More Gray Area To Mike Evans’ Departure
June 24th, 2026
Joe has known for months that Mike Evans leaving Tampa for a lot less money — for a team that won six games in 2024 and a quarterback who doesn’t represent an upgrade — is a story whose whole truth is being shielded from the public eye.
It doesn’t take more than common sense and a healthy Buccaneers obsession to understand Evans leaving a city and a franchise that adore him for a gargantuan pay cut is a giant red flag, one that screams there’s a lot more to the story.
Joe was told a long time ago that Evans was offered Chris Godwin money plus incentives to stay with Tampa Bay.
Godwin earns $22 million annually plus incentives on the deal he signed before the 2025 season. Instead, Evans took $14.3 million plus incentives (minus a ton of state taxes) from San Francisco.
Sorry, but nobody likes Brock Purdy that much.
And, Evans has for years expressed a personal aversion to long plane rides. The Niners open this season in Australia and will log a huge amount of mileage, including two east coast trips. Meanwhile, the San Francisco Bay area is nothing like Tampa or South Texas, where Evans has spent his life.
One can be naive and believe Evans was sick of Todd Bowles or he simply wanted to try a new football scene. But Joe has never bought that.
Yesterday, a Bucs legend weighed on Evans leaving Tampa. That would be Bucco Bruce Arians. He doesn’t seem to be buying the public reasons for Evans’ departure, either.
“I was very surprised. I was almost shocked because I know how much it meant to him and I know the offer we made,” said Arians, who has served the past four years as an official advisor to Buccaneer Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht.
“There had to be some underlying thing that I don’t know was the reason. But it wasn’t money.”
Notice how Arians didn’t echo the company lines of “family decision” or “new challenge.” That’s no coincidence.
Arians comments came on the Pewter Report podcast.
Joe is sure Evans flushed away millions of dollars and the “Buc For Life” status he craved for deeply personal reasons. What exactly are those? Joe’s working on being able to share.
June 24th, 2026 at 8:08 am
3rd and 28…there is no gray area! move on!
June 24th, 2026 at 8:08 am
Couldn’t Arians “underlying reason that he’s not aware of” be a family thing. Not saying it’s for sure that but I’d think there’d have to be an extracurricular reason contributing to Evans departure to make him leave millions on the table.
June 24th, 2026 at 8:12 am
Maybe he was so Pissed that Bowles was coming back that he left? I am not going to miss his helmet tapping to come out after running more than 30 yards with his constant Hammy issues. He was great but he was going to be pushed this year anyway by the other WR’s on the team. Hope he likes the needles and homeless he has to step over whenever he leaves his house.
June 24th, 2026 at 8:12 am
Bowles !!
June 24th, 2026 at 8:14 am
Baker and Bowles. Their incompetence became too much to bear.
June 24th, 2026 at 8:14 am
Sorry Joe, that does not add to the Grey area. This is a nothing burger article.
June 24th, 2026 at 8:30 am
Can’t wait for week 1 !!
June 24th, 2026 at 8:35 am
Mrs. Evans laid the law down….sometimes distance solves major problems. Those who know, know .
June 24th, 2026 at 8:36 am
The Only Gray is in Mike Evans hair!!
Why Mike Evan leaving is such a big deal around here still is beyond me!
Let the 49ers have him and when he gets hurt again and misses multiple games, is there going to be another article here at Joe’s?
PS The real story should be and yeah I am a broken record, but still!
Why on God’s Green Earth is Todd Bowles still the DC of the Buccaneers?
I would give up a Plane full of Cash to the Browns to sign Jim Schwartz as DC!!!
In other words, I would do whatever it takes!!! SMH
June 24th, 2026 at 8:36 am
Some where in the distant future after ME has secured another Super Bowl ring and has been inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame, he will write a book about the life and times of an NFL wide receiver. Until that happens, all we make assumptions and with the first three letters if that word, it explains what we make of ourselves when we do!
June 24th, 2026 at 8:44 am
Someone remind me again what ME13 was yelling as he walked off the field last year. Believing frustration with Todd Bowles, and the belief he is never going to win a Superbowl on a Bowles coached team being the main factor in leaving is not necessarily naive.
Just saying.
June 24th, 2026 at 8:48 am
Time to move on! He WAS good when he played! He missed 12 games the last 2 seasons..Younger , faster and YES Healthier! GO Bucs! This will be a season to remember
June 24th, 2026 at 8:50 am
If my wife caught me having an affair with someone at work, you can bet that job would be done
June 24th, 2026 at 8:53 am
It’s pretty naive since Bowles’s defense already won a Super Bowl.
June 24th, 2026 at 9:05 am
He left because he is a crybaby and not very bright
June 24th, 2026 at 9:05 am
If there’s something you really want to tell us please do so Joe. Since Evans was hanging out with notoriously anti-Baker hoodlum LeSean McCoy I can only guess he and Baker had their issues. I know occasionally Mike didn’t run the correct option route for instance and getting called out on it might have pissed him off.
June 24th, 2026 at 9:06 am
One reason. That reason was retained, a horrible affront to Bucs fans. So Mike left, the worst personnel blunder since Doug Williams. Arians isn’t going to admit that his protégé has repeatedly soiled the sheets since he stepped aside.
Thanks, BA.
June 24th, 2026 at 9:10 am
Again with this i know things you dont know. This is why I stopped frequently visiting this website. Either spill your story or STFU about Mike Evans seriously your annoying asf Joe….
June 24th, 2026 at 9:12 am
Lefty Schwartz isn’t coaching any where at the moment. I’m hoping with our inevitable new head coach next year Schwartz is brought in as our new DC
June 24th, 2026 at 9:20 am
Locker room incident involving ME?
June 24th, 2026 at 9:22 am
Go back and listen to the outburst with the 3rd and 28, it broke Mike and his belief in the team, especially when they retained the engineer of said 3rd and 28. I’ve moved on but I also didn’t spend half a season rehabbing only to come back and have my defensive HC shit the bed with the softest, worst coverage I have ever seen in my life
June 24th, 2026 at 9:28 am
Taking the “family reasons” at face value, I’m guessing someone in the Evans family got a bit too close to someone in the Tampa area not in the family.
