Evans\u2019 departure has been an especially tough pill to swallow, but a trio of franchise legends just put things in perspective and helped soften the blow for Bucs fans.<\/p>\n
Ronde Barber, Derrick Brooks, and Mike Alstott open up about Mike Evans leaving the Tampa Bay Buccaneers\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ronde Barber, Derrick Brooks, and Mike Alstott were recently interviewed, and of course, Evans came up as a topic.\u00a0<\/p>\n
All three of those players spent the entirety of their careers with the Buccaneers, so they can speak on the topic better than most.\u00a0<\/p>\n
WATCH: “Everybody will forget it when he is announced in the Hall of Fame as a Buccaneer.”<\/p>\n
Ronde Barber, Derrick Brooks and Mike Alstott played for the #Bucs<\/a> their entire careers.<\/p>\n While they wish Mike Evans stayed in Tampa like them, they are glad he will team up w\/John Lynch. pic.twitter.com\/TgSefmvXmK<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Mark Skol, Jr. (@markskoljrTV) May 29, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Barber got honest about hitting the open market during his career and having the chance to leave, but never wanting to leave Tampa due to his love for the city and franchise.\u00a0<\/p>\n Brooks takes solace in the fact that at least Evans is at least teaming up with Buccaneers legend John Lynch, who is the general manager in San Francisco.\u00a0<\/p>\n Both Barber and Brooks, while disappointed that Evans is no longer in Tampa Bay, made it clear that they respect his decision to do what he felt was best for his career and family.\u00a0<\/p>\n Alstott closed things out with the best quote of all.<\/p>\n \u201cEverybody will forget it when he\u2019s announced in the Hall of Fame as a Buccaneer. I mean when it\u2019s all said and done, nobody is going to remember his next three years,\u201d said Alstott. \u201cMike Evans is a Buc for life and he\u2019s a legend here so again, we\u2019ve just gotta respect his decision.\u201d<\/p>\n Alstott\u2019s comments definitely help to soften the blow, as much as it stings to lose Evans. It\u2019s true that when his legendary career comes to an end, he\u2019ll be inducted into Canton as a Buccaneer, and that\u2019s how he\u2019ll be remembered.\u00a0<\/p>\n He had a historic tenure in Tampa Bay, including an NFL-record 11 consecutive 1,000-yard seasons to begin this career.\u00a0<\/p>\n Evans still has a lot of good football in the tank, but the peak of his career, including a Super Bowl championship, took place with the Buccaneers. That\u2019s the way fans will remember him when it\u2019s all said and done, and Bucs fans can take solace in that fact.\u00a0<\/p>\n Don\u2019t cry because it\u2019s over, smile because it happened!\u00a0<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/assets.minutemediacdn.com\/platform\/google_discover_icon.svg\"){kind=icon}
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