The San Francisco 49ers have stunned the league and signed former Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans in free agency to a three-year deal.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Evans’ deal is worth $60.4million.
It was long believed that if Evans stayed in the NFL, he would return to the Buccaneers.
However, according to the wide receiver’s agent, the decision to depart the team after 12 seasons comes with the desire for a new challenge.
‘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,’ read a statement from his agent Deryk Gilmore.
‘Throughout his entire career he has pushed himself to grow, compete, and evolve as a player, and this decision reflects that same mindset.Â
Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans has signed with the 49ers
Evans’ choice to leave the team came down to a desire to win another Super Bowl crown
‘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.’
Gilmore added, ‘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.Â
‘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.’
The Buccaneers’ owners, the Glazer Family, also released a statement of their own: ‘Saying goodbye to a legend such as Mike Evans is never easy, but today we are filled with appreciation and gratitude for al that he did during his extraordinary 12-year career as a Buccaneer.
‘Our goal was always to ensure that Mike would play his entire career as a Buccaneer, but as we got further in the process it became clear he was looking for a new challenge.’
The statement concluded: ‘We wish Mike continued success in his next chapter and thank him for all that he has done for the Buccaneers and Tampa Bay. When the time comes, we look forward to gathering once again to honor his many accomplishments and celebrate his eventual Hall of Fame career.’
Evans suffered injuries in back-to-back seasons these past few years – making the Niners’ $60.4m gamble a steep one as the wideout enters his age 33 season.
He missed a significant portion of the 2024 campaign due to an hamstring injury. Last season, Evans missed a majority of the season with a concussion and a broken clavicle.
Evans is coming off a pair of injury hampered seasons, including breaking his clavicle in 2025
Evans was a member of the Buccaneers team that won Super Bowl LV in the 2020 season
He will be remembered as the greatest offensive player in the history of the Buccaneers franchise – owning every major receiving record for the team.Â
After being selected seventh overall in the 2014 NFL Draft out of Texas A&M, Evans went on to be named to six Pro Bowls while hauling in 866 catches for 13,052 yards and 108 touchdowns.
He also was a member of the team that won Super Bowl LV over the Kansas City Chiefs.
The injury he suffered last season broke an eleven season streak of 1,000 yard receiving campaigns.
Evans owns the record for most consecutive 1,000 yard seasons to start a career and is tied with Jerry Rice for the most consecutive 1,000 yard seasons ever.
He was also named to the All-Pro second team twice and led the league in receiving touchdowns in 2023.
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers legend Mike Evans quits team and signs three-year deal with rivals in free agency shocker