June 24th, 2026 at 9:30 am
Reason? Todd Bowles…..
June 24th, 2026 at 9:36 am
‘Evans was sick of Todd Bowles’
If there is a better reason, I haven’t heard it!
A good majority of the Bucs fan base share his sentiment.
June 24th, 2026 at 9:40 am
Agree with the sentiment laid out here. The first 2 paragraphs start this off perfectly. And as far as the very last line – thanks you and can’t wait.
Also, I do find it interesting that BA didn’t use the “family decision” party line coming from OBP, but Bruce was never really a company line guy of dude compared to his counterparts.
Mike’s always had a lot of immaturity issues too (let’s call a spade a spade here) and I’m wondering if/how that played a part somehow here.
June 24th, 2026 at 9:41 am
“Meanwhile, the San Francisco Bay area is nothing like Tampa or South Texas, where Evans has spent his life.“
Yes, Galveston and Tampa are mediocre cities. Tampa is the “Oakland” of the Tampa Bay Area. The Bucs players graded the treatment of families a D, field F-and overall grade 29th worst of 32 teams. San Fran 17th of 32 teams and no grades less than a C.
Mediocre city, coach and QB. Less than mediocre stadium and yes, fans. San Fran will be an upgrade, even with Purdy (that no one likes that much). Well, nobody seems to think that much of Baker either.
June 24th, 2026 at 9:42 am
Ok if you don’t want to believe it’s one person that’s fine
Besides Bruce Arian what former head coach/analyst would say that the Bucs have a better shot at winning a sb than Kyle S?
If you’re being objective the answer is obviously no one.
You can cite the 6 wins in ‘24 or loss here last fall. Look at the body of work and it’s a no brainer.
I don’t think it’s a mystery. Many people outside the Tampa ecosystem predicted correctly.
June 24th, 2026 at 9:48 am
Yes ther Family thing is as a reason is insulting. Arians said it right. I am sure he knows, but isn’t going to say. Face it we are never going to know. I truly believe he lost faith in the Organzation’s directipon . I can’t disagree the team has major issues on the defensive side of the ball. That defense is going to take a few years, unless the Bucs get lucky and the new rookies play like Pro Bowlers this year and the team adds a veteran CB. Mike only has a few years, so he made the right decision if he wants to get back to the SB. Sat what you want about Purdy but him and Shanahan are a good match.
I am super disappointed he left , but I get it.
Joe the Bucs are never going to let this story out, just too embarassing their top player said i have no faith.
3-28 Joe 3-28.
June 24th, 2026 at 9:50 am
He left because he had a quarterback who thinks he’s a linebacker and when he inevitably gets hurt, refuses to sit and heal. I don’t know all of the reasons but I’d bet my bottom dollar it has to do with #6. No receiver takes a pay cut and leaves a good WB to play with Brock Purdy, except perhaps Antonio Brown. And we know Mikes not coo-coo for Cocoa Puffs!
June 24th, 2026 at 9:50 am
Give it up….Mike is gone….and has been gone and will continue to be gone.
June 24th, 2026 at 9:59 am
The underlying issue was is Todd Bowles. Mike realized Bowles was a mediocre HC.
June 24th, 2026 at 10:03 am
What I found interesting is Baker is usually outspoken on social media and I dont remember a proper send off from Baker. I could see where there was an issue Mike had with Baker
June 24th, 2026 at 10:06 am
Mike left because he wanted more targets. The Bucs had 3 young WRs and Godwin that would cut into the balls tossed his way. In San Francisco he will be top dog. Purdy is good enough to get him the ball and Evans is chasing fame and a Gold Jacket. And that’s the whole story
June 24th, 2026 at 10:07 am
@ Mac Says:
Hi Mac
The other thing is Jim Schwartz is still under contract with the Browns, someone would have to broker a deal with the Browns to get him to sign with their team
(Bucs or Otherwise)
I don’t care if the Bucs have to bring him on as the Beverage Chairman, I just want him here in 2026 and I think he would help Todd Bowles find his mojo again
June 24th, 2026 at 10:09 am
It could just be he wanted a change simple as that an he thinks the Niners are a better run Team.inwill.Say the Niners are the Regular season Champs most season but once playoffs come they always lose it’s very strange to see Mike Give up the Bucs for Life is which killed me I wanted that so.bad.unwanted him to go in the Brooks an.Barber Class I mean Mike Has.the.Bucs Helmet Tatted on his Arm I will always love Mike but it does Sting an yes I’m salty over.his.Decision But we have A Loaded.WR Room I don’t think we will ever.truly know why Mike Left But Godwin was his best friend he left Godwin An we all Know Baker is way better then Purdy so.Idk
June 24th, 2026 at 10:13 am
This place is so full of Baker Haters and Bowles Flusher’s, that non of you can see the real reason. Your all Brain Dead
June 24th, 2026 at 10:21 am
So if we blame Mike leaving on Todd Bowles Swiss cheese defensive scheme we are being naive????
As Dr Evil would say, “Right”.
The 32nd ranked red zone defense could never be blamed as an issue for player retention, much less the 8-9 record in 2025.
That 2-7 collapse had zero correlation with the Bowles defense.
Every player in the NFL is clamoring to play under the absolute genius.
All except for the HOF WR who took a drastic pay cut and tax hike.
He left for mysterious “other” reasons. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
June 24th, 2026 at 10:22 am
Bat, sometimes folks are so deep into the forest it inhibits their ability to see the trees and so goes the haters, flushers and of course the Baker boys! Objectivity is thrown into the wind.
June 24th, 2026 at 10:31 am
When you retain a defensive minded head coach that is no good at defense players tend to leave. I can’t imagine any aging offensive player that wants to solidify a HOF career decide that Tampa with TB and ANOTHER new O coordinator is the place to do that.
June 24th, 2026 at 10:36 am
All about the hamstrings. San Francisco cool. Tampa hot!
June 24th, 2026 at 10:37 am
“Joe’s working on being able to share.”
Integrity. I wish more in media had it. Good job, J!
June 24th, 2026 at 10:39 am
I sure do miss Arians. His tenure felt too short…he was hung up on getting Bowles the head gig unfortunately.
