Mike Evans admits he’s close to retiring from the game of football and it could be as soon as next year
Mike Evans is in the 12th year of his NFL career and he’s accomplished just about everything a player can achieve since he was drafted with the seventh overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft.He has a Super Bowl ring and numerous Pro Bowls and All-Pros to his name. He also has a chance to […]
Mike Evans is in the 12th year of his NFL career and he’s accomplished just about everything a player can achieve since he was drafted with the seventh overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft.
He has a Super Bowl ring and numerous Pro Bowls and All-Pros to his name. He also has a chance to do something no player has ever done in league history – become the first player to record 12 straight 1,000 receiving yard seasons in both the first 12 years of their career and 12 years, in general. The current record of 11 straight 1,000 receiving yard seasons is held by the legendary Jerry Rice, but he failed to record 1,000 yards in his rookie season, leaving Evans with a chance to attain something truly unique and unmatched.
And based off Evans’ recent comments, he could ride off into the sunset after breaking the record. Especially if the Bucs end up fulfilling their Super Bowl aspirations on the year.
“I plan on having one of my best seasons. And if I retire after this year, I don’t think it’ll be a shock to people…
“… I’m close to the end, that’s all I’ll say.” – Mike Evans via The Athletic’s Zak Keefer.
It’s very similar to what Tom Brady said during a 2021 appearance on LeBron James’ The Shop. Brady essentially said the same thing in terms of being close to the end and lo and behold, he retired after the 2021 season. Yes, he did un-retire, but the point still stands.
It makes sense for Mike Evans to retire after the 2025 season if he chooses to do so
We’ve already gone over the accolades and accomplishments reasoning of why he’d retire after 2025, but it also makes sense contractually. This is the last year of the two-year, $41 million deal he signed back in March of 2024. Per Spotrac, Evans has made more than $155 million throughout his career, so money wouldn’t weigh much on his potential decision.
It wouldn’t be the best-case scenario for the Bucs. Not only would they be losing a franchise legend – they’d have to eat over $13 million in dead money, too. Evans has three void years on his deal and the Bucs would have to eat all of that at once if he’s not on the roster. That is, unless he decides to file the retirement paperwork after June 1, which would reduce the hit to $4.358 million in 2026 and $8.716 million in 2027.
Bucs’ receiving corps would still be in good shape without Evans, as well
It’s not like he’d be leaving his team high and dry, either. Assuming Chris Godwin Jr. and Jalen McMillan stay healthy and gets back to at least a close version of their old selves, the Bucs’ receiver room would still be in good shape. Especially if Emeka Egbuka continues to develop throughout the 2025 season.
Regardless of all this and Evans’ comments, I do think a lot of people would be shocked to see him retire after another 1,000 yard season. But at the same time, it’s always best when great players get to go out on top/end things on their terms and for someone like Evans, that would easily be the best and most preferred way to see him go out.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers News
Bucs at Texans Final Score Predictions: Baker Mayfield and C.J. Stroud face tough tests in prime Week 2 matchup
Monday night’s matchup is going to be a dogfight. We predict the winners, right here.
