“Hey, Man, Sell Me On The Niners”
March 17th, 2026
Pain alert!
Yes, former Bucs receiver Mike Evans was hungry to leave Tampa Bay. A pending free agent after the 2025 season, it’s safe to say some of Evans’ friends around the NFL reached out with ‘come-play-with-me’ texts. But what about Evans doing his own homework on new teams?
Evans told 49ers media he put the work in to explore new opportunities. But 49ers tight end George Kittle spoke out in the past week and made that reality a little too real for Joe’s aching heart.
Kittle told Bussin’ With The Boys that Evans reached out to him and wanted his best pitch. ‘”Hey, man, sell me on the Niners,'” is how Kittle said he was approached by Evans.
Kittle said he was eager to tell Evans how great the 49ers organization is to players and how much they invest into their care and comfort. And Kittle also said he explained that Niners culture is simple. “We hit people really hard in the face and we play really well,” he said.
Thinking of Evans calling around the league to find a feel-good route out of Tampa is frustrating stuff.
The 49ers won six games in 2024. Did that not bother Evans? And why did he not think the Bucs could bounce back from their challenging and ugly 8-9 season?
March 17th, 2026 at 3:40 pm
See you later bye at this point. It’s spelled milk. It’s over. He was a head case in my view anyway. Great player though. Bye-bye
March 17th, 2026 at 3:45 pm
He acts like he wasn’t the their 3rd choice. He would have returned to Tampa if they had landed one of the other two. Glad he’s gone even if he is right about why he left.
March 17th, 2026 at 3:45 pm
Sad state of affairs!
March 17th, 2026 at 3:45 pm
Sell me on the Bucs….
Crickets
March 17th, 2026 at 3:46 pm
Took less Money to go to a once great/now mortifying city to live in/visit. They play in the hardest Division in Football. It’s obvious he was disgusted with the Bucs Head Coach. Just like the rest of us still wondering how/why he kept his job.
March 17th, 2026 at 3:51 pm
Nonsense, every great player in the league is knocking down the Bucs door for a chance to play with Baker Mayfield. EVERY ONE OF THEM!
March 17th, 2026 at 3:51 pm
let it go
March 17th, 2026 at 3:53 pm
The 49ers players believe they have a better organization. Look at their NFLPA report card:
Treatment of Families: B
Home Game Field: A-
Food/Dining Area: A
Nutritionist/Dietician: B+
Locker Room: B
Training Room: C-
Training Staff: C-
Weight Room: A
Strength Coaches: A
Position Coaches: A-
Offensive Coordinator: A-
Defensive Coordinator: A
Special Teams Coordinator: B+
Team Travel: C+
Head Coach: A-
General Manager: A-
Team Ownership: A-
Overall Rank: 14
Compared to the Bucs:
Treatment of Families: D
Home Game Field: F-
Food/Dining Area: D+
Nutritionist/Dietician: B-
Locker Room: D-
Training Room: C
Training Staff: C+
Weight Room: A-
Strength Coaches: A
Position Coaches: B
Offensive Coordinator: B
Defensive Coordinator: A-
Special Teams Coordinator: C+
Team Travel: F
Head Coach: B
General Manager: A-
Team Ownership: D
Overall Rank: 29
March 17th, 2026 at 3:54 pm
If Tom Brady can leave the Patriots, Mike Evans can leave the Bucs. We’ll be ok. Was going to happen somehow sometime soon
March 17th, 2026 at 3:54 pm
A future HOF TE like Otton coming back (at a slightly above market rate) for the chance to play with Baker PROVES his greatness!
For HE shall lead us to the PROMISE LAND!
March 17th, 2026 at 3:56 pm
Nicholas Carlson Says:
March 17th, 2026 at 3:54 pm
If Tom Brady can leave the Patriots, Mike Evans can leave the Bucs. We’ll be ok.
———-
Did you stop reading the news in March of 2020?
It actually didn’t work out well for the Pats at all – in fact they looked like complete morons for letting him walk.
Big difference though is that Brady WANTED to stay in New England. Mike WANTED to get as far away from Baker Mayfield as possible, which is why he flipped coasts.
March 17th, 2026 at 3:59 pm
It’s sad that he left but I’m 100% behind his move.
We all saw how everything went down the drain in December. When a Head Coach loses his team and you are getting close to the end of your career its time to look for a Super Bowl contender. Evans is dying to score a TD in the Super Bowl.
March 17th, 2026 at 3:59 pm
Rod, stop trying to make this about Baker, Baker got Mike the ball often. We know damn well why Mike wanted to leave and it’s the HC. Purdy is at best around the level of Baker as a qb and when both are playing at their peak form, Baker is the superior qb, making even Brady blush.
Todd Bowles and our recent WR acquisitions are the reason Mike left, the writing was on the wall and only deluded fans or biased individuals failed to see it
March 17th, 2026 at 4:00 pm
Because he knows Bowles is a terrible head coach
March 17th, 2026 at 4:01 pm
Sell me on the Niners ’cause I’m sure not sold on the Bucs.
March 17th, 2026 at 4:02 pm
Baking with Robinson Says:
March 17th, 2026 at 3:59 pm
It’s sad that he left but I’m 100% behind his move.
———
Wow, I’m shocked – another low IQ opinion from a Browns fan / Baker Boi who couldn’t name a single player in Bucs history outside of Tom Brady – and they know only Brady because they think Baker has a blood feud with him over who is the greatest QB of all time.
March 17th, 2026 at 4:03 pm
Munchkin back with his daily Everything is Baker’s fault. The only reason he’s here is to try and start flights a me d arguments. He doesn’t know Evans personally and hasn’t ever talked to him.