Evans and his agent Happy Gilmore seemed hellbent on getting outta Tampa. Anything less than a San Fran SB win and it’ll go down as a colossal failure for Evans and Co. me thinks.
It’ll be fascinating to see if Purdy feels the need to force the ball to Evans…with the goal being another 1000 yard season and to keep Evans from sulking.
As great as Evans was for many years, I’m glad he left now and on his own accord. McMillan is going to breakout now that he’s healthy and no doubt motivated to keep up with his brother on the Panthers.
June 24th, 2026 at 10:45 am
Godlovesbucs, love the name.
They can’t eally help the OC thing. NFL rules allow them to walk away for promotions. I’ve always felt there should be a minimum of two years before teams can do that.
Bowles is actually good at defense mostly. The focus has been on the offense until this year so far as the draft, so he hasn’t had enough tallent for his defense.
The Bucs giving him another year AND giving him better talent to work with is a good sign…but I believe it was because the plan to make a run at Tomlin next year.
June 24th, 2026 at 10:52 am
He missed 12 games in 2 seasons ,that’s not contributing! then he gets caught crying on tv about 3rd and 28 ,which every team has had a 3rd and forever since the dawn of football..Good ridence Evans let the door hit ya where the good lord split ya!! New team new season! Go Bucs!
June 24th, 2026 at 11:00 am
I believe that late in his career, Evans wanted to compete for another championship and play in consequential games. Under Bowles, the Bucs offered neither of those possibilities.
Money doesnt make you feel any better when you are on a team that you know isnt going anywhere.
June 24th, 2026 at 11:05 am
This article added zero information to the Evans mystery. Clickbait.
June 24th, 2026 at 11:15 am
He’s gone.
June 24th, 2026 at 11:18 am
BA knows exactly why ME left for SF and he just lost half the fan base with this ridiculous statement. Bowles is absolutely 110% the reason and ME has no faith in his ability to coach the team. ME watched how guys slacked off and there was no accountability from Bowles, just excuses, not to mention the poor decision making Bowles exhibits each and every game. BA is just playing office politics and covering for the organization, his boy and himself because he made a monumental mistake endorsing him as HC and he knows he set this franchise back.
June 24th, 2026 at 11:37 am
@Buddha, since warm weather and heat are best for chronic hamstring issues I’ll say it’s because we retained BOWELZ even though he gave us 101 reasons to fire him.
June 24th, 2026 at 11:40 am
Just my two cents…
#1) The Bucs GM and ownership were OK with ME13 leaving.
#2) ME13 wanted to have at least a slim chance of making it to another SB.
It was a win-win for both sides.
That is why ME13 took way less money to play in a heavy tax burdened state.
It’s sad but it’s also just business as usual in the NFL.
June 24th, 2026 at 11:46 am
Evans doesn’t think we are true Contenders with Bowles as HC. Period.
Evans wants to have a chance to win another SB before he retires and he thinks the Bucs have no chance at that right now.
💯
June 24th, 2026 at 11:47 am
Joe, die hard Cali Bucs Fan. Never post much – as usually have just enough time to read your articles. Love most your takes. Wanted to chime in here.
I think Mike was done with the STATE of FLORIDA more than his teammates and family members on the Bucs. Or our awesome fans, that have been there to root Mike on year in year out. Mike is a progressive thinker. A gentleman, that was heavily affected by gun violence as a child. Not to say his father was a stellar man.
Every single team in Florida is a small market team. There is a reason for this, wouldn’t you say? Big market niners (hate them) and becoming a household name in California will allow him to blossom in his future ventures post football. I think this was an easy grab for Bucs Fav John Lynch.
While a lot of you guys on here hate California it is still far and away the best state to live in. Especially if you can afford it. Which Mike can over and over again.
Weather, scenery, outdoor activity, culture, inclusion and progressiveness. I wouldn’t count on Big Mike retiring in Florida or Texas. Mike will not stop earning money post football.
I am sure that was part of the niners playbook and Evan’s family plan. I love my Bucs and will be cheering my lungs out from So Cal.
What really hurts us is Mike was paid up front. His deferred money hits us hard this year as $13 million we can’t use due to salary cap.
June 24th, 2026 at 11:53 am
Couldn’t “There had to be some underlying thing that I don’t know was the reason. But it wasn’t money.” Just be another way of saying
“There had to be some underlying thing that I don’t know was the reason. But it wasn’t money.”
I just think Bruce is saying he doesn’t know but not necessarily contradicting the Bucs party line.
June 24th, 2026 at 12:02 pm
The team quit on Bowles but Bowles was not launched, that was the final straw for Evans. One other thing, I think he did not like the Bucs organization and us fans assuming he was going to do a retirement lap with the Bucs and then quietly go into retirement like Lavonte. Evans has pride and he thinks he has gas left in the tank. Evans probably equated the drafting of Egbuka with Tampa planning to diminish his touches while he will still be the alpha dog in San Fran. Plus the injury bug always bites in Tampa, perhaps he did not like how the training/conditioning staff and the way Bowles runs the training camp and practices would set him up for more hammies. We shall see how he does in SF but it is obvious Todd Bowles and a packed WR room led Mike to leave and he still has things to prove. The Bucs took him for granted and got burned.
June 24th, 2026 at 12:12 pm
“working on being able to share” – does that mean you know, but can’t yet share? Or does that mean you’re still digging as to the real reason?
June 24th, 2026 at 12:14 pm
If anything, the Bucs have a better/easier chance to make the playoffs than the 49ers do just due to division difficulty and the likelihood the Bucs win their division. It’s not a Super Bowl Evans is after, it’s *gotta be targets*. Way too much competition for them here. In addition, I don’t know if there was a family situation here but if there was it would certainly be the missing puzzle piece. Evans has already re-signed with Bowles and Baker here so he has no insurmountable problem with him or Mayfield. San Fran is really nice, but not a lot nicer than here…certainly not enough to take a pay cut THAT large…
That leaves targets or an unknown family situation as most likely reasons.
June 24th, 2026 at 12:15 pm
Hate tell you Florida residents but SoCal may have the answer to this thread’s question. What he says about California is correct. It’s not all needles in the grass as some think.
