, and consistent support from Emily played a role in healing.
But Emily herself has not, in any verified source, made a similarly dramatic admission (so far as I found).