Rondé Barber Reacts To Mike Evans Departure
March 13th, 2026
So what does a Buccaneers legend who speaks openly about how important it was for him to finish his storied career in Tampa think about Mike Evans bailing on Tampa Bay in favor of the 49ers?
Rondé Barber chimed in on that subject during his visit to the Jay Recher Podcast this week.
“I hate to see it. Because I wanted him to be one of those guys [with the Bucs his entire career],” Barber said
“My kind of take is, as long as Mike’s happy, I’m happy for him. Right? Mike made this decision. I know the Bucs would have loved to have him back and it’s not a money thing. It’s a ‘I want to try new opportunites’ type thing.
“…Mike definitely has a lot left in the tank, man. Like I think, we went from the beginning of the year — and I know this because I talked to Mike briefly — him thinking about retiring to him then getting hurt, realizing his love for the game is still there, he still has a lot to give and he’s not ready to walk away from the game. And that he’s not walking away but going to another place, it sucks for us as Bucs fans. But for Mike, it’s probably a good thing.
“… Let him live out his dream. If his dream is not here anymore, that’s fine. There’s never going to be a better offensive player in Bucs history than Mike Evans. I’m confident, in 50 years, people will look back and say Mike Evans is still the best offensive player in Bucs history. So, we’ll always have that. I wish him the best. And I don’t hate that he’s going to John Lynch’s team. Because I root for John; I just can’t help myself (laughs). And they need help at wide receiver, so they got it.
“And I think one more important thing, and I think even will even say this, he’s leaving our wide receiver room in good shape.”
Barber went on to name the key Bucs receivers and say, “They can probably get by without him. Baker might not say that, but I think the team is in pretty good shape [at receiver].”
Interesting hearing Barber say Evans’ fire to play was re-kindled after his injury in Detroit on Oct. 20. Two weeks later, the Bucs were enjoying their bye week with a 6-2 record following wins over the Seahawks and 49ers.
That might have been another good time for the Bucs to remind Evans they believe in him and to offer him a one-year contract extension.
March 13th, 2026 at 6:37 pm
I’m guessing Evans is going to ball out this year. All you have to do is feed him consistently.
March 13th, 2026 at 6:38 pm
Great analysis by Barber. Well done, sir.
March 13th, 2026 at 6:39 pm
“I am not that man” – Mike Evans
March 13th, 2026 at 6:45 pm
I don’t care that he left, I think he is injury prone and does have not much left in the tank. No disrespect, just father time always wins. Not happy about his comments, but he is free to say whatever he wants. He should be thanking the Bucs and Baker for getting him 1000 yards and a $3M payday. Instead he threw Baker under the bus. lol. Evans cant play all 17 games next season, his hammy will still be a problem in SF.
March 13th, 2026 at 6:46 pm
Eloquent response, albeit an overly safe one. That’s fine, Ronde also has that forever status of his own for the greatest play in team history.
Unrelated news, Tennessee released Sneed today. No idea how his rehab is coming, but might be worth having him pay a visit.
March 13th, 2026 at 6:48 pm
Buc4. He didn’t throw Baker under the bus Baker threw himself under the bus by throwing late 4th quarter picks losing games or keeping other teams in games. Baker Mayfield is has shown that he’s not a franchise quarterback or less he gets to the NFC Championship the bucs need to move on from him and Bowles.
March 13th, 2026 at 6:56 pm
Rondé is not going to begrudge Mike for leaving, nor is he gonna badmouth the team who supports WFLA preseason telecasts, nor the team who permits his input on their official website and grants him access few others are given.
So he did the right thing. Sometimes the best slant is no slant.
Rondé leaves the bad seed planting from the Barber family on the green thumbs of Tiki.
Although it did come across that he and Mike were not close, so be it. Can’t be friends with everybody.
March 13th, 2026 at 6:58 pm
Mike Evans and Doug Williams should have been Bucs for life.
March 13th, 2026 at 6:59 pm
Stop with all the Evans whining. The guy bailed on us. He gave up on us. Stop wasting our time with him. He plays for the 49er’s.
March 13th, 2026 at 7:00 pm
¿Wait a minute, are we inquiring about trading for Anthony Richardson?
March 13th, 2026 at 7:01 pm
Nice comments. Let’s move on now.
March 13th, 2026 at 7:03 pm
Very diplomatic answer from Ronde.
It’ll be interesting to listen to the entire interview to see if he chides the front office for their missteps re: Mike over the past couple of years. He was critical of Todd Bowles a couple of times on his TV show.
March 13th, 2026 at 7:10 pm
Mike thinks those annual hammys can tie Jerry’s other record. Good luck with that
March 13th, 2026 at 7:11 pm
Let the Niners deal with the hamstring.
March 13th, 2026 at 7:15 pm
I may be in the minority as a Bucs fan, but I agree with every word that Ronde said, including rooting for John Lynch. Lynch is not only a Hall-of-Fame player, but a Hall-of-Fame human being as well. I’ll never forget when he came to Tampa General to visit children there, including the 10-year-old child of a friend of mine who was in there with kidney failure. It made a huge impression.