June 24th, 2026 at 12:23 pm
@ soCal
“While a lot of you guys on here hate California it is still far and away the best state to live in. Especially if you can afford it.”
You are not wrong.
I appreciate you adding “IF you can afford it.” to your comment.
Anyone who can afford – a house HIGH up in the hills – in a gated community with a private security force – is just “loving life” in Cali. lol…
June 24th, 2026 at 12:28 pm
Great article Joe. I know he’s gone and I am fine with it. It’s done. But it sure would be good to know why and I appreciate the fact you are still looking for the answer. I have been a fan since 1976. This one was odd. Would be interesting to know why…
June 24th, 2026 at 12:32 pm
Joe is sure Evans flushed away millions of dollars and the “Buc For Life” status he craved for deeply personal reasons. What exactly are those?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My opinion,……..CTE and emotions. Again only an opinion.
June 24th, 2026 at 12:47 pm
His legacy is more important to him money. That says a lot to me. He’s taking the ultimate gamble by going to a different team and having to prove himself. That is one tough division. It will be really bad for his legacy if he doesn’t do well there. If he does good then it pretty much cements him into the HOF
June 24th, 2026 at 1:07 pm
@Hunter
It means he knows. They talk to these guys and the truth is, Everybody around there KNOWS what happened.
I’m going with “Sabotage figured out”….
Sabotage you might ask? ABSOLUTELY!
If you ponder it, (it won’t take long for it to come clear to you) you might ask yourself “WHY”, why would a guy as one of his TRUE STRENGTHS, why would a guy who pick 2 future head coaches, BACK TO BACK via as OC’s, all the sudden pick such a DUD as Gizzard to run the Offense???
YOU SHOULD THINK ABOUT THAT FOR JUST A MOMENT…….
What happened that Bowles would all the sudden pick such a CLEAR loser to run our Offense after proving BEYOND A SHADOW OF A DOUBT that he (Bowles) “IS” a genius at identifying the Best of the Best as the OC two years prior, and as I said Back to Back…..
Well isn’t it OBVIOUS? The answer is “Liam Coen”!
Bowles came within a “frogs hair” of losing his job IN A BIG AND FAST WAY, and “THERE WAS NO WAY HE WAS GOING TO RISK LOSING HIS JOB” TO A SUPERIOR COACH FOR A “THIRD YEAR IN A ROW”! So….. sabotage.
Bowles WASN’T going to have his job blatantly challenged again (due to his Remarkable OC chosing ability), and since he himself was in charge of “hiring” said OC, I believe Bowles Orchestrated the crash of 2025…. ON PURPOSE! He figured out that he instead could change his fate for another year or two if he DIDN’T pick another Winner to challenge for his job. And in doing so, we got Gizzard, and the ENTIRE OFFENSE was a Disaster because of Bowles decision to hire a guy HE KNEW wasn’t ready for it!
The proof is in the pudding! DID GIZZARD LOOK OR COACH EVEN SORT OF LIKE COEN? OF COURSE HE DIDN’T! YET WE WERE ALL TOLD AND GUARANTEED THAT SINCE GIZZQRD was playing the “wizard of oz” behind the curtains and could handle it, just like Coen….
Clearly…. THAT WAS A LIE!
That’s all I have to say about it for now.
June 24th, 2026 at 1:13 pm
When an athlete is near the end he wants his name to go on as long as possible including after he leaves
Tampa is fine for local guys but he’s national and needs a bigger stage. Same way baker needs to go to the rams.
49ers swear t g e are a world franchise like man u, the Yankees, Celtics etc
Hight.r category
Status not money
June 24th, 2026 at 1:18 pm
He left because we drafted a receiver #1 last year.
Evans was like OK your going with a new guy so I am leaving.
simple.
June 24th, 2026 at 2:01 pm
Way to many Todd Bowles obsessed cringy people. I don’t like him but he gets blamed for everything this side of climate change, inflation and causing cancer. Sorry not buying just Bowles. To many other variables that work against 49ers signing. Especially football wise in that division. They’re the third best team in NFC West and they’ve had lots of injuries that have derailed them and that’s going to continue.
Maybe he wasn’t going to get the number of touches given the Bucs strong wide receiver corp so went somewhere where he would be the unquestionable number one guy and then a bunch of injury prone, whacked out receivers or third best WRs plus injury prone RBs and TEs. Plus I think age is catching up with him as it does with everyone. We’ll see though.
June 24th, 2026 at 2:16 pm
Evans wants to win, and he knew that with Todd at the helm of the defense, the team did not have a chance. Todd Bowles is not a field general; at best, he is a position coach who lacks the critical-thinking skills to understand cause and effect.
June 24th, 2026 at 2:35 pm
👆👆👆3.28👆👆👆???
June 24th, 2026 at 2:37 pm
Joe, it’s simple, the marriage was over, for good, or bad he’s moving on to a new squeeze. Why don’t you get that? Really that simple. He wants something new. Money is no longer his motivation.
June 24th, 2026 at 2:38 pm
Evans is very good friends with LeBron. LeBron has moved throughout his career. Why did Larry Fitzgerald stay in Arizona on a shitty team rather than go to a contender and make bank? Because he wanted to. Why did Evans leave? Because he wanted to. It’s not because he hated Todd. Im also guessing that missing out on the 1,000 yard season was in his mind. And that was an injury issue, not the coach. He wanted a change. Superbowls on two different teams, like Brady, is a statement. He’s in the hall of fame. The question is first ballot or not.
June 24th, 2026 at 2:46 pm
@ Obvious: That my friend is some crackhead logic!
June 24th, 2026 at 3:20 pm
Stupid decision on ME13’s part. Evans has a SB ring, will get into the HOF, plenty of money to retire on, and no chance getting killed. I wish him the best.
June 24th, 2026 at 3:43 pm
3rd & 28
Revolving Door of Offensive Coordinators
Turnover Prone QB
Franchise with LITTLE OR NO direction
Small/Apathetic Fanbase
A lot of reasons why Mike wanted to leave, he know he has 2 or 3 years left. Shannahan is an upgrade on play calling and he’s in no danger of being fired. 49ers fanbase takes over road stadiums and playing for a glory franchise will enhance his off the field earnings versus playing for a historically bad franchise with a small fanbase.