March 17th, 2026 at 4:05 pm
Ugo Says:
March 17th, 2026 at 3:59 pm
Rod, stop trying to make this about Baker, Baker got Mike the ball often.
———–
It’s not about getting him the ball, Mike isn’t a drama queen WR who demands the ball – it’s about winning.
Mike worked his rear off to get back in time for the playoffs, only to watch Baker singlehandedly lose 4 games in a row. Games any competent backup wins.
Mike saw Baker collapse in the 4th quarter vs the Redskins in the playoffs, when the defense gave Baker the ball back after a huge goal line stand with a chance to go up 2 scores and put the game away, only to see Baker turn it over.
Mike saw Baker collapse in the 4th quarter vs the Lions in the playoffs, when he’s given the ball back with 2 mins left in a one score game, and Baker immediately turned it over.
It’s not about stats – I never once heard Mike whine about wanting the ball. But Evans won with Brady, and he didn’t want to be stuck with a loser like Baker, so he left down. He literally said as much, he said he wanted to go somewhere with a QB that can win a Super Bowl. That isn’t Baker.
March 17th, 2026 at 4:10 pm
11 100yds games the last 5 seasons hardy dominant and he is now 33yrs old…We will be fine at WR .
March 17th, 2026 at 4:14 pm
Man, I thought ex girlfriend was salty. Some of you guys need a night out. There are other wide receivers and they catch the ball too. Some of them one handed. Some even get yards after the catch. It’s a big world out there fellas. Lots of other receivers. Young, older, fast, big, good hands, rubber ankles. Give it time. It’ll get better.
March 17th, 2026 at 4:16 pm
Same morons that say losing a HOF WR that is going to be an ALL-PRO for at least the next 3-seasons, these same idiots in 2004 were saying how great it was he cut John Lynch, who was old and washed up, and celebrating letting Warren Sapp walk – saying we don’t need him.
Only world-class idiots think losing HOF players, who can still play, is a good thing.
March 17th, 2026 at 4:16 pm
The past two seasons were mentally and physically draining for ME13 which sent him on a mission to find a team to energize his love of the game! Leaving, he burned some bridges but did he burn his reputation in the process?
March 17th, 2026 at 4:18 pm
It’s easy, Shanahan is one of the best offensive minds in the game and has a system Evans can thrive in. Tampa has Bowles. This is all very simple stuff if you take the fandom out of it. Wish Mike the best and a great ending to seal his HOF career.
March 17th, 2026 at 4:19 pm
Whew! I’m ok with Evans leaving, but that picture and headline made me think Godwin was trying to go SF too.
March 17th, 2026 at 4:21 pm
Rd 3 CB Tecario Davis
March 17th, 2026 at 4:22 pm
These same idiots saying Mike can’t play, are the same dummies who said TO was washed up, would never play again, when he was also injured at the very same age that Mike was.
Maybe you low IQ dopes should go look up how that turned out.
March 17th, 2026 at 4:22 pm
Wonder if Evans knew yet when he did the commercial w Godwin
March 17th, 2026 at 4:22 pm
Joe, you sound like a petty girlfriend! He left, we move on. No more articles about someone who does not want to be here.
March 17th, 2026 at 4:26 pm
I don’t know if Mike Evans was hungry to leave Tampa Bay…I think maybe the money or the length of contract wasn’t here, so he had no choice but to leave.
49ers were probably the most enticing.
March 17th, 2026 at 4:27 pm
I believe Mike has at least one year left. Depending on things, he might even squeeze another year in…but…the Bucs were wise not to commit to more than 2 years.
March 17th, 2026 at 4:30 pm
@johnnnythemoon
I agree. Mediocre wr. He only started 2 run after the catch with Brady. Those hamstrings r no good in the muggy weather of the Bays. I don’t foresee him finishing his career great. As the number 1 wr in SF he’s gonna be double teamed. Kittle is goin 2 lead in receptions.ill put a$1,000 on that
March 17th, 2026 at 4:30 pm
I can’t believe all the butt hurt fans out there. Joe could you put a poll out there ? Which team do you think has a better chance to make the play-offs Bucs or 49rs?
March 17th, 2026 at 4:33 pm
I have been a Bucs fan since 1980!!!! Munch get a new crystal ball!!!!
LMAO
March 17th, 2026 at 4:34 pm
Everyone is acting like these are the 90s. The 49ers are a mid level team with no SBs since Clinton was in office.
They won’t win one with Evans. They are weak. Lynch is a worse GM than Licht.
Enjoy the crime-infested, overtaxed disaster that is California.
March 17th, 2026 at 4:35 pm
Drake London, same body,same techniques better player more dangerous.
March 17th, 2026 at 4:37 pm
Poor Munch having nightmares with Baker.
March 17th, 2026 at 4:37 pm
Maybe he can kneel for the National anthem like he did for the Bucs. He and Kaepernick make a perfect pair. Both traitors in my humble opinion.
March 17th, 2026 at 4:38 pm
Munchkin: “Mike worked his rear off to get back in time for the playoffs, only to watch Baker singlehandedly lose 4 games in a row.”
Now you’re just a liar. Even your new hero, Evans, knows and cried “3rd and 28.”
March 17th, 2026 at 4:39 pm
it is surprising baker hasnt said anything about mike hes usually active on social media on big moves like this .
March 17th, 2026 at 4:39 pm
Niners are going to be real disappointed when this guy will only play 8 games this year. Part time player is over paid.
March 17th, 2026 at 4:39 pm
Robert, forgot about the kneeling. Makes sense he went to Kaepernick’s team.
March 17th, 2026 at 4:44 pm
Buccaneer Bonzai Says:
March 17th, 2026 at 4:26 pm
I don’t know if Mike Evans was hungry to leave Tampa Bay…I think maybe the money or the length of contract wasn’t here, so he had no choice but to leave. 49ers were probably the most enticing.
