Mike Evans’ journey to the Pro Football Hall of Fame will continue in 2026, but not with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
After 12 fantastic years, he will move across the country to become part of the San Francisco 49ers receiving core.
Here, Florida News Blitz writer Luca Salmasi reports on the latest outgoing from the Tampa franchise.
Rookie star rises in Tampa
Mike Evans was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the seventh pick in the 2014 draft after an impressive two seasons in the NCAA at Texas A&M, where he caught 151 passes for 2,499 receiving yards and scored 17 touchdowns.
This form continued into his rookie NFL season, as he caught 68 passes for 1,051 yards and scored 12 touchdowns.
He also became the first rookie receiver to record three consecutive games with 100 receiving yards and at least one touchdown since Randy Moss in 1998, as well as the youngest player to amass over 200 yards in a single game.
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Record-breaking seasons
Evans maintained a high level of performance over the following 10 seasons in Tampa, catching at least 70 passes each year while sustaining a streak of 1,000-yard seasons.
In 2016, he achieved a career-high with 96 receptions, marking the beginning of his six Pro Bowl selections, and he set a personal best with 14 touchdowns in the 2021 season.
Super Bowl glory
Mike Evans played a pivotal role in the Buccaneers’ journey to the Super Bowl in 2020, catching 70 passes for 1,006 yards and 13 touchdowns in the regular season.
He also added 11 catches for a further 204 yards and two touchdowns during the playoffs.
He is the Buccaneers’ all-time postseason leader in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdown receptions, with four 100-yard performances in the postseason.
Buccaneers legend
Last year, to mark the 50th anniversary of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the team released a list of their top 50 players in franchise history, with input from Tampa Bay fans.
Evans was ranked fourth, only behind three Hall of Famers: Lee Roy Selmon, Derrick Brooks, and the legendary Warren Sapp.
He was also the first offensive player to be listed.
Pillar of the community
Alongside his impressive on-field performances in Tampa, Evans genuinely cares about supporting the community.
In December 2017, the Mike Evans Family Foundation was established to provide college scholarships to graduating high school seniors.
By 2025, the foundation had awarded 13 scholarships to high schools and had distributed over half a million dollars in scholarship funds since 2021.
Nominated four times for the Walton Payton Man of the Year award, Evans has been one of the most community-focused players in the Bucs locker room and has played a vital role in the Tampa community.
The foundation’s ultimate aim is to make a positive impact in the lives of children and families in need by establishing programmes that empower young people, promote education, and stand against domestic violence.
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