Late in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ victory over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, the Buccaneers had the ball and the lead and could have let the final seconds tick away with a kneel or two.
But knowing that wide receiver Mike Evans was only a few yards away from his 11th consecutive season with 1,000-plus receiving yards, quarterback Baker Mayfield completed a pass to the 31-year-old with just over 30 seconds remaining in the game to get the job done. Evans then celebrated with his teammates.
The NFL world reacted to Evans reaching 1,000-plus receiving yards on the season in such dramatic fashion.
Mike Evans & the Bucs players are HYPED after his 11th straight 1,000 yards receiving season 🔥pic.twitter.com/eaEIy3eA0V
— Ahn Fire Digital (@AhnFireDigital) January 5, 2025
Instead of kneeling, the Bucs threw to Mike Evans to put him over 1,000 yards receiving—giving him a $3 million bonus.
The team’s celebration with him:pic.twitter.com/jpA1kBaDyt
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) January 5, 2025
What an unbelievable scene in Tampa Bay. If you want to know what one player means to a franchise, a city, a fan base, look no further. Mike freaking Evans
— Jon Ledyard (@LedyardNFLDraft) January 5, 2025
Everyone watching Mike Evans: pic.twitter.com/ojgNB0xh99
— Moody (@EricNMoody) January 5, 2025
Before Brady, there was a long stretch of #Bucs fans not having much to cheer for. Mike Evans was one of the few reasons to tune in every week.
He never complained. He could have left – he never did. He’s played hurt constantly. Lifted a fanbase. Ray Jay thanking him today.
— Jon Ledyard (@LedyardNFLDraft) January 5, 2025
Bucs could have gone to victory formation, but instead went out of their way to get Mike Evans the last 5 yards he needed to secure his 11th straight 1,000-yard season and a $3M bonus for next year. Wild, terrific scene in Week 18. pic.twitter.com/nAHfqlAysh
— Brad Townsend (@townbrad) January 5, 2025
Hall of Fame. https://t.co/bloQw91JlF
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 5, 2025
This is what it’s all about https://t.co/S5s170YZUC
— Daniel Oyefusi (@DanielOyefusi) January 5, 2025
When the direct deposit hits your account 🔥🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/69nzdzhBot
— Safid Deen 💯💯💯💯 (@Safid_Deen) January 5, 2025
Mike Evans 11th straight 1,000-yard seasons. Model of top end consistency. Hall of Famer. pic.twitter.com/EHXWAuSpGB
— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) January 5, 2025
Mike Evans is still underrated.
— Frank Isola (@TheFrankIsola) January 5, 2025
Good for Mike Evans….
Hated that he was five yards short. Glad the Buccaneers did that for their star receiver.
— James Rapien (@JamesRapien) January 5, 2025
Evans will finish the 2024 regular season with 1,004 receiving yards after he totaled a team-high 89 against the Saints.
His streak of seasons with 1,000-plus receiving yards has lasted for the entirety of his NFL career, as he is in his 11th year in the league. While Evans’ talent is undeniable, perhaps he wouldn’t have been able to rack up quadruple digits in receiving yards on a yearly basis if it weren’t for all of the talented quarterbacks he’s played with.
Evans played with the likes of Jameis Winston and Ryan Fitzpatrick earlier on in his time in the pros. He also was fortunate enough to have Tom Brady leading the Tampa Bay offense for a few seasons and won a Super Bowl during his time being teammates with maybe the best football player ever.
Even this season, he has shared the field with one of the better quarterbacks in the league today in Mayfield. Thanks to heroics all season long from Evans as well as Mayfield, the Buccaneers have clinched the NFC South division and punched their ticket to the playoffs.
Evans will probably need to continue to play at a high level if Tampa Bay wants to make a deep playoff run. Who the Buccaneers will play to kick off their playoff stint is not set in stone just yet.
