Lavonte David: Mike Evans Didn’t Tell Me Exactly Why He Left The Bucs
March 26th, 2026
Former Bucs linebacker Lavonte David sat down this week and was asked about the departure of fellow Bucs legend Mike Evans in free agency.
“Did that surprise you, Mike leaving?” David was asked on CBS Sports HQ.
“It did. It did,” David replied.
“But me and Mike have a personal relationship, so I knew it was coming already. He kind of told me already what he was. And just me knowing Mike — he didn’t tell me exactly why he was leaving — but me knowing Mike, I feel like he’s a competitor and I think it was just time for a change of scenery for him. Just because, you know, he just wanted a different challenge.”
Joe found this very interesting. So David, a guy Evans has said many times is a mentor to him and a brother, a guy who was Evans’ teammate for 12 years, didn’t get an exact explanation from Evans why he was leaving their team.
This revelation comes on the heels of Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht revealing eight days ago that he didn’t have a phone conversation with Evans following Evans deciding to leave for the 49ers.
Man, Joe would have expected Evans to handle a Bucs departure much differently with those he was close to.
March 26th, 2026 at 11:32 am
Probably never find out the real reason.
March 26th, 2026 at 11:33 am
MIKE has handled it like a champ!!!!
joe and others are the ones who cant seem to handle it and move on….much like their 9th grade break up lol….
BROCK>baker
GO BUCS!!!!
March 26th, 2026 at 11:36 am
It’s simple. Mike, wanted to WIN!
March 26th, 2026 at 11:40 am
813bucboi:
You seem to be like one of those folks who drives for weeks with the “Check Engine” light on then wonder why you had to call Triple-AAA to get your car towed.
March 26th, 2026 at 11:43 am
Any real competitor that wants to win a chip would ascertain the Bucs current situation as one that’s not conducive to winning. All you have to do is look at the 1st Carolina game and listen to the HC interview going into halftime. That wasn’t a winning mentality when all of your top skill players are playing
March 26th, 2026 at 11:44 am
He left because “He hate us”. Let’s move on……
March 26th, 2026 at 11:47 am
We all know the real reason cause he didn’t want to play for Bowles and I can’t blame him. You can only follow an inept coach for so long before you are just wasting years with nothing in return.
March 26th, 2026 at 11:56 am
Mike went to a team that he knows he’ll get the ball more , he wants to add to his legacy
March 26th, 2026 at 11:56 am
I’d be willing to bet my last nickel that LD knows exactly why Evans left, but he has too much class to talk about other people’s business behind their back.
March 26th, 2026 at 11:59 am
I would say retaining Bowles had something to do with it doesnt send a message that we want to win now and he only had so much time left in his playing career so not happy he left but i really cant blame him if im blaming anyone its our cheap a## owners who are digging our grave as a franchise right now and working toward the #1 pick in 2027
March 26th, 2026 at 12:02 pm
Glad LVD had his moment !! When Mike does his retirement it won’t hit the same ijs
March 26th, 2026 at 12:03 pm
Crowed WR room is why he left…11-100yds games the last 5yrs…we will be fine just like we were vs the Seahawks and 49ers without him
March 26th, 2026 at 12:09 pm
C_T
Guess the middle letter. This is as obvious.
Mike knows Lavonte loves him some Todd Bowles and out of respect for his friend, he declined to tear down LVD’s idol in front of him.
No mystery here.
Shanahan >>>>>>>>> Belows
Purdy >Baker
CMC, Kittle, etc.
March 26th, 2026 at 12:11 pm
Why are we asking “why did he leave?”. The guy yelled out, “It’s 3rd and 28′ after the loss to the Falcons! He lost all faith in the coaching staff and when the FO and owners decided to ride it out with Bowles next season, he made his mind up. I don’t blame him. When your boss is a loser and the execs won’t make a change, you make a change.
March 26th, 2026 at 12:14 pm
Your last line!
Thank goodness more people are starting to state this publicly as what it is. Unfortunate or not. This was just not a very distinguished of proficient departure from Mike. The opposite way really.
March 26th, 2026 at 12:18 pm
I think it came down to the drafting of Emeka Egbuka
Mike Evans need his targets, he don’t want a crowded WR room
He feels he needs his targets for his Gold Jacket
Emeka Egbuka –127 Targets
Mike Evans — 61 Targets
I know Mike missed some games, but he played in 8 games
8 games 61 Targets, Mike can’t get his jacket like that
Especially when Devante Adams is still playing at a high level
March 26th, 2026 at 12:20 pm
LVD wasn’t listening?
Mike yelled it very loudly on the sideline so all the guys on the field (LVD included) could hear.
March 26th, 2026 at 12:35 pm
Not wanting to Play for the Biggest Clown of a Head Coach in the NFL by far
March 26th, 2026 at 12:41 pm
He absolutely told him but he isnt gonna tell me or you but anyone that can see past their nose knows why you don’t need to keep speculating.