————
Mike left because he wanted to leave.
As others have pointed out, the Bucs actually would have saved on the cap this year had they resigned him.
Mike spent 3 years with Brady, knows what being around a winner feels like, and he knows Baker is not a winner, and wanted out.
That is a fact. He said so.
Here’s another quote from Mike about Brock….
“He’s a true professional. Really, really underrated player. I feel like I could help him out a lot and get him where he wants to go… Super Bowl champion, potential MVP.”
Super Bowl champ and league MVP — I guess week 6 MVP wasn’t good enough for Mike.
Here’s another quote from Mike…
“I did my research on a lot of teams. I was looking at contenders, guys with good quarterbacks”
How many hints do people need?
March 17th, 2026 at 4:44 pm
George R Says:
March 17th, 2026 at 4:30 pm
I can’t believe all the butt hurt fans out there. Joe could you put a poll out there ? Which team do you think has a better chance to make the play-offs Bucs or 49rs?
…..
Just to make the playoffs, no doubt Bucs. 49ers will have to beat out Rams and Seahawks to guarantee a playoff spot. Bucs much easier path.
March 17th, 2026 at 4:45 pm
Lmao Robert and ModHairKen are so butt hurt. The 49ers have easily been a better team than the Bucs over the last few years. Califorina is a great place to live if your rich too. If it’s so bad why are all those billionaires still living in the bay area? Turn off Fox News
March 17th, 2026 at 4:48 pm
ModHairKen Says:
March 17th, 2026 at 4:39 pm
Robert, forgot about the kneeling. Makes sense he went to Kaepernick’s team.
———-
That was, by far, the most retarded thing Mike ever did.
But give him credit, after Dirk gave him a talking to, Mike came out, apologized, said he didn’t mean to make it all about himself, and said it would never happen again.
I’m fine with guys who do dumb things (that don’t physically hurt people) saying they screwed up, and then moving on from it. It doesn’t need to be a defining moment in their lives if it’s a one off.
March 17th, 2026 at 4:49 pm
Ron Munch making Mike Evans case. Toxic fans. Niners have a far greater fan base. You spend it on here arguing, calling everyone low iq. Feels like you maybe projecting a bit. Dont kick me joes. Just saying I come here to get information and get fans opinions on things. Not listen to the most insufferable people walking the face of the earth. You’re a Bucs fan like the rest us. But Jesus man call a loved one, go for a walk. This ain’t it. Hope you find your peace brother.
March 17th, 2026 at 4:51 pm
Why we won’t bounce back? Because Toilet Bowels is still the head coach. He only has a couple seasons left in him. Why waste it on a terrible head coach that should have been fired years ago?
March 17th, 2026 at 4:53 pm
All good Evans is the enemy now we’ll see how good Brock Purdy does, and whether he can stay on the field all year I doubt it.
March 17th, 2026 at 4:55 pm
We’re going to hear about Evans 24- 7 from Joe, get use to it. Joe never found a dead horse he wouldn’t beat to ad nauseam.
March 17th, 2026 at 4:56 pm
I see Rod Munch hate boner is running strong on viagra. Pathetic lol
March 17th, 2026 at 4:58 pm
Nice pic. Too bad they photoshopped the original voice bubble coming from Mike’s mouth. Saw the original on X:
“Gotta call from Golden Gate George. Heading out West immediately after the season. Wanna follow? I hear there’s room for you too. I’ll ask Lynch to call Licht. Most of the JBFers think you were overpaid after your injury, so they want you gone too. Let’s go have some more fun together!”
Ironic label on Godwin’s helmet.
Good thing it doesn’t apply to any of us.
And stop it with the, “He was their third choice.” You come off as stereotypical disgruntled girlfriends who were cast aside after a tryst gone south. What’s next? “I never liked him anyway—dropped too many easy balls. Tiny weeny too!”
Sorry for your pain, but time to grow up and deal with it!
March 17th, 2026 at 4:59 pm
Mike obviously wanted to leave, so it’s best he’s gone. He may have started to become a locker room issue towards the end of the season. I suspect the same of Rachaad. It became less about the team and more about them.
Baker has been wise to keep his mouth shut on the issue. I hope that he remains that way. He can best respond by balling-out this season.
March 17th, 2026 at 5:01 pm
the goal when we play big mike in 2027 is to:
hold him to 3 catches for 28 yards… 🙂
and rack his azz up a few times on the other targets
March 17th, 2026 at 5:01 pm
hopefully you see what i did there ^^^^^^^^^^ 🙂
March 17th, 2026 at 5:03 pm
He will pull a hammer and be on i.r. Jason made a great decision. His hamstrings are aboit to rip off. He’s a running time bomb. Niners got taken for a ride. Our wr room is still deep.
March 17th, 2026 at 5:06 pm
Baker didn’t lose those games.
Lack of NFL-ready and competent Guards did. Lack of guards was the root issue behind all our late season losses. Once both guards were out, Baker had no time for anything at all.
March 17th, 2026 at 5:07 pm
It would be pretty cool if Bucs signs Jauan Jennings and he came here and lights it up. Also, Tyreke Hill would be interesting for the right dollar amount.
But the Jennings signing would be NFL intrigue all next season, watching Evans play just 8 games and Jennings being in his prime eating up yards per catch.
March 17th, 2026 at 5:10 pm
Maybe that electrical sub station across from the training facility will heal his hamstrings.
March 17th, 2026 at 5:22 pm
Folks!
It’s not that Mike Evans left
It’s WHY he left and that is STILL here..
Baker may leave….
It’s grim for those who have taken off their Pewter colored lens
My spidy senses can feel a Tijuana street food explosive diarrhea flush at the end of 2026
GM on down…
March 17th, 2026 at 5:27 pm
Third and 28 is why…….