Evans has helped the Bucs win a Championship and has been big in helping the community as well. In no way is he a “traitor”. Nor do I agree that he threw Baker under the bus. He did not say or imply that. He wanted to join a team with a good QB AND a strong chance of winning a Super Bowl, and the Bucs have to rebuild their defense to be a real contender, which might take a couple of seasons. If he threw anyone under the bus, it was Bowles IMO.
March 13th, 2026 at 7:16 pm
I would’ve loved to have Mike stay but if he can’t stay healthy it’s not gonna help if he keeps turning into IHOP every year now.
March 13th, 2026 at 7:25 pm
He’s a enemy now old news ! I pray for a playoff game against the miners just to prove he mad the terrible choice
March 13th, 2026 at 7:26 pm
I’m not too bummed about him leaving would have been cool for him
To be a buc for life that rarely happens in sports these days
March 13th, 2026 at 7:27 pm
Just glad LVD wants to be a Buc for
Life like DB55
March 13th, 2026 at 7:29 pm
I think Ronde was genuine in his comments.He was graceful in saying hey Mike wanted to live the final chapter of his dream with another team. He is not going to bite the hand that feeds him and throw the Organization under the bus. However, we as fans were frustrated last year and apparently so was Mike. We can and should throw the Organization under the bus, because, yes they caused the whole thing!!!
The difference with Mike, he could take action on what he saw as a team and Organization now going the wrong way. As fans all we can do is quit supporting a team making bad decisions . Presently that is what I am considering .
Remember Mike lived in the lost decade and obviously did not want to experience that again.
Ronde of course is going to be happy for his friend Lynch. I mean Mike wanted to leave and the 49ers got a Hall Of Fame player. Ronde also said he hated to see him go. I mean what else can the guy say.
March 13th, 2026 at 7:29 pm
Mike Evans stayed a Buc a lot longer than most would have given how much individual success he had in spite of the terrible team. he could have possibly won a Super Bowl some where else. He doesn’t owe the Bucs or fans any more with this team wasting away the talent left on the roster. He just doesn’t believe in what Toilet is selling and most of us don’t either. But, consistently whining about Mike or Toilet isn’t going to change anything. Get over it.
March 13th, 2026 at 7:39 pm
Hard to disagree with anything he said.
March 13th, 2026 at 7:45 pm
He’s gone. He belongs to the 49ers. End of story. Time to move on.
March 13th, 2026 at 7:47 pm
Insane reading some of these posts calling Mike a traitor and almost hoping he fails with the 49’ers. The guy gave the Bucs his best years and likely only has one, maybe two years left at a high level with his size and the hamstring issues he’s delt with. He’ll probably retire as a Buccaneer on a one day contract and go into the HoF as a Buccaneer, so why all the butt-hurt attitudes towards a guy who earned the opportunity to pick the spot he felt gives him the best opportunity to add to his NFL legacy? Personally I agree verbatim with what Ronde said. Only time I’ll root for Mike to have an off day is if he plays the Bucs (though I imagine he’ll have over 150 yards and 2 TD’s against Bowles’ pass defense).
March 13th, 2026 at 8:00 pm
Ive been a Buc fan my entire life. 51 and my dad took me to my first game in 78. Been going to games since then and Mike is one of my all time favorite Bucs . He was amazing on the field and a great dude off the field.
BUT my WORD!!! Let it go Joe!!
Guy was on his last legs, or hammies…he might have 1 more good season left in him, but not much else. The Bucs have a very good WR room and tried to keep Mike, but things worked out the way they did and he’s gone.
I like Lynch, Evans and think they were both great Bucs that gave me lots of fun days watching the Bucs..but I hope the 49ers suck, Evans limps off the field after every catch.
Thanks for the memories, but bye bye.
March 13th, 2026 at 8:04 pm
Oh Good. Another Evans waste of time.
Joe is always going to write about what Joe finds interesting regardless of complaints or cheers. It’s really very easy not to read something. –Joe
March 13th, 2026 at 8:07 pm
In the end, it just came down to him being a good player on a team that doesn’t stand a chance in hell of making the playoffs with the coach they have now, or going to a team that could possibly make the playoffs in the toughest division in football.
This would probably not even be a conversation if Bowles’s worthless @ss had been fired.
March 13th, 2026 at 8:07 pm
There are a few things that no decent fan should let go.
3rd and 28
Losing Mike to another team for less money
Retaining Todd Bowles
The more articles on the travesty of these topics the better.
March 13th, 2026 at 8:22 pm
I think both Evans and Barber recognize it’s amateur hour with Todd Bowles as coach. Probably Rashad White too, hell maybe even Bucky.
March 13th, 2026 at 8:28 pm
I’m sry to see him leave I truly respected him in the community and on the field for his integrity. However it’s getting old talking about him continuously.