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By Megan Armstrong
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On Monday morning, hours before the NFL's legal tampering period began, NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported that Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans was "serious" about leaving Tampa, the only organization he's ever known.
By Monday afternoon, it was confirmed that Evans was really serious about finishing his playing career elsewhere. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Evans and the San Francisco 49ers agreed to a three-year contract worth up to $60.4 million. Evans can't officially sign until the new league year and free agency officially open on Wednesday at 4 p.m. EST.
But it immediately felt official to Bucs fans, as his agent, Deryk Gilmore, provided a lengthy statement to Schefter. It reads as follows:
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“After twelve remarkable seasons in Tampa Bay, Mike Evans felt a desire to challenge himself with a new chapter in the final stage of his career. Throughout his entire career he has pushed himself to grow, compete, and evolve as a player, and this decision reflects that same mindset.
Mike has tremendous love and respect for the Buccaneers organization, the Glazer family, the coaches, his teammates, and especially the fans in Tampa Bay who have supported him since the day he was drafted. Tampa will always be home to him, and he is deeply proud of everything they accomplished together.
He also has great belief in the future of the Buccaneers’ wide receiver room. Mike has tremendous respect for Chris Godwin and believes that Jalen McMillan, Emeka Egbuka, and Tez Johnson are incredibly talented young players who will thrive as they continue to develop and take on larger roles in the offense.
At this stage of his career, Mike’s goals remain the same as they have always been — to compete for another Super Bowl, to play in an offensive system that challenges defenses, and to be in an environment where he can continue to push himself and contribute at the highest level.
The Buccaneers made it clear they would have loved for Mike to finish his career in Tampa and potentially become just the fourth player in franchise history to spend his entire career as a Buccaneer and ultimately walk into Canton representing the organization.
Mike Evans’ decision to leave Tampa was never about money. The Buccaneers were extremely aggressive in their pursuit and presented a very strong offer, demonstrating how much they value him and everything he has meant to the franchise. In the end, this decision simply came down to Mike wanting a new challenge and a fresh opportunity while he still feels he has a great deal left to give the game.
Tampa Bay will always be a special place for Mike Evans, and his respect and gratitude for the organization and its fans will never change.”
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The Buccaneers drafted Evans at No. 7 overall in 2014. The six-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion became the first receiver in league history to post at least 1,000 yards in each of his first 11 seasons. Evans and Jerry Rice are the only receivers to have strung together 11 consecutive 1,000-yard seasons at any point in an NFL career.
Evans' streak came to an end last season, as he suffered a broken clavicle in Week 7. He finished 2025 with a career-low 30 catches for 368 yards and three touchdowns in eight games for the 8-9 Bucs.
After the 2026 NFL Combine in Indianapolis last month, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported that Evans wanted "a quarterback he believes in, a chance at a Super Bowl, a top-shelf offensive coordinator, and the promise of high-volume touches." Assuming he believes in 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy, Evans checked off all four conditions by planning to sign in San Francisco.
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