Todd Bowles Reflects On Mike Evans Loss
March 30th, 2026
Yes, Joe is at the swanky Biltmore resort in Phoenix and finished multiple sitdowns with head coach Todd Bowles before and during the NFC Coaches Breakfast.
On the record, Bowles had various takes on Evans.
“He’s going to be missed and everybody should miss him.”
“I’ve seen a lot of great players change teams. Unfortunately, this one was one of ours. He’ll be remembered as the greatest offensive Buc.”
“We’ll miss him professionally; we’ll definitley miss him personally.”
“We’ve got guys that got to step in and play, and that’s what we’re going to do.”
You can’t replace a 6-5 receiver like Evans, Bowles said, though he added the Bucs have the talent to step up fill gaps and replace production. “Mike was an anomaly … Every team doesn’t have a 6-5 receiver,” Bowles added. “… We’re perfectly fine with 6-2 receivers, [Evans] was a luxury.”
Bowles added that third-year receiver Jalen McMillan often plays like a 6-5 receiver. “He doesn’t have a 6-5 frame, but he plays like he’s 6-5. And he had a very good catch radius,” Bowles said.
Bowles told Joe he wasn’t surprised professionally that Evans left but that was just about the job. “It always surprises you from a personal standpoint, it did,” Bowles said.
Joe asked Bowles if he had an exit meeting with Evans following the 2025 season.
Bowles said he and Evans did have their usual exit meeting and he had no “inkling one way or the other” that Evans would be leaving the Bucs during or immediately following that meeting.
Somewhere, the whole truth on Evans leaving the Bucs is out there.
March 30th, 2026 at 12:18 pm
3rd & 28!
Bowles knew this was coming.
March 30th, 2026 at 12:20 pm
Until he retires, It’s Mike who?
March 30th, 2026 at 12:25 pm
Thos guys clueless honestly
March 30th, 2026 at 12:31 pm
In Zac Robinson 12 Personnel offense
You replace a 6’5 235 lbs WR, with a 6′ 5 240 lbs speedy Move TE
I’m sure Zac and Bowles have already discussed it
Zac won’t be in a 3 WR set as much as other Bucs OC
I’m almost certain they draft a speedy, receiving TE
March 30th, 2026 at 12:38 pm
Lakeland: Honest question…Did Zac Robinson have any major success against any other DC besides the Todd Bowles Charmin soft defense?
March 30th, 2026 at 12:39 pm
Wish Mike well as a person but not as a 49er player. Shanahan is recognized as a very good offensive coordinator but has not proven himself as a very good HC.
He had a hugh lead in a Super Bowl with the Falcons but couldn’t stop Brady in leading the Patriots back to the biggest Super Bowl come back game in NFL history.
Given Shanahan’s past performances, I don’t see that happening. The Bucs best response is to beat the 49ers in the division playoffs and top that with a Super Bowl win. You never know but anything can happen. GO BUCS.
March 30th, 2026 at 12:47 pm
Did Joe ask Bowles if his Swiss cheese defense would still be melting in the hot sun in 2026?
March 30th, 2026 at 12:54 pm
Warning Warning….Evans Overload!!!!
March 30th, 2026 at 12:58 pm
Zac had a lot of success
He just had garbage QB play
March 30th, 2026 at 1:04 pm
He should reflect, as in go look in a mirror to see why Evans is not a Buc for life.
March 30th, 2026 at 1:08 pm
Btw Joe: don’t go easy on him just to keep access like the other guys in this market do. We need a real rebel voice speaking for the no BS taking fans.
March 30th, 2026 at 1:16 pm
The reason Evans left seems pretty simple to me. Everyone talks about Baker having so many OC’s, well, that goes for the entire offense. Evans is in the twilight years of his career. If you have to learn a new offense, wouldn’t you rather learn one that you know isn’t going anywhere, or one that is getting head coaching offers after the season ends. Also, if Evans is able to produce another 1k yard season or two, he’ll be doing it in a niner’s jersey and getting the actual recognition he deserves for the HOF. Bucs jerseys aren’t getting that kind of shine. If Lavonte had the career he had in a niner or cowboys jersey he’d be a lock for 1st ballot. Could be wrong with this, maybe it’s Bowles and he hates the bucs, but good luck to Evans except when playing the bucs.
Also, you gotta know if he had signed with the bucs, we’d be hearing all of the ESPN “experts” talk about how old Evans is, how injury prone, and the bucs should have moved on.
March 30th, 2026 at 1:20 pm
I really do respect them saying publicly that they were truly “surprised” he left. From Otton, to David, to Bowles, etc.
March 30th, 2026 at 1:25 pm
Mike was good but we won’t miss him he missed 8 games last year and will miss alot next season