NFL world reacts to Mike Evans reaching 1,000 receiving yards in dramatic fashion: ‘Hall of Famer’

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.

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, he certainly owes his incredible run of 1,000-yard seasons in part to all the quarterbacks who have been able to get him the ball over the years.

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.

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.