Get over the California tax thing, he’s already made over $100 million with no state income tax, Mike is playing for legacy with a competent franchise and a rabid fanbase vs what the Bucs are
June 24th, 2026 at 3:48 pm
I know why Mike left ,no you dont.I know why evans left ,no you dont I know why me13 left ahhh no you dont .Nothing bit desperate housewives on this blog …How’s this,who fu@#ing cares! Go Bucs!
June 24th, 2026 at 4:14 pm
word choice is key here.
Joe knows the reason- but is ‘working on being able to share’.
June 24th, 2026 at 4:25 pm
Loved Arians when he was the coach but I have decided not to care what he has to say about the team since. He is a gaslighting spinmeister.
The “I’ll tell you when the coast is clear” stuff from JBF never gets old, though. lol
June 24th, 2026 at 4:33 pm
As soon as I saw Mike Evans, I went straight to the comment section. Nobody cares about a 49er but Joe.Mike switched sides. So be it. Move on, but we all know that Joe has a man crush on Mike Evans. Yeah I said it just to piss you off 😆
June 24th, 2026 at 4:58 pm
@Obvious so in your twisted logic, Bowles so desperately wants to hold on to his job that he hired a crackpot offensive coordinator (who he knew by the way) in order to purposefully sabotage his offense which would cause losses thus even more hugely risking…his job???
You do you pretzel man.
June 24th, 2026 at 5:02 pm
Guys, for a wr , its the guy throwing him the rock. No variable impacts a wr play more then the Qb. SO hes going to a team with a Qb who has a superior resume, is more accurate, effeciant and is 5 years younger. Purdy doesnt turn 27 until a few days after christmas, Baker will be 32 a few months 930 after that.
Since 2022, when Purdy came into the leauge-Purdy is 30-15. baker is 29-32. Thats not even including the playoff gap where Purdy has 5 wins to baker’s 1. Purdy is more athletic, accurate and effecient. he throws a better deep ball.
You guys do realize Purdy just finished up his 4th season. Dont be so quick to say “the sytem” because it never looked that good under Garapolo who was a sucessful, winning Qb himself. If it was “the sytstem” why did Trey Lance flop?
Remember Trey Lance? the guy the 49ers took the year before Purdy in 2021? Not only did they take him, they gave up 3#1 picks to move up for him. Purdy who still hasnt peaked clears born again baker.
This is whats telling too. In febuary 2020 garapolo has a 4th quarter lead in the Sb, double digits. 2 seasons later he has a 4th quarter lead in the NFc title game. 10 months later it was Purdys teams and he never looked back. THEY TRADED THE FARM IN BETWEEN FOR TREY LANCE.
SF and Philly are ruthless when it comes to evaluating and replacing Qbs. All that said, SF gave Purdy a 265M contract extension LAST YEAR. Tampa is the guy that falls in love on the first date. Literally we have drafted 4 qbs in 18 years, from 2009-2026.There is not even a sucesssion plan in place and they wont give baker 150M NOW.
Thats telling. 2 teams philosophically diffrent as can be when it comes to Qb, they shelled out over a quarter of a billion a year ago. No drama, no messy headlines, they just did it. Tampa is hemming and hawing over about HALF of that. Let that sink in.
It will come out reason #1 Mike left is baker. he literally has not said one word about him since free ageny began and he was fanning all over Purdy. its odd a wr would praise a new qb without a word about the outgoing one he spent 3 years with? he praised the wr room but not the qb? His freindship with shady Mccoy wa another clue.
We can split hairs but pay attention to ppl actions. Purdy got a big deal from a organization rough on Qbs. Hurts did too in 2023. Mike left for less money . Baker is on a lame duck contract. Add it up.
June 24th, 2026 at 5:09 pm
He went to the most gayest play on earth.. Atlanta the only place challenging San Fran gayest city… I think he’s sus for that and a lame
June 24th, 2026 at 5:13 pm
Yep, turn on Mike. The greatest Buc ever. We’ll see. 4-8 the last 2 years without him and despite missing 12/51 games bake bake been here (23%) he still accounted for over 27% of baker’s td passes. Im glad mike left, its a win-win. he gets to play with a good, accurate qb who doest need to play backyard ball and we a good comp pick. It was a win-win.
June 24th, 2026 at 5:16 pm
Better, younger, more acomplished qb who the 49ers extended early and gave 265M with no drama or headlines despite how quick that organization move off guys. meanwhile, Tampa hemming and hawing about giving baker half of that a year later.
June 24th, 2026 at 5:34 pm
Eh, I believe more from Arians now that he’s not the head coach vs. before. We didn’t call him Bullchit Bruce for no reason… dude was a master at coachspeak.
As for Evans – I think it’s truly as simple as him believing that the Niners have a better chance at going to the SB than the Bucs do right now. He’s probably only playing 2 – 3 more years and he wants another ring.
He didn’t think that was happening with 3rd and 28, and most likely did not want to deal with another possible coaching change at this franchise. Crowded WR room probably didn’t help either.
June 24th, 2026 at 5:34 pm
Perhaps Mike saw this team isn’t going to sign mayfield and vea. That would surely get his attention and he’s as close to that situation as anyone.
June 24th, 2026 at 6:14 pm
@ Marine Buc high in the hills is wildfire community! As well, they do not let us Bucs fans live in gated communities! That is strike one and two for you! They know us Bucs Fans Bring the party, so we are banned from gated communities 😉
So, from a non-gated community and halfway up our communities hill I thought i would offer some insight.
Today = Santa Fran (Mike purchased his home) is 67 degrees and 48% humidity at 3 PM. Tad cold for me!
Today = Tampa is 91 degrees 60% humidity at 6PM.
California has many affordable places. A lot of folks like Big Mike and myself prefer the coast.
Wait until Big Mike hits So Cal. Currently, 76 degrees 50% humidity and I am about 8 miles off the closest Ocean Harbor. Was able to post twice today! First time in a few years. Got a great hike in with the wife as well. California Dreaming landed Big Mike!