March 26th, 2026 at 12:47 pm
Sly and lowIQ both are on track.
I try to put myself in Mikes head. You play hard for months on end. Every play you are blocking, running down the field for a pass that misses you or never gets to you because the QB is sacked or running for his life or you catch a pass and get BLASTED by a DB. Every play you are playing balls out. Then in a game that means the post season trip, you see this pathetic defense that Bowles (and Bowles alone) fall apart at 3rd and 28. Then THEY KEPT BOWLES THE CLOWN for another year. He left for the same reason I have turned from a fan to a troll this season.
March 26th, 2026 at 1:02 pm
“Man, Joe would have expected Evans to handle a Bucs departure much differently with those he was close to.”
Absolutely on point, Joe
March 26th, 2026 at 1:02 pm
It’s water under the bridge now
Adios Amigo
March 26th, 2026 at 1:07 pm
Joe, no need to replay to someone who until the 2-7 slide was a diehard bowlesboi. Now he’s jumped on with Munch in baker bashing (good or bad tbd.) and wants to draft a g in the first round.Must be a soccer or wnba fan.
March 26th, 2026 at 1:07 pm
You seem to be like one of those folks who drives for weeks with the “Check Engine” light on then wonder why you had to call Triple-AAA to get your car towed.
joe, im sure you go to AUTOZONE when your check engine light comes on lol….
be a MAN, joe!!!!….get dirty and get under the hood!!!!…and forget about Becky from the 9th grade…along with Mike Evans lol
i didnt know AAA still exist lol….
GO BUCS!!!!
March 26th, 2026 at 1:31 pm
Told ya Joe, he’s a hammer head. Not sure why you didn’t post me, but that’s cool. Don’t have to post this either.just a comment from someone who really was a 76 fan from the start. Row 62 , 50 yard line, East side, dad and I. 8 rows below Joe and the 2 dancers he’d bring from his club. Got a standing O every home game.😄
March 26th, 2026 at 2:08 pm
For all we know Mike told Lavonte exactly what reasons he chose to leave Tampa, but I don’t expect David to betray Evans’ trust as a friend and start blabbing to the media about it and invite that on his friend outside of football.
This is the same Lavonte David it took a few season from him being drafted to actually talk. Even the players talk about that, “Lavonte doesn’t do too much talking, so when he does talk-we listen & take notice”
March 26th, 2026 at 2:30 pm
3rd and 28.
Any questions?
March 26th, 2026 at 2:48 pm
Mike literally said he wanted to play for a ‘contender’ with a QB who was capable of winning a SB.
Mike left because he knows Baker Mayfield is a loser who will never win anything important, will always be ‘hurt’ in the biggest moments.
Final 6 games of the season:
Defense, 10th in points allowed
Offense, 28th in points scored
It had nothing to do with the defense, it was 100% on Bum Baker singlehandedly blowing the season, after also choking in the playoffs in 2024 with his awful INT at Detroit with 2 mins left in a one score game, and in 2025 in the playoffs when the defense made a huge 4th quarter goal line stand and gave the ball back to the offense which could go up 2 scores and put the game away, and instead Baker immediately turned it over, losing the game.
If you think Mike leaving is about another other than knowing Baker is a born loser, you’re an idiot, a very low IQ idiot.
March 26th, 2026 at 2:57 pm
“Mike literally said he wanted to play for a ‘contender’ with a QB who was capable of winning a SB.”
The information and hints are out there, obviously it’s mostly going to further the speculation, but taking less money, to go play with a QB you say this about say, alot:
“It’ll all come down to his rapport with Brock Purdy, who is known for throwing with elite anticipation and timing. Purdy has had downfield threats, with Aiyuk being one of the league’s best in 2023, but Evans is a different type.
Part of why the longtime Buccaneer came to San Francisco was the quarterback play, which was important when selecting his next destination.
“[He’s a] true professional. Really, really underrated player,” Evans said of Purdy. “His first start was against my Buccaneers back in 2022, and I saw right then and there that, if I play with him, I feel like I can help him out a lot.
“And, you know, he’s already a really good player. I hope I can help him get to where he wants to go in his career, and that’s to be a Super Bowl champion, potential MVP, and just have a great career here in San Francisco.”
So Mike wanted to play for an offense that “threatens defenses” and he thinks he’s good enough to help Purdy be less underrated and a potential MVP candidate. Also, the “timing & anticipation” part will make some uspet, but that’s not a strength of our current QB.
