The game’s biggest stars naturally connect, and for Mike Evans, that led to changing zip codes in this final juncture of his storied career.
A longtime star wide receiver for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Evans looked set to end his career with the team and even said he would. Instead, Evans left for the San Francisco 49ers this year, and Niners star tight end George Kittle had a significant role to play.
“George was the biggest salesman,” Evans told reporters on Thursday. “George sold it big time, and he’s a big reason why I’m here, just because of the type of player and teammate that he is.”
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Kittle, a career-long Niner since 2017, has been to seven Pro Bowls, and made first or second team All-Pro five times. Most of all, Kittle played a role in the 49ers reaching two Super Bowls in 2019 and 2023.
Evans already has a Super Bowl ring from the 2020 season when he helped the Tom Brady-led Buccaneers win it all. Since then, Evans and the Buccaneers had a stranglehold on the NFC South until 2025, when the team dipped below .500 and missed the playoffs.
Evans saw his role reduced in Tampa by default last season due to injuries, as he only had 30 catches for 368 yards and three touchdowns in eight games. It’s way below his accustomed production of 11 consecutive 1,000-yard seasons from the start of his career, an NFL record.
Only former 49ers wide receiver Jerry Rice reached 11 consecutive 1,000-yard campaigns before Evans, but that was in the middle of Rice’s career. Evans now looks to win it all and finish strong, where Rice’s Hall of Fame career began.
That said, Evans represents a missing part of the 49ers team, whom Kittle went after. San Francisco has seen the team’s top wide receivers go out the door in recent years: Deebo Samuel traded and Brandon Aiyuk soon to be released after two injury-riddled seasons. Evans believes that the Niners are one player away from another Super Bowl.
“And I think that I am that piece. I look forward to coming here and proving that,” Evans said.
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