Check out Oregon and Washington if you’re ever on the West Coast. Unbelievable areas with good weather, especially along the water.
June 24th, 2026 at 6:15 pm
Josh may know something but it isn’t 7th grade English.
June 24th, 2026 at 7:02 pm
BBBB Purdy isn’t more athletic, accurate or efficient (that’s how you spell it). He quite simply isn’t the better QB. Stop judging QB’s by wins and losses.
Trent Dilfer isn’t better than Dan Marino either.
Wins and losses are a team thing. I watched Baker go all the way down the field and score to get us a lead late lots of times last season only to see the defense give up that same lead 2 plays later. So yes, some things are beyond a quarterback’s control. If how good a QB was is the only thing that matters it seems the Bills and Ravens should have several recent super bowls but they don’t.
June 24th, 2026 at 7:24 pm
Yeah, last year could have soured Mike on the Bucs… part of the reason for leaving. Family could be the other part. Ashli and Mike are big on family. Your kids are people of color, do you raise them in CA or FL?
June 24th, 2026 at 7:38 pm
No mystery or intrigue, the niners have a legitimate shot at winning Super Bowl, Bucs don’t. At this point in his career that meant more than $ Haters trying to make more out it, seems pretty simple to me
June 24th, 2026 at 7:39 pm
No. You Baker fans try to downplay winning because baker is a loser. No matter where he goes or who he has as a teammates he finds a way to loose. Its a reason he always equate to losing.
Its a reason W-L is tied to Qbs, its the most impactful position. Name any great, all pro at ANY other position, lt, wr,cb, edge and they make less then a mid tier Qb. So dont tell me Qb is just 1/22.
You guys will foolishly say baker is on Dak level because they both have 2 playoff wins or say Herbert is worse because he has less playoff wins (lol) then baker. But in the same sentence “try” to discount the Sb wins by Darnold and Hurts, and the multiple SB?title game apprearances by Goff and Purdy.
If baker ONCE did what those guys did you ppl would try to get him into canton as a active player. So since we heard about 2024 a million times, lets look at his averages from 2023&2025.
17-17.7-5 in the division,10-12 outside of it. if you include the playoffs 11-13 outside the division. Offense was 23rd and 21st in TOTAL yards. 20th and 18th in scoring. baker averaged 3,869 yards, 63% completion and 27td/10 int (really 10.5). For a guy in his 30s, nope.
As bad as the defense is according to you guys, its funny in his 3 years here its good enough to let him go 11-7 in the nfc south. 61% and thats not great but 61%. is above average. but for some reason he is 16-17 outside the divsion (48%). Funny how that works.
It also helpos when your qb doesnt throw picks and the other team takes over in fg range. Speaking of which, we were 7-1 when baker didnt throw a pick, 1-8 when he did. Just a coincidence i guess. lAlso, if w-l is a team thing WTF did baker get credit for LEAADING us to the playoffs in 2023?
He at very best was the 4th best player on the team that year behind Mike, Wirfs, AWJ who turned into prime Ed Reed for a season? in 2023, AWJ was a substantially better football player then baker mayfeild?
June 24th, 2026 at 7:47 pm
Mike Evans is far from the greatest Buc ever!
June 24th, 2026 at 7:50 pm
So the bar for lamar and allen are winning Sbs and baker cant even get to .500 outside of his divsion. Yes, Allen and Lamar rankings will be settled when they are done for what they can accomplish in january. Aleen, 30 and lamar 29 are both HOF if they retired today. Get over it. The ? is what room in Canton do they get?
baker is older then both and trying to prove himself a viable starter. The Bucs playing hardball because they know he is not wanted elsewhere. Like I said, prime jeff Garcia-2000-2002 clears baker so lets not worry about Allen and Lamar.
Again, say what you want. SF gave Purdy 265 a year ago with no hesitation. Tampa is playing hard ball with baker a year later over HALF of that. Negotiations wre going so bad your idol had to go whining to the media LOL.
He did all that for nothing because they did not and will not extend him. But hen agin Purdy has a title game, Sb, great record and a top 4 mvp finish. maybe for the first time ever baker can get a top 10 finish. Darnold has back to back years. Goff has, Dak has, Lawrence has. Ill check for your next rond of excuses.
June 24th, 2026 at 8:08 pm
Maybe,maybe not but he is on a very short list and in the conversation. I cant believe a frnachise icon is getting hated on and a midget, retrea, journeyman qb is the face of the franchise for doing basically nothing but displaying grit and moxie and being obnoxious.
June 24th, 2026 at 8:24 pm
Joe – this is going to cause a firestorm but it’s a potential reason for what he would call family or personal. Given the state of the political theatre, he may have wanted or him and his family to go somewhere else. He has openly criticized the president.
He was my favourite bucs player and eventually I will feel like that again once he retires. But sour taste in my mouth and I support the bucs first over any player.
June 24th, 2026 at 8:32 pm
1. Chris – dude, it wasn’t politics. That’s laughable. You don’t leave 10 million on the table and pay more in taxes. No one is leaving red states to go to over regulated, over taxed, intrusive blue state.
2. A lot of people say 3rd and 28…. A lot of truth to that. I think that was the last straw. I honestly believe he just felt the defense was nowhere near the offense when the offense is healthy and he only has a couple years left at best.
With a couple people from the draft and free agency, we are all hoping he is dead wrong. But unfortunately, there is one common denominator still in Tampa when it comes to four years of a declining defense and that is the DC/HC
June 24th, 2026 at 11:24 pm
“There had to be some underlying thing that I don’t know was the reason. But it wasn’t money.”
———–
He didn’t want to play with Baker Mayfield, because he knows Baker isn’t ever going to win anything meaningful.
Mike busted his rear to get back during the season for a playoff run, only to watch Baker singlehandedly tank the team. I mean he LITERALLY said he wanted to go to a championship team WITH A GOOD QUARTERBACK.
Gee, the mystery grows, no idea why Mike would want to leave after Baker couldn’t even actually throw an 8 yard pass to a wide open receiver with the game on the line. Why would Mike ever want to leave that?