March 17th, 2026 at 5:34 pm
Evan’s is a bitch, we don’t need his slow, butter fingers, crybaby ass.
March 17th, 2026 at 5:35 pm
if mike stays healthy he’ll definitely get 1000 yds this year and ten tds… i’m calling it
meanwhile 5-12 for the bucs baker throws 25 tds and 18 ints
March 17th, 2026 at 5:39 pm
3rd and 28
March 17th, 2026 at 5:39 pm
Who gives a FACK!! Hes gone, get the hell over it already Joe. Good lord
March 17th, 2026 at 5:40 pm
M1K3, knew that there is no winning with our leprechaun of a QB
March 17th, 2026 at 5:40 pm
You can thank the defensive guru Todd Bowles.
He alone chased ME13 out of Tampa Bay.
The Atlanta game is one of the lowest moments in Bucs history.
And to fire everyone except for Bowles was likely the final straw.
Mike wasn’t lured out by another team, he was begging to get away from the Swiss cheese defense of Todd Bowles.
March 17th, 2026 at 5:40 pm
This is such an easy answer…Buc’s have a $hitty head coach…can’t hold on to leads with a defense that was pretty healthy….crappy system by Bowles…they can not play fast….ask Ronde Barber!
March 17th, 2026 at 5:43 pm
Robert, if you only knew, put that sheet away, why don’t you……
March 17th, 2026 at 5:46 pm
Thank You Rod, can You Please tell them again……
March 17th, 2026 at 5:47 pm
Defense didn’t have enough talent in the front 7. Guards sucked totally. That’s enough to lose a lot of games right there. We are already bringing in more talent. With the draft, we can be a really good football team again all the way around. A great offensive line and plenty of weapons on offense. Hopefully we get lucky this coming season and our players stay healthy. It’s a long season and a war of attrition yet it’s very tough to get a deep enough football team at every position to stay competitive with multiple injuries to the same position groups. See our secondary 2 years ago, and our offensive line and wide receivers this past year. Bad luck hopefully bound to change!
March 17th, 2026 at 5:55 pm
My prediction- the Bucs win 2-3 more games than the Niners.
March 17th, 2026 at 5:58 pm
If I was Evans and I was wanting to possibly add another Superbowl victory to my career resume, I would’ve wanted out of Tampa as well.
Because we for damñ sure aren’t winning another SB in the next couple years.
Not while Bowles is here at least.
March 17th, 2026 at 6:07 pm
In Evans’ first four years with the Bucs, they won 22 games. That didn’t stop him from signing a 5-year contract with the team. In the eight years since then, they won 71 games and a Super Bowl, and now he wants to play for a winner. I think there’s something else going on.
March 17th, 2026 at 6:08 pm
Our Qb is 30-15 since 2022. yours is 29-32. Our Qb finished 4th in mvp voting, been to a Sb, title game and is 5 years younger. He’s more effecient and accurate
March 17th, 2026 at 6:12 pm
So many JBFers have fallen right into Joe’s trap. The underlying theme of all these Evans’ articles has been that he left because of Bowles. That’s bullspit; Evans most likely left for a myriad of reasons, primary of which is that he wants to chase another ring and the 49ers give him a better chance of attaining that goal.
Nowhere that I’ve read has Mike Evans ever said that he left because of Todd Bowles. He should be evere grateful to Bowles for giving him enough targets in 2022, 2023 & 2024 to make his 1,000 yards each season. And especially in 2024 when Mike had 995 yds going into the last play of the game. With the Bucs ahead, Bowles allowed Mayfield to pass to Evans for 9 yds instead of taking a kneel-down to secure the victory. That was a risk on Bowles’ part, but it crtainly paid off handsomely for Evans.
March 17th, 2026 at 6:26 pm
Defense rules.
Agree 100%
People would rather have joes tell them what to think than listen to (or read) the actual words being said. Then they repeat the narrative over and over and represent it as “truth” or “facts”.
Narratives that are just accepted without question. SMH
March 17th, 2026 at 6:26 pm
The common denominator in everything that sucks about this team is Todd Bowles.
March 17th, 2026 at 6:27 pm
No one is grateful for Todd bowles except Todd mirage bowles Mike doesn’t say a lot of things in the media that doesn’t mean he didn’t leave because he had a front row seat to watch the collapse and then watch that organization say yeah let’s run that train wreck back despite everything that’s says fire this guy immediately. To make it seem like it had nothing to do with the guy that is the headcoach of the team is just copium you are just doing yourself a disservice.
March 17th, 2026 at 6:32 pm
ME13 is telling us, slowly but surely, what we need to know about how he felt about Bucs and coaching and winning. I don’t blame him. Shake-N-Bake had opportunities to show his medal and win some games for us down the stretch but the INTs to ATL / CAR were bad.
Good luck Mike, time for the young guns to step up. Good thing is that JMac, EE, CG14 are all capable of stepping up. Time for them to show up. Tez is a plus, whatever he gives is a bonus.
March 17th, 2026 at 6:48 pm
Stpetem. Baker lost the Dolphins, Panthers, both sides of the ball against the falcons because again 3rd and 28 don’t happen if Baker don’t throw a pick and miss Payne Durham wide open in the middle of the field. He lost the Eagles game and Patriots by throwing picks and all those games late in the 4th quarter. Baker is one of the main reason why we lost last year he was the reason why we lost against the lions by throwing a pick on the game winning drive. NFC Championship or bust no more excuses. I remember you and others told me Jamies is the quarterback and it’s a quarterback driven lead . Now it’s a team game that we have Baker Mayfield. I remember you guys telling me that y’all call it like you see it keep the same energy with Baker Mayfield. NFC Championship or bust no more excuses.
