When Sterling Shepard earlier this week received a text message from Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield, it was nothing Shepard found out of the ordinary.

The two were teammates at Oklahoma and remain good friends.

Little did Shepard know that the wheels were in motion to get him back onto the field after he spent eight years with the Giants and figured his playing career was likely over.

“I got a text from my boy and I just thought it was ‘regular old checking in to see how I was doing’ type of text, because we do that from time to time to each other,’’ Shepard told the Post on Thursday.

After asking about each other’s children, Mayfield sent this curious message: “How does your body feel?,” followed by this: “Do you think you got any more left in you?’’

Mayfield told Shepard — who always believed he had more football left in him — that his name had been buzzing around Tampa and that Shepard should inform his agent to get in contact with the Buccaneers’ front office.

The agent, Justin Schulman, did that, a workout was scheduled for Wednesday morning in Tampa and Thursday, Shepard agreed to a one-year deal to extend his playing career.

“I’m looking forward to it,’’ Shepard said. “It’s a new scene. I can’t say I wanted to experience that, I always wanted to be a Giant but I’m not mad at it, man. It’s a really good situation, they have a really good football team, really talented football team and I get to be reunited with my boy and get to play with him a little bit. I’m excited about it. I get to play the game that I love still and get kinda like a fresh start. I’m looking to help this team in any way I can, show them what I have to offer.’’

Shepard, 31, has joint custody of his three children with his ex-wife, Chanel Iman, and he did not know if he could continue his playing career given his family responsibilities.

He was looking for what he described as “the perfect situation’’ and said “we still got a lot to figure out’’ as to how he will juggle his family and his new team.

Shepard said he was in “straight dad mode,’’ taking his kids to and from school every day, when Mayfield reached out.

He had been working out but route-running was not part of his daily schedule. He admitted he was “kinda nervous how it was going to go down’’ when he stepped on the field for a tryout in Tampa.

“I strapped on the cleats and I felt like my old self,’’ Shepard said. “The workout went well and I was happy we were able to get something done.’’

Shepard was a 2016 second-round pick.

He finished his time with the Giants with 372 receptions — the fifth-most in franchise history — for 4,095 yards and 23 touchdowns.

Injuries compromised his 2021 and 2022 seasons and he was not part of the playing rotation in 2023, filling an elder statesman role as the longest-tenured Giants player.

Shepard will be in Tampa for the Bucs’ minicamp next week. The Bucs come to MetLife Stadium on Nov. 24 to play the Giants.

“I did notice that,’’ Shepard said. “It’s gonna be pretty exciting. But I’m honestly in a whole different mindset right now. I’m trying to take it a day at a time and show them what I have to offer. I’m not even thinking that far ahead. It would be nice, trust me, but I’m super focused now, more than ever.’’