All About Tampa Bay Quarterback Baker Mayfield’s Daughter Kova

Baker Mayfield’s daughter, Kova, is his biggest fan.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback and his wife, Emily, welcomed Kova — their first child — in April 2024. Her arrival came around five years after the pair tied the knot.

Baker and Emily, who met through a mutual friend in 2017, according to ESPN, announced they were expecting in December 2023. They shared the news on Instagram with a carousel of waterfront images, which included snaps of Emily holding sonograms of their little one, their dog Fergus rocking a “Big Brother“ bandana and Baker sporting a “Dad” hat.

“We’ve been hiding a little something,” the post began. “But we are THRILLED to share that baby girl Mayfield will be joining our crazy crew in early April 2024!”

Four months after their announcement, the pair welcomed their daughter.

“I think when you’re trying to have kids, or your significant other is pregnant, everybody’s like, ‘Just wait until you see that child for the first time, you don’t know that love,’ ” Baker told Sports Spectrum in March 2025. “You hear it so many times, and you’re like, ‘Yeah, I get it.’ But [the] first time I saw her, that’s like, ‘OK, now I understand it and what that pure love is.’ It just turned our world upside down. It’s so special.”

Here is everything to know about Baker Mayfield’s daughter, Kova.

She was born on April 9, 2024

Baker and Emily became first-time parents on April 9, 2024, with the birth of their daughter, Kova Jade Mayfield.

“Baby girl joined us Tuesday night just before 7:30 p.m.,” Emily shared on her Instagram Stories a few days after giving birth. “She is truly everything we prayed for, and more.”

The newly minted mom noted that they were enjoying life as a family of four, including with their dog, Fergus.

“Fergus is so gentle & curious, Daddy is so smitten, and Mama wants to pause time & make these days last forever,” she wrote.

The Buccaneers were quick to welcome the newest addition to the team, posting, “Welcome to the Krewe, Kova Jade Mayfield,” on Instagram.

Her nickname is Koko

While Baker and Emily’s daughter’s full name is Kova Jade Mayfield, the couple and their friends often refer to her by the nickname “Koko.” Her first birthday party even featured decorations with the moniker on them.

She isn’t the only family member to go by a nickname. Her father is often referred to as “Bake” by his wife on social media.

She almost shared a birthday with her dad

Born only five days apart, Kova and Baker share a birthday week. The two rang in milestone birthdays in 2025: Kova’s first and Baker’s 30th. They celebrated with a golf-themed joint birthday party, the same weekend as the Masters Tournament.

Cleveland Browns guard Wyatt Teller and his family flew to Tampa to celebrate the father-daughter duo and showed off some of the personalized touches found at the party, including floral arrangements featuring customized “Koko & Baker” golf balls.

Kova was spotted wearing a golf-themed outfit while Baker kept it cool in a white shirt. The two were photographed enjoying the birthday festivities, including sitting next to each other with their respective birthday cakes surrounded by large balloon displays.

She cheers her dad on

Baker signed on with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers prior to the 2023 season and Kova is one of his biggest fans. She has been seen attending his games including the Bucs’ final preseason game against the Dolphins in August 2024, where Baker held her on the field.

Kova has been known to cutely deck out in Buccaneers-colored gear, including a customized onesie with her dad’s name and number on it with a matching red tutu and black headband.

She has her dad wrapped around her finger

The Heisman Trophy winner revealed on Sports Spectrum that his life changed forever upon meeting his daughter.

“As soon as I saw her, I’m like, ‘Oh, she’s got me wrapped around her finger,’ ” Baker said. “The protective instincts come out, and you now realize what the priorities are.”

Emily, who often posts pictures of Baker with Kova, echoed the sentiment.

“It’s very sweet, and he is wrapped around her finger, and he’s been saying that since she was born,” she told the Tampa Bay Times in 2024. “But now that she’s giggling and staring at him and now she just started doing that lower-lip thing, and he’s so screwed when that happens. He’s natural. He really is a natural.”

She has bonded with Baker and Emily’s dog, Fergus

Baker and Emily’s dog, Fergus, is an important part of the family. He is often photographed alongside them for life’s big moments, including when Emily surprised Baker with the news that she was pregnant.

The expectant mom put a “Big Brother Fergus” bandana around the dog’s neck, hoping the quarterback would see it when he got home. However, things didn’t go quite as planned, as Baker thought they were expanding their brood with another dog.

“I was in shock, to be completely honest,” the football star told ESPN in 2023. “I had sent her a picture outside of our hotel. There was a goldendoodle puppy sign with the number on it, and I sent her a screenshot of that, and then two days later I go to the house and she put a big brother shirt on our dog.”

Baker continued, “So I started looking around for a puppy, not seeing the ultrasound and the positive pregnancy test right in front of me. So yeah, I was in the doghouse for a little bit on that one. But it was just complete shock, but so blessed.”

Fergus also adorably snuggled up to Kova and Baker once she came home from the hospital. In an Instagram Story shared by Emily, Fergus was seen extending his paw to Baker while he cradled their newborn in bed.