March 17th, 2026 at 6:49 pm
Wilder is right……LET IT GO!
March 17th, 2026 at 6:53 pm
Evans didn’t want to Play under Bowles anymore. Time to move forward
March 17th, 2026 at 6:57 pm
Hey Rod Munch! I get that you hate Mayfield. Who should have been playing QB for Tampa the last 2 or 3 years. You have an answer for that? To quote Mike Evans, “Hey, sell me on your quarterback!” Really I’m curious, where did the Bucs drop the ball? Who should of been our guy? What great quarter back did the Bucs miss out on by signing Baker? Inquiring minds want to know! Impess us with your encyclopedic knowledge of players and there skills. No high drafts though, the Bucs would have never sucked enough to get a top 5, even if Kyle Trask was still here. I look forward to your list!
March 17th, 2026 at 6:58 pm
Boy what in tarnations was going on in that building last season…
March 17th, 2026 at 7:08 pm
Oneilbuc…. Jamies is the quarterback and it’s a quarterback driven lead
Where has Jamies been the last 3 years??? Besides riding the pine.
March 17th, 2026 at 7:18 pm
Mike’s games last year:
51 yards
56 yards
broken collarbone
132 yards
31 yards
31 yards
34 yards
He left to be a big fish in a small pond
March 17th, 2026 at 7:19 pm
Kyle Shanahan and Lynch started in ‘17 IIRC, making 2019 their third season together and when most people generally regard as them having put it together. Since the start of that season they are 72-45 with a 9-5 post season record with two SB losses to the chiefs with one in OT. And they went thru 3 starting QBs during that span.
Yes, 2024 was a down year but let’s please not try to compare the organizations. I’ll take the ‘20 Lombardi over the consistency but it’s not even close.
Kyle – legitimate elite HC.
Todd – legit average HC
March 17th, 2026 at 7:28 pm
It’s funny how fans are arguing about why ME13 left. For years we same fans have stated how ME13 always made QBs better than they were going back to Johnny Football……. Might be something there……. Plus the HC/DC isn’t good couldn’t help. Just saying
March 17th, 2026 at 7:29 pm
‘why did he not think the Bucs could bounce back from their challenging and ugly 8-9 season?’
Because the Bucs did NOT Fire Bowels, a bottom of the barrel HC in the pros!
March 17th, 2026 at 7:35 pm
The whining from the sports media here
Blaming coach etc
Grown man made a decision his choice
Over under games missed 6
Those Jammie’s can’t handle the field in San Francisco
March 17th, 2026 at 7:41 pm
Some Bucs fans don’t understand Bucs history – after 4 years of relative success from 1979 – 1982 with Doug Williams the team had 14 straight losing seasons – then Dungy came and six years of success 1997 – 2002 culminated in the first SB – (Jason Licht couldn’t shine Rich McKay’s shoes) – after the SB followed 17 years with only 5 winning seasons and no playoff wins – then Brady came and we had 2 years of good football which Cooper Kupp terminated – the last 4 years are just the beginning of another drought , another Lost Decade – but that’s ok, right ? – we’re Bucs fans, whether the team is 17-0 or 0-17 – so let’s just look on the bright side and appreciate the Glazers, Licht, Bowles, and Baker, win or lose –
Go Bucs !
March 17th, 2026 at 7:41 pm
For the “who could we have got instead of Baker “crowd: Philedelphia went from Nick foles to Sam Bradford to Carson Wentz to Jalen Hurts in a 5 year span. Understand each Qb was 27 or 28 years old when Philedlphia moved on from them.
The 49ers went from Garapolo to Purdy in a 2 year span and traded the farm to get Trey Lance in between. The Qb position should be upgraded and under as much scrutiny as any other postion, more so because its the most important one.
You guys are nuts if you think the Eagles or 49ers would have held on to Baker for this long. You can obsess over the nickle back, a edge rusher or Ol depth all you want, this franchise is going nowhere with Baker under center.
Look at Minnesota before and after Darnold. Literally no one this time last year said a word about Seattle. Yeah, your Qb matters. No shortcuts or way around it. So funny you guys thought Crosby a nd a strong draft is the way to even a title game, let alone a Super Bowl.
I get the Brady’s and Mahomes dont grow on trees, but Purdy, Hurts and darnold have went to the last 3 SB with Hurts and Darnold winning it. And yes, Darnold is a winner, he is 36-16 since leaving the Jets and 28-6 the last 2 years.
March 17th, 2026 at 7:49 pm
Um… can we stop Joe49ersfan.com? When he is cut from the Titans after the 2027 season, we can discuss his ring of honor induction. Hes gone. Im sick of reading mike evans articles daily.
March 17th, 2026 at 7:54 pm
Cassandra: Agreed, but it does get him out of your system.
March 17th, 2026 at 8:08 pm
I am still a Bucs fan no matter how bad the situation is. Evans is no longer a Buc by his own choice so he can pound sand. I will no longer support him and don’t really care what he does in SF. He is officially persona non grata in my book. Can we finally close the book on him and move on?
March 17th, 2026 at 8:18 pm
I don’t know much but I know Joe is going to pick at this scab all year
March 17th, 2026 at 8:20 pm
The 49ers treating players well goes back to Eddie DeBartolo. He ran a first class operation and took excellent care of his players. To this day they still talk about how well the old timers where taken care of.
March 17th, 2026 at 8:27 pm
One reason- -the 49rs are still actively searching for more upgrades. Everyday THE Chronicle is listing new players they are kicking tire on.
The only listing here is the Buc boat and Rod Munch who obviously is off his meds.