June 25th, 2026 at 12:49 am
Yes. That is true. Nobody “likes” Brock Purdy (or any other QB) THAT MUCH. Not to take THAT kind of BATH. But, you are 💯 WRONG about Purdy and Baker. PURDY is absolutely an “UPGRADE,” and it’s not even close. It’s just NOT. And, on soooo MANY levels. Mike leaving says ALL you need to know! I mean, it’s not even CLOSE. And, I’ll say it again… It’s just soooo easy to SEE. It’s effortless, with PURDY. He’s cool, calm, under control, and collected. He stands tall in the pocket, SEES the field, and is A LOT more accurate. HE’s A LEADER. And, HE doesn’t need to create and invent constant DRAMA, or be a ‘TOUGH’ BULLDOG, and head butting Linebackers, while talking a bunch of TRASH, in order be one. HE is an actual ‘real’ LEADER. By EXAMPLE. Organically. Naturally. NOT Forced. NOT FAKED.
I’ve said from the very beginning, that you are only FOOLING YOURSELF (and fulluvit), if you’re using this RIDICULOUS “3 & 28” BS. Cause, it’s waaaayyy more to do with BAKER, than it does with ANYTHING ELSE. It is WHO Baker is. 3rd & 28, even including BOWLES with it, isn’t even 20%. I mean, come on. BE REAL. Just look at Bakers HISTORY with his WR’s. I’ve never seen ANY of them have very much good to say about HIM… Eventually. You just WATCH. Start paying actual ATTENTION. 3 & 28 is just an easy, LAZY EXCUSE.
Like I’ve said a countless number of times… Baker eventually, WEARS ON Teammates. He is selfish. HE has to have ALL of the attention. He craves it, at ALL times. He is insecure and has short man’s disease. And, I wouldn’t TRUST HIM for anything. It’s ALL FAKE. Players eventually wake up and see this for exactly what it is, by THEMSELVES. I mean, the BLINDNESS and complete BIASEDNESS of this fanbase, when it comes to Baker… Is ABSURD. To say that “BAKER” is better than PURDY!? Just Absolutely, Absurd. What the hell has Baker even DONE HERE (in the ‘weakest’ division in football, with the ‘weakest’ schedule – it’s NOT been great). And, he ‘inherited’ a roster with a Super Bowl ‘pedigree’ fresh from a leftover culture of strong discipline from the “Brady-Years,” and TWO ‘ELITE’ STUD WR’s.
It’s been nothing but empty STATS, and A LOT of smoke & mirrors. I mean, HE has ‘started’ in EVERY game… So, ‘SOMEBODY” has to accumulate for all the 4th-Quarter STATS in Ballgames we are trailing, & having to ‘throw-it’ on EVERY Down. The Baker (adult) obsession within this fanbase is just EMBARRASSING. Again, on soooo many levels. They are not even real BUCS FANS. There is a DEAL ON THE TABLE. He is currently under CONTRACT NOW. But, they are screaming “PAY HIM NOW… GIVE HIM WHAT HE WANTS… WHATEVER IT TAKES.” For mediocre!? To prove a freaking point!? Family of!? WHO’s Team Are “YOU” Even ON!? There is no big secret for why Mike decided to leave… It’s actually quite obvious. It’s right there in front of your face, if you can OPEN YOUR EYES.
June 25th, 2026 at 1:00 am
If YOU could not tell/see that Mike became VERY frustrated with BAKER by then end of last season, then YOU ARE BLINDED BY your everlasting, undying LOVE. But, ‘something’ specific must have happened though, for it to have gotten to THIS POINT.
June 25th, 2026 at 1:13 am
Offensive Players/WR’s do NOT leave their team over THE DEFENSE. I mean, that’s not even logical, under ANY circumstances. And, in Mike’s case… It was literally “THEIR” (his) TEAM. Definitely NOT in his situation, given ALL of the particulars. Across then ENTIRE COUNTRY. Leaving HIS “Quarterback!?” For a 1-YEAR DEAL. And, HALF the $$$$ (accounting for taxes). When, you’ve seen sooo MANY WR’s willing to remain on BAD Teams before, just in order to play with “THEIR (buddy) QUARTERBACK.” So, YOU’RE SAYING, their ‘relationship’ was just wonderful, then!? LoL. Having to find AND purchase a HOME (in THE “Bay Area,” of all places – not very well known for their “cheap” housing). MOVE HIS ENTIRE FAMILY!? Away from where he has planted a STRONG roots and has ‘built’ a lasting LEGACY!? Seriously!? REALLY!? Now, PLEASE. Come TF ON. GTFO.
June 25th, 2026 at 1:26 am
@ Lefty R Says: “Why Mike Evan leaving is such a big deal around here still is beyond me! Let the 49ers have him and when he gets hurt again and misses multiple games, is there going to be another article here at Joe’s?”
Now, I expect for YOU to say the exact same thing about Baker, if HE refuses to SIGN “HIS OWN” DEAL then, (&/or) when HE decides to leave town. The ONLY difference is Mike’s 13-seasons, versus Baker’s 4. And, Mike actually WON a Super Bowl, and will be going to CANTON and the ROH. Will probably have HIS jersey RETARD (hahah). We’ll see WHO’s side you are on then, and whether or not you are singing the same tune. Hmmmm…
June 25th, 2026 at 1:33 am
Anyone else, find it SO ‘hilarious’ how bad all the Baker Bois, want this story to go away, and completely disappear. “MOVE ON,” they say! Lmao. I swear, I’ve NEVER seen anything like it before. Just some VERY WEIRD sh!t, man. It’s SAD.
June 25th, 2026 at 1:38 am
@ Stevie V Says: “Younger , faster and YES Healthier.”
Though, YOU want to the give a 32-YEAR OLD, a fresh new 4-5 YEAR EXTENSION. Hmmmm… YES. Now, make it make sense. LoL.
June 25th, 2026 at 2:16 am
@ Bye Baker Bye Bowles Says: “Guys, for a wr , its the guy throwing him the rock. No variable impacts a wr play more then the Qb.”
