Mike Evans Unsure If He’ll Be Retired In 2028. Yes, 2028.
February 1st, 2025
Great news coming out of Disney World today.
Joe’s buddy Rock Riley was at Pro Bowl practice and asked Mike Evans about playing flag football in the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
Evans expressed an Olympics interest last year. But today he said he’s unsure if it will fit his football schedule. Evans told Riley he might still be playing real NFL football.
“This is good practice for me in the Olympics,” Evans said of the Pro Bowl flag football game. “Most likely I’ll be retired by 2028. How many years is that, three years? I don’t know. But if I am retired, I’ll definitely like to play in the Olympics.”
This is Exhibit A why Joe scoffed when there was chatter from One Buc Palace and among media that the Bucs made Evans a “Buc For Life” with a new two-year contract before this season.
The way Evans was talking today, he thinks he’ll play at least three more seasons 2025, 2026 and 2027 — but he’s only under contract for 2025.
Sage Ira Kaufman has lobbied on his iconic podcast for the Bucs to extend Evans’ contract this offseason for one more year. Kaufman says Evans, who turns 32 in August, deserves the peace of mind and respect.
Joe concurs.
Remember, back in 2023, when Evans entered the final year of his then-contract without a new deal, he was not happy. He even went public with thoughts of a holdout.
February 1st, 2025 at 2:43 pm
Dude is such a great player. One of my favorite Bucs of all time. Greatest offensive player in Bucs history. Maybe the greatest Buccaneers of all time. In my book when it comes to best Bucs player ever he is right there at #1 with Warren Sapp.
February 1st, 2025 at 2:50 pm
Whenever he hangs it up his jersey will be retired the next day.
February 1st, 2025 at 2:50 pm
Love his attitude but he doesn’t know how quickly that cliff of Father Time jumps in front of life
February 1st, 2025 at 2:51 pm
I’m sure he will want another Super Bowl ring before he retires. After 2025-26, Bucs could not be contenders anymore. Would not fault him for chasing a ring with a franchise who is contending
February 1st, 2025 at 2:57 pm
Not only a great player, but a great person. We are so fortunate to have him on our team. Thank you Jason!
February 1st, 2025 at 3:06 pm
Durango, I concur. His jersey is the only one I wear. So so happy he got his 1000 yards in a season that turned to turd the following week.
Love our Mikey. First Ballot Everything.
February 1st, 2025 at 3:08 pm
Licht and Greenberg will get it done. HOF
February 1st, 2025 at 3:19 pm
Look what happened to Godwin playing on his last year.
February 1st, 2025 at 3:22 pm
I remember listening to the podcast and hearing Ira say that.
I wasn’t sure I agreed at the time.
But, now I do.
We need to get Mike inked to a new multi-year deal sooner rather than later.
He needs to be focused on 1,000 yards and an SB.
Not where he might be playing in 2026.
February 1st, 2025 at 3:40 pm
Jerry rice played 19 years-Why not Mike?
February 1st, 2025 at 3:41 pm
Jerry rice played 20 years-Why not Mike?
February 1st, 2025 at 4:09 pm
Was just about to say, Rice was a 1000 yard receiver at 40. But he didn’t get dinged up as much as Mike and seemed to have better hamstrings. Still, it would be sweet if Mike could go to 2028 and beyond. All with the Bucs of course.
February 1st, 2025 at 4:21 pm
Again ME13 has earned the right now to be discussed in the same breath as Jerry Rice. Rice was still performing at a high level when he was 41! That’s ten more years for ME13…no wonder 3,4 or even 5 more years do not seem out of reach!
February 1st, 2025 at 4:40 pm
Man, I miss the Rock Riley podcasts…
February 1st, 2025 at 5:18 pm
Feed Mike and he’ll keep going! The s&c staff need to keep that hammy healthy and Grizz/Bake need to feed him. LFG!
February 1st, 2025 at 5:22 pm
Every mock draft that I’ve seen on NFL network has us taking a wide receiver at 19…smh These national media types really have no idea about the Bucs
February 1st, 2025 at 5:59 pm
We love him
February 1st, 2025 at 7:50 pm
Mike has some unique advantages for an extended career: even if he slows down when he gets older, he’s still going to be a big bodied receiver with great contested catch skills. Even if Mike Evans isn’t the WR1 burning people deep on every play at the age of 36, he could still make a great red zone threat
February 1st, 2025 at 9:42 pm
Pink
Spot on! BTW love your music.
Tbbucs I agree with your take about “national” guys. They simply are not in touch like the jjoes.
I will give CBS some credit however. They had the Bucs taking the edge rusher from Penn State Abdul Carter. I was under the impression he won’t be on the board at 17. Another CBS guy had the Bucs taking the Bama LB profiled by jjoe earlier this week. BOTH of those guys make sense.
One of our posters likes Will Johnson from Michigan but all the mocks I’ve seen, admittedly only a few, have Johnson going in the top ten. Great player though if he dropped.
At least any one of those three make sense and fill a major need!
February 1st, 2025 at 9:51 pm
Jerry rice had way more in the tank than san Francisco realized when they let him go.
Evans has the same kind of juice imo.
Keep putting those option years on his contracts imo.
February 1st, 2025 at 10:45 pm
@ faspro
The rock stops here podcast 👍
February 2nd, 2025 at 12:19 am
I would love to see 3 more years but only expect 2.
What do you mean he’s on signed for 2025? I thought he just signed for two more years?
February 2nd, 2025 at 4:37 am
Loving the Rock Riley interviews! He is one of the best too.
Mike is authentic, humble, and has been my favorite since A&M. He is the real deal on and off the field. It would be great to see Mike on the Bucs another two or three years. Hope he reaches his Olympic goal too.
February 2nd, 2025 at 7:04 am
I think he plays till he hits some magic numbers.
Another Super Bowl
1000 receptions – currently #35
Top 10 in yards – over 15,000 – currently #24
Top 5 in touchdowns – currently #9
Just a few HOF’ers and years they played (Other than GOAT Jerry Rice) ahead of Mike in career yards:
Larry Fitzgerald 17 years
Terrell Owens – 15 years
Randy Moss – 14 year
Tim Brown 17 yrs
Issac Bruce – 16 yrs
Pretty lofty company.
So, my magic 8 ball says Mike plays to 2027 or 2028 barring injury (14-15 yrs).
February 2nd, 2025 at 8:18 am
Boomer – Sounds great from your info. Cheering for Mike!
February 2nd, 2025 at 10:35 am
Boomer
Thanks for that info and some more perspective!!