March 17th, 2026 at 8:48 pm
Oneilbuc: While i eventually knew Winston would never corral his ways, lets go with a plot twist especially since Winston is only a year younger then Winston….. Put Winston on the Baker era Bucs and vice versa.
So instead of MVP Ryan/Sb Atlanta, MVP Newton/Sb Panthers and Brees with the Saints, Winston would be going head to head with Desmond Ridder, Bryce Young, Penix, a washed Carr and Cousins.
Call me crazy but if Baker is in dog fights every season finale to win THIS version of the Nfc south, I think he would be God awful.
March 17th, 2026 at 9:04 pm
@JimBobBuc, what I see on the 49ers NFLPA report card is coaches that are highly rated. That’s the point and why we are here. Glazerhouses suck!
March 17th, 2026 at 9:05 pm
Night Rod, happy fantasies of your obsession- Baker Mayfield.
March 17th, 2026 at 9:08 pm
Because Todd Bowles isn’t Kyle Shanahan. Nobody has faith he’ll turn it around and not screw us up even if we make the playoffs by accident
March 17th, 2026 at 9:19 pm
Go get Cam Jordan
March 17th, 2026 at 9:21 pm
Who cares! Let it go!!!
March 17th, 2026 at 9:22 pm
Well Kyle Shanahan offenses have ranked signifigantly higher in the Purdy era(23-25) then they did in the Garapolo era. Also, in 2000 the 49ers were 8-4 and averaging 23.5 ppg. Purdy comes in , goes 5-0 and the offense average 33.6 ppg.
sorry but the 26 year old Purdy is already much better then Baker and its not close. Why is the SB champ talk crazy? As a rookie he led his team to the title game. His second year his team had a double digit lead going into the 4th qtr. That same year he finished 4th in MVP voting.
You all are so non sensical when it comes to Baker…. Hes as good or better then Goff, Dak, Darnold, Herbert, Purdy, Hurts,Lawrence and NO, he isnt. Its laughable. Literally everyone I listed is better. Dak is 2 years older and Goff is 6 months older but everyone else on that list is years younger.
March 17th, 2026 at 9:28 pm
Franchise is going in the wrong direction. Keeping Bowles was a huge mistake that will have long term ramifications for this franchise. Hate to say it and I pray I’m wrong. Yes all great players leave, Rice, Brady, etc leave but it’s the way that Mike left is the issue. He wanted out because he can’t tell the coaching and leader ship is not there.
March 17th, 2026 at 9:29 pm
Funny how mnuch smarter and better of a coach Belichick was after Tom Brady became the starter. Then when Brady left, he forgot how to coach. Same thing with Andy Reid. Always a good to very good coach, he “hit” in stride about 20 years in…It just so happen to coincide with him getting Mahomes. Funny he went from good/very good coach to a Mt Rushmore HC.
Its actually alot more examples of coaches having their most success when they had a HOF/HOF cailber Qb. it sliterally too many to list. Im not a Bowles fan as you can tell by my title. Actually on FB a few ppl accused me of being racist because i have said bowles int the guy lol.
The biggest problem witht his team is that small, inaccurate, straky journeyman QB with a big mouth and big game but small game.
March 17th, 2026 at 9:31 pm
Truth is Mike, they showed the dirt. The Ring was Tom Brady,’s, he did it all, and I respected him but didn’t like him in New England. No other QB would have gotten the team that ring with the Bucs team. And the Defense really sealed it all up, all night they were all over Patrick Mahomes and his I offense. Don’t come back and retire cause I’d piss on your picture if I could. Dirty Traitor and you talked sh!t about em. 12 years just to turn your back. Good Bye
March 17th, 2026 at 9:31 pm
WHAT is the point of blathering on and on about Todd being retained? It’s DONE. He’s the coach for the ’26 season. You peeps sound like a bunch of girly men
March 17th, 2026 at 9:32 pm
The joes write these articles and sit back and watch you morons acting like these players are on your payroll
March 17th, 2026 at 9:34 pm
Evans Kittle and McCaffery are going to have that problem where they never all play together
March 17th, 2026 at 9:37 pm
Bye Baker Bye Bowles Says:
March 17th, 2026 at 6:08 pm
Our Qb is 30-15 since 2022. yours is 29-32. Our Qb finished 4th in mvp voting, been to a Sb, title game and is 5 years younger. He’s more effecient and accurate
———————————————————————————
“Our QB”, your QB
What are you doing in this forum?
Get lost.
March 17th, 2026 at 9:40 pm
It said “sell me” so i was talking as if i were Kittle. SMH
March 17th, 2026 at 9:45 pm
Rod Munch… show us on the doll where Baker touched you.
Or give the phone back to the people in white coats, you have gone over your designated phone time for the day.
March 17th, 2026 at 9:57 pm
Bye Baker Bye Bowles….
You are out to lunch if you think Baker doesn’t put up the wins and numbers that Darnold and Hurts have under their respective coaches.
All these guys get exposed with poor coaching and/or poor line play. Philly offense was a train wreck this year.
Darnold couldn’t beat Baker in Panthers practice.
Baker can’t play hurt and he can’t play behind a weak OL cause he plays hero ball and has no D to back him up. He also didn’t have a great OC, the genius called Grizz a couple years away. That was Bakers 8th OC in 8 years.
With Coen, Baker threw for 4500 yards and 41 TDs. Despite the weak OC this year he was a leading MVP candidate through 8 weeks. What the hell are we talking about here!? Baker has limitations as I mentioned, limitations that most QBs in the league have (injury, weak OC, weak OL).
Good thing you cherry picked the good examples of journeyman or late round QBs from the last 10 years that went to competent franchises. I guess we should spend #15 on Ty Simpson this year. Waste resources like the 49ers did with Lance to come up with… oh right… 0 Super Bowls.