Once AGAIN, BBBB Knocks-It Outta The Park. Was exactly what I was going to say! A guy like MIKE… Who had built an entire LEGACY HERE, who had never once before, given ANY indication whatsoever, that he did not want to retire as being “A Bucs For Life,” would just pack up and LEAVE overnight! He had DEEP relationships all within this FO… AND, JL desperately tried his best to retain him. There was NOTHNG (whatever the problem was) that could not have been overcome. Come on… Be real about Bowles. He was NOT concerned with fricking BOWLES, whatsoever. Mike was a “company man” all the way, through and through. IF there were problems, they would’ve figured-it out TOGETHER, just as they always had before. NOT just ONE fricking (3rd & 28) “PLAY,” was EVER going to derail ALL of what THEY HAD BUILT through the many MANY years. Mike had been in the league for long enough by then, to already know that ‘that sh!t’ (3/28) HAPPENS. But, now there is “ONE-Thing” that would MATTER… That, you could NOT move on from so easily, or get past. Especially, being a “WIDE RECEIVER.” And, that is WHO is ‘responsible’ for THROWING YOU THE BALL. Your QUARTERBACK. Period. End of Story. It’s. Just. THAT. SIMPLE.
June 25th, 2026 at 2:24 am
@ 3rd and 28 Says: “Perhaps Mike saw this team isn’t going to sign mayfield and vea. That would surely get his attention and he’s as close to that situation as anyone.”
Now, REALLY… Come on, Man. Just Listen to Yourself, at HOW ABSURD that is. Shew.
June 25th, 2026 at 2:33 am
I don’t understand why my first ‘original’ post STILL hasn’t gone through yet, after almost 2-HOURS!? :/
June 25th, 2026 at 3:48 am
This dead horse has been kicked and has rotted away in the Florida sun so much that I can smell it all the way here in Arizona. Are you THAT desperate for content Joe? REALLY??!?!?!? In the words of Bob Seger TURN THE PAGE already!
June 25th, 2026 at 6:20 am
We don’t really know what happened to Jimmy Hoffa either. Let’s move on from this……
June 25th, 2026 at 8:01 am
MelvinJunior. You might be partially right. Maybe Mike wasn’t comfortable with Baker. So what? He was probably peeved Baker making about 3 times the amount of money Mike could make. The truth is Baker is worth about 10 times the money Mike is worth. Not even close. It probably hurt Mike when Baker got all the national recognition for the Bucs. Probably really hurt when Baker jerseys smashed Mikes jersey sales. Even with hometown Tampa fans, Baker stole their hearts. Mike has reverted to being a big baby. It’s been brewing since the minute Baker walked in the door. And Sterling Shepherd outplayed Mike Evans last year. I hope Mike gets all the recognition he’s looking for in SF. Hard to get that kind of respect when you run off the field every time you make a catch. At least Mike won him a Super Bowl. I think Brady threw him the ball ONCE in that Super Bowl game. Tom Brady knew about Mike. So did Baker Mayfield.
June 25th, 2026 at 11:28 am
KS – Mike doesn’t concern himself with meaningless, childish, little things like that, in which he can’t control. It never bothered him when BRADY was here, and GRONK, and AB. He just went about HIS BUSINESS. Mike is one of THE most ‘unselfish’ players in the entire LEAGUE, and akways has been. Baker has always been THE exact opposite. HE NEEDS THAT. Mike does NOT. It’s just what it is. ANY unbiased observer could SEE THAT. 💯
June 25th, 2026 at 11:53 am
No. Mike KNEW about Baker. He was never fooled from the very jump. He’d already been in the league long enough to have seen it all by then! He is a veteran. And, he and Brady have a great relationship by all accounts. Now, HE couldn’t be fooled by Baker… But, young players and WR’s can be. It’s just like when you get that new high-energy, and extremely confident boss or GM. In the very beginning, you are entirely bought in. But, little by little, you start SEEING that this guy is FULLUVIT, and full of HIMSELF. It’s all BS. Smoke & Mirrors. And, THAT IS BAKER. You could see-it within the ENTIRE TEAM last season. NOBODY was “buying-it” any longer. It’s ALL FAKE. It’s who Baker truly IS. Wyndham Clark really thinks ‘highly’ of him, right! LoL.
June 25th, 2026 at 3:15 pm
c’mon…the guy wanted to be part of a winning team with a real dynamic head coach leading the way. SF excels with major injuries because of elite coaching. Plan and simple.
Bowles is not a Super Bowl caliber coach…anyone with eyes knows that. The worst thing that could have happened was him winning 10 games as that guaranteed him staying. He is a lower tier coach…it’s the talent and Coen that got them to that win total. His defenses have not been good for a few years now and the offensive explosion 2 years ago is what elevated the team, not Bowles. Guy was a loser in NY and has ridden the talent and Jason Licht’s strong roster.
June 25th, 2026 at 5:13 pm
COME ON JOE, SUCH A WEAK NOTHING BURGER STORY. HE LEFT BECAUSE BOWLES WILLBE GONE BY YEAR END ALONG WITH BAKER. THEN THE REBUILD STARTS, HE JUST BEAT EVERYONE TO THE DOOR. COME ON JOE DO BETTER.
June 25th, 2026 at 7:25 pm
Joe, when you going to cut the crazed lunatic Melvin off. He adds nothing but takes up way to much space
Now about the article..,, Something rotten going on in ME’s head. He was supposed to be such good friends with Godwin and such a great leader of the WR room and they were all clueless that he left. That points to jealousy-deceit-back stabbing.
Wish the GM would quit treating him like a God and no one is supposed to say ME did not warrant the money they offered instead of the hogwash they are throwing around.
June 25th, 2026 at 10:35 pm
I’ll make a guess ME13 wants to break Jerry Rice records in SF on the team rice played for, what better way to erase Rice from the record books gg
June 29th, 2026 at 5:36 am
omfg it’s not that complicated. he wants targets and yards. the bucs wide receiver room is packed, and baker is at his best when he is able to spread the ball around to a lot of different receivers instead of forcing it to one main receiver. it’s really hard to get 1k yards and lots of tds when there are so many other receivers competing for the ball.
he will be one of two wide receivers getting major playing time at san francisco.. good luck to them when he has his annual hammy injury that takes him out for multiple games.