Photo Credit: ESPN
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There are few times in sports where a franchise returns the dedication that players do. This happened on Sunday, January 5, 2025, at Raymond James Stadium. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were playing the New Orleans Saints and playing for a fourth straight NFC South division title. As the game started, it looked like the Buccaneers did not come to play. The Saints lead 16-6 at halftime, putting the crowd on edge. We all know that teams adjust at halftime and Tampa Bay did that. As the game winded down the Buccaneers got a late touchdown to take a 27-19, lead. The only thing that had not happened was for wide receiver Mike Evans. Evans started the game just 85 yards short from having his eleventh straight season with 1,000 receiving yards or more. He was five yards short of 1,000 yards at the time of the final touchdown.
Mike Evans has been with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers since being drafted in 2014 in round one, pick seven. He, like many, has had the opportunity to leave and make more money with other NFL teams. The Buccaneers have not been a winning franchise for most of Evans’s tenure. No matter what, Evans stayed with Tampa Bay. The Bucs were only up by eight points and with 1:51 left in the game had to stop the Saints from scoring. If the defense stopped them, it would give the Buccaneers a chance to take a knee to win the game and clinch yet another division title. The defense stopped the Saints and gave the ball back to the offense. That sparked the crowd to cheer Mike Evans’s name as the offense came out and they were not taking a knee.
The ball was snapped to quarterback Baker Mayfield and everyone knew where the ball was going. Mayfield found Evans in the flat as he caught the ball and ran for eight yards, which got him over 1,000 yards for the 2024-25 season. After that, he spiked the ball, and the fans and players were so excited. The players on the field hugged and celebrated with Evans. With that accomplishment, he tied Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice, considered the best wide receiver of all time. That play ended the game and sent the fans home feeling great. They witnessed a fourth straight division title and saw their beloved wide receiver get another 1,000-yard season. As Evans exited the field, the players and coaches told him how proud they were of him.
At the post-game press conference, he came in to answer questions. He mentioned how blessed he was to have a 1,000-yard season. One of the press members asked him about Randy Moss. Moss is recovering from being sick, but Evans mentioned he trained with him. Moss gave Evans a challenge to have 1,000 yards in every season that he played. He has accomplished that in the 11 years he has been in the league. They also asked Baker Mayfield about it and he told media members that if one player deserved the record it was Evans. What this showed is that Evans has dedication to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and with the catch he received a three-million-dollar bonus which the Buccaneers are happy to pay him. Mike Evans continued his streak even as he missed four games this past season with a hamstring injury.
What are your thoughts on Mike Evans’s 11th straight season with 1,000 yards and more? Leave a comment below.
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Author Profile
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Bradley Walker serves as the Director of Operations for NGSC Sports, bringing extensive experience across collegiate, professional, and amateur athletics. His coverage spans USF Athletics, including football, baseball, lacrosse, and softball, as well as University of Tampa baseball.
Bradley also provides coverage of minor league baseball with the Clearwater Threshers and Major League Baseball with the Tampa Bay Rays. On the national stage, he covers college football bowl games and conference championship matchups, along with premier golf events across the PGA Tour, LIV Golf, and LPGA Tour.
In addition to his reporting work, Bradley is the play-by-play announcer for Pinellas Park High School Patriots football, lending his voice and insight to Friday night lights.
He is also an active podcast host and contributor, serving as a co-host on the P&W Sports Report and hosting The Walker Report, where he delivers in-depth sports analysis, interviews, and coverage across multiple levels of competition.
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[…] top with ownership and then it trickles down to general manager and head coach. Just last month the Tampa Bay Buccaneers announced that they are inducting a new member to their Ring of Honor. That member is Simeon Rice […]