March 17th, 2026 at 9:58 pm
BBBB. MVP Ryan. 0 Super Bowls. MVP Newton. 0 Super Bowls. Brees got what, 1 Super Bowl in a 20 year career? Jameis Winston? Really? Baker is probably about half way through his career BBBB. Alot of people in this organization, from the top to the bottom, have given him as good an opportunity as he’s ever gonna get and he knows it. And BBBB. Baker has gotten that opportunity because? Because he earned it BBBB. No smoke and mirrors. Just talent and effort. Alot of people say he’s a starting NFL QB with upside. You don’t think so. Ok. But he’s gotten another chance this year whether you like it or not. You get it?
March 17th, 2026 at 10:04 pm
SaskBucs…awesome…looking for Munch more of that.
March 17th, 2026 at 10:05 pm
Something that should be part of the Purdy vs Mayfield analysis is that Brock has been the beneficiary of some premier protection during most of the comparison period. Watching him under duress late last season, he didn’t look quite the hero.
March 17th, 2026 at 10:07 pm
We’d all have done it. Sell me on the niners mike!!
March 17th, 2026 at 10:12 pm
We played better without Mike last year. He demands the ball or he pouts. Let’s move on. He will play 8 games next year max
March 17th, 2026 at 10:48 pm
Mike…may you get what you want and want what you get.
The “real” # on Mike’s deal is 1 year @ 14.3 million. Like the Eagles sang…Mike was “already gone” after the creamsicle collapse ( not to be confused with Joe’s capitol collapse vs Redskins and Kirk Cousins ). At best he would have been moody had he stayed in Tampa. Licht was probably shocked that one of his draft picks ( his very first one ) turned down a potential overpay.
Enjoy San Fran…and the 30% tax hike.
March 17th, 2026 at 10:49 pm
I certainly understand that some fans are scared of what happened decades ago. Not getting into the playoffs. Perennial loser.
But that doesn’t justify settling for mediocrity. If we were in any other division in ‘22 an ‘23 we wouldn’t have even sniffed the playoffs. If you take that into consideration it should be obvious what we currently have.
When you settle for this mediocrity the situation will soon turn into why you settled for it.
March 17th, 2026 at 10:54 pm
Kenton Smith: Last year……no extension. Upside? 31 with 120+ regular season starts,a decade in. A million excuses for Baker. And without Mike the last 2 years Baker is 4-8.
March 17th, 2026 at 10:59 pm
Question :
the 2026 starting offense is the same as 2025 except for losing Evans –
the starting secondary is the same as 2025 except for losing Dean –
the starting front 7 is the same but for replacements for Reddick Hall Dennis
Ira sez that the roster is the same or slightly worse than 2025
the HC and DC is the same as 2025
record in 2025 was 8-9 with injuries before bye and players return after it
what evidence is there that 2026 record will be better than 8-9 ?
just asking
March 17th, 2026 at 11:11 pm
Baker won’t be ” hurt”. New OC. Isn’t it funny Grizzard was trashed for his 21st ranked offense when Canales had the 23rd ranked offense in 2023? And remember 2023 every skill player started all 17 games and the OL was healthier? They should have just blown it up for 2026 all the way.
March 17th, 2026 at 11:48 pm
DR
Cmon man. Evans leaving because of Bowles and Evans had a better opportunity to win a ring with the Niners could both be considered true statements.
In fact, they prove each other.
3rd & 28.
March 18th, 2026 at 12:13 am
2024 for the 49ers is a typical Bowles season.
March 18th, 2026 at 12:24 am
“And why did he not think the Bucs could bounce back from their challenging and ugly 8-9 season?”
Are you freaking KIDDING ME!? Now, come on. I also heard that he spoke with Tom Brady about staying with just ‘one’ team for throughout his entire career, versus leaving, & etc. These guys talk all the time to one another about ALL of this stuff that goes on within an organization, and with everything else. Nothing to see here. It’s just offseason click-bait. Filler. Since, there’s nothing else of any significance to speak of. But, to act all tore up over it… Absolutely, Absurd.
March 18th, 2026 at 12:58 am
Chris Godwin demands a trade to the Niners. It’s coming.
March 18th, 2026 at 1:52 am
No different than anyone else, thinking about leaving their place of EMPLOYMENT. I mean, hell… If you’re working at a car dealership, you’re going to try gathering as much information as possible about the other dealers in the area, right!? Also, you’re going to reach-out to some of your buddies, who are currently working there now, or had in the past. It is very common place and is only the SMART thing to do. There would be something terribly wrong with him had he not.
March 18th, 2026 at 2:01 am
@ Bye Baker Bye – Last season was Canales 2.0. Most everyone recognized that almost immediately. Couldn’t run the ball. Couldn’t sustain drives. HORRIBLE in the RedZone. And, Baker looked AWFUL for the majority of the time, especially early on. Just a bunch of stats late in ballgames, because they were usually playing from behind.
March 18th, 2026 at 2:22 am
DailyRich Says:
March 17th, 2026 at 6:07 pm
In Evans’ first four years with the Bucs, they won 22 games. That didn’t stop him from signing a 5-year contract with the team. In the eight years since then, they won 71 games and a Super Bowl, and now he wants to play for a winner. I think there’s something else going on.
———-
Yeah, it’s tough to figure out what might have happened…
March 18th, 2026 at 2:35 am
oz len Says:
March 17th, 2026 at 6:57 pm
Hey Rod Munch! I get that you hate Mayfield. Who should have been playing QB for Tampa the last 2 or 3 years. You have an answer for that?
—————
I said after 2023 to resign him at a discounted rate, and they did.
I said after 2024 he’s obviously the starter, but also expected him to fall flat on his face. He did.