March 26th, 2026 at 3:34 pm
Joe, lol, of course he told David probably Godwin and a few others. However, like you said they have a relationship and good friends are not going to spill someone else’s business, otherwise they wouldn’t be good friends. I believe he didn’t telll Licht or anyone in the Bucs organzation because they were all surprized. One way or the other my guess was the agent ,people other than the Bucs appeared to know. For me the first clue was when Mike said how good the receiver room was. That told me he felt like he was leaving the team and the receiver room would be fine. I can’t believe others in the Bucs organzation did not know,actually hard to imagine. We know why Mike left, the organzation had no plans to improve on the defensive side of the ball, at least not in the near future. Mike apparantly knew that and decided if he wanted to avoid be on a losing team he had no choice but to leave. Licht and Bowles must have their head in the sand because they are doing little to improve a truly sad defense. Yes Licht is posturing about the new guys and how the team is excited to come back. However, Licht has no credibility after telling us Braswell would shock the world and Bowles saying Dennis was a great LB. Yep they are drinking some kind of kool aid all I can say
Anyway , hard to be a fan right now
March 26th, 2026 at 3:54 pm
When are we going to stop talking about this?
March 26th, 2026 at 4:06 pm
I think we all know the reason it’s just not being said out loud. It’s Bowles.
March 26th, 2026 at 4:50 pm
Bowels is why he left
March 26th, 2026 at 4:54 pm
Look forward to seeing Mike opening Thursday night football in Australia with his new team. While Joe, and you bumpkins still wonder why he left.
March 26th, 2026 at 5:08 pm
Who cares is it relevant, does it change anything.
March 26th, 2026 at 5:20 pm
Guaranteed everyone close the Mike knows the reasons, don’t try to tarnish his name acting like he left on bad terms. Everyone with a brain know Mike left because he doesn’t feel this team/coaches/staff etc can compete seriously for a championship and if they don’t, everyone will be fired and Mike will spend his last few highly productive years going through a rebuild. Maybe his teammates…. like LD54…. who have a long-standing reputation for not being about drama and issues are just staying hush hush. I wish Mike stayed as much as anyone but good lord enough with trying to make a mountain out of a mole hill. What did you expect Mike and teammates to say? “He left because Bowles is a heaping pile of hot garbage and will never get us to the Super Bowl”? Mike was the ultimate Buc his entire career, him leaving tells you everything you should know about the state of the franchise from someone whos seen it at its best and worst.
March 26th, 2026 at 6:21 pm
I thought this was a Mike Evans article. Now I’m reading it was Baker’s fault that Evans left. I knew that was coming. The haters just can’t help themselves.
March 26th, 2026 at 7:09 pm
David saying Evans didn’t tell him. Not buying that one
March 26th, 2026 at 7:16 pm
He knew you are a Todd guy
March 26th, 2026 at 8:08 pm
Translation, was fed up with Bowles and his mediocrity. I hope the glazers realize now that tjey need to make a change if Bowles doesnt win 11-12 games next year and win a playoff game or two
March 26th, 2026 at 9:33 pm
I’m sure it’s because Brock is such a once in a lifetime generational talent that only comes along like every 20 years or so. For that reason, I’m confident that the 49ers will easily be champs this next season. Calling it now. It’s gonna rough realizing that Mike really could predict the future, and knew when to abandon ship. I’m also calling an injury-free year, where Mike plays all 17 games. Same with CMC and Kittle. Brock will come out of this season stealing the crown from little Patrick’s head, becoming the scariest thing in football for the next 10 years, at least. With Mike playing another 3 years, we may actually see the 3-peat by Dan Fran. Sorry, boys. We’re about to witness the next dynasty in football, and it was all because of that one piece they were missing, Mike Evans. THANKS ALOT, LICHT:(
March 26th, 2026 at 9:51 pm
#6 was the reason
March 26th, 2026 at 10:31 pm
Like with Joe, Mike knew Lavonte was too close to Bowles to call him out.
March 27th, 2026 at 6:21 am
Sheesh. Mike left because he wants to be a focal point of the offense and the Bucs have way too many highly talented receivers. Consequently, Mike would not be targeted as often as Mike wants as he is on his Hall of Fame journey. Also, if the Bucs can finally put it together and stay healthy, they will have a better season than San Fran.
March 27th, 2026 at 12:58 pm
Still in the 4 stages of grief. Hope we get to stage 4 acceptance soon.
March 27th, 2026 at 7:09 pm
If Mike only left because of the crowded WR room then he would have told everyone that. It is a valid reason so while that is probably true he probably really decided to leave when he found that Bowles (and Licht) was retained as he has seen Bowles D calling and head coaching style for 4 straight seasons now.and its results: 8 to 10 regular season wins and a 1-3 playoff record. He wants more. The Bowles factor is negative 2 wins as Joe defines it. The Shanahan factor is plus 2, 3 or maybe 4 plus wins even if Purdy is hurt as Mac Jones can win there too. Evans probably said this to others like Licht and LVD but they are not going to say this to the public as they like Bowles as a person, just like Mike but not a coach.
March 27th, 2026 at 7:16 pm
Lol we all know exactly what the reason was. It can be summed up in 3 words:
“3rd and 28”
Actually, it can be summed up in 2 words:
“Todd Bowles”