MAYFIELD VILLAGE — The connection between Baker Mayfield and Northeast Ohio is becoming even stronger because the starting quarterback of the Browns has entered a marketing partnership with Progressive.

Yes, Mayfield has united with the Mayfield Village-based insurance company.

On Wednesday morning, Progressive announced Mayfield and his wife, Emily, will become the newest stars of its commercials. In the afternoon, the newlywed couple attended rallies for Progressive employees at company headquarters.

Progressive, which offers a range of auto and home insurance options, will officially kick off an advertising campaign Sept. 5 featuring the Mayfields and a playful take on their fictional lives as homeowners in FirstEnergy Stadium. The campaign will run on national television and digital channels throughout the 2019 NFL season.

"Emily and I are not just going to do a deal just for the money," Mayfield said. "We do things because we care about it and we genuinely enjoy it or like it.

"As soon as I came into the [Progressive] building, you knew a bunch of the people were true Clevelanders. Just the passion, you could feel the energy."

Emily Mayfield said she was initially reluctant to appear in the commercials, but she warmed up to the idea after she heard the pitch from Progressive's marketing team.

"Baker has a lot of meetings with a lot of brands, and it's very rare that he comes home and is excited to tell me about it," she said. "This was one that he like lit up, so I knew it was something different, and if I had the opportunity to be part of it, I wasn't going to say no."

About 10 days before their wedding in early July, the Mayfields spent two days filming the commercials.

On the second day of filming, they met Progressive's most recognizable advertising character, Flo, who's played by comedian and actress Stephanie Courtney. Baker Mayfield described Courtney as "one of the nicest people I've ever met" and "the real superstar."

Mayfield isn't too shabby himself, though. He's been in Heisman House and NFL 100 commercials.

"My acting skills are improving each day," he quipped. "No, I've always been one to try to be very comfortable in my own skin and be proud of that, just to not take myself too seriously. I think as you guys see these commercials, it hits home with that."

Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. Read his Browns coverage at www.ohio.com/browns. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ByNateUlrich and on Facebook www.facebook.com/abj.sports.