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 9:28 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 9:42 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 9:50 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 11:15 am
He’s gone.