And I’ve also said after 2025, he’s got a year left on his deal, Bowles is a lameduck headcoach as well, so give him another go and see what happens – see if he bounces back from being ‘injured’ – or find out if he is what he is, and that is a very streaky, inconsistent QB who gets everyone around him fired.
My main issue is with the sycophantic nutjobs who worship a middling QB and say stupid stuff like he’s better than Brady, has a HOF numbers, and is MVP.
Baker is what he is, and that is a very inconsistent QB. He cost the Bucs the playoffs last year, and yet dopes on the boar pretend as if it was the defense that went 0-4, when a single win would have gotten the Bucs. Just some balance for Christ’s sake.
It’s like the game vs the Saints, where on 4th and 4 on the last drive, Baker has a wide open Otton, a clean pocket, and Otton is at the 1st down marker – and Baker throws it into the dirt and Otton has to come back and get the ball. Who is to blame? Well reading post game, it was Otton for not running the correct depth (false – tape shows that’s untrue), it was the defense’s fault despite the Saints scoring all their points after getting the ball 3 times in Bucs territory. Meanwhile Baker throws for 144 yards and he’s blamed nowhere.
Same for the Falcons game with his awful 4th quarter INT and even worse missed throw that would have ended the game. Same thing in Carolina where the Bucs have the ball in FG range to tie it up, and Baker tries to force the ball to Mike (after Mike had already broke up field, as the tape shows) ignoring that he had two wide open WRs on the other side of the the field. Or like going to Miami, in a must win game, and Baker playing perhaps his worst game as a Buc when you consider the level of competition and what was on the line.
Baker is what he is, and people can’t accept that. Instead of admitting he’s a more boring and unlikeable Jameis Winston – people instead claim he’s MVP and a HOF’er. It’s nutjob level stuff.
March 18th, 2026 at 3:59 am
Rod Munch … ‘Baker is what he is, and people can’t accept that. Instead of admitting he’s a more boring and unlikeable Jameis Winston – people instead claim he’s MVP and a HOF’er. It’s nutjob level stuff.’
Seems like they used to say that about Popeye … ‘I yam what I yam, and that’s all I yam’. And I agree, that’s Baker. To be successful, he NEEDS a strong OLine to protect him, quality receivers, a strong running game. That’s what defined his 2020 season (11-5) in Cleveland and his 2024 season (10-7) in Tampa. The 2020 season produced 408 pts with 48 TDs total, and the 2024 season produced 502 pts with 57 TDs total.
Baker’s shown me that with the ‘right support’ he can win. He’s also shown however that if the ‘right support’ isn’t there, he usually struggles. He’s not the QB IMO who can put the team on his back & pull out victory after victory if things are going poorly around him.
But then again, I’d say that’s true of most NFL QBs. Very few are true franchise QBs, and that’s probably why there’s so much QB turnover each year. Just in the last 5 years, Seattle, the Super Bowl champs, have had 3 different starting QBs (Wilson, Smith & Darnold) and none of those were close to being franchise QBs.
Bucs went into the 2023 season with ONE QB, Kyle Trask, and he’d never started an NFL game (still hasn’t). We were coming off a losing season (8-9), had no money to fix anything & were mega salary CAP $$$ in ‘debt’. There weren’t tons of experienced QBs standing in line to help us dig out. But Baker was there, and saw an opportunity. That 9-8 record in 2023 led to a very team-friendly 3-year contract for $100,000 that’s helped us in several ways.
Whether he gets another contract here is apparently gonna be dependent upon how well we do this season. His CAP hit for 2026 looks like it’s recently been renegotiated (lowered by roughly $15 mil). Looks to me like we’d now have to eat about $27 or $28 mil in 2027 Dead CAP if we don’t re-sign him. Still, that’s a lot less than what we paid in Dead CAP for Brady after 2022.
March 18th, 2026 at 6:25 am
Only things I really remember Evans doing is dropping an easy ball on a Sunday or Monday night game and pulling his hamstring. I’m sure that substation theory will play itself out in Santa Clara.
March 18th, 2026 at 9:07 am
Sell me this pen!….
March 18th, 2026 at 9:14 am
For those that are clueless but still feel the need to be heard, STFU. The fate for Evans was clear the moment Ebuka was drafted and he didn’t flop as a rookie. Between him, McMillan being impressive when he came back, and Godwin being ready to go full speed when training camp opens, Evans wasn’t going to come back, take a lot less money (despite what you have incorrectly heard), and share touches with three other receivers. Licht comes from the Belichek/Pats family where they believe it is better to let go of a player a year too early than a year too late. I love Evans but he isn’t seeing the last year of his contract. It’s 50/50 he sees year two. Dudes with hamstring issues don’t miraculously get better with age, they get worse. Julio Jones had moderate hamstring issues when he was young… then he became Evans age and they were constant issues. Evans has had constant issues since his rookie season and they’ve only gotten worse and will only continue to get worse. Say what you want about Bowles or Mayfield… but this has everything to do with the fact the Bucs would have liked for Evans to be back but clearly didn’t NEED him to be back.
March 18th, 2026 at 11:22 am
Home Game Field: F-
I’ve never seen a F-.
How do you get lower than “Failed”?
March 18th, 2026 at 12:33 pm
Defense Rules Says:
Whether he gets another contract here is apparently gonna be dependent upon how well we do this season. His CAP hit for 2026 looks like it’s recently been renegotiated (lowered by roughly $15 mil). Looks to me like we’d now have to eat about $27 or $28 mil in 2027 Dead CAP if we don’t re-sign him. Still, that’s a lot less than what we paid in Dead CAP for Brady after 2022.
—————-
I had not seen that, but pretty par for course with the way the Bucs handle things (not a knock, just pointing out they tend to do deals that way).
I think it’s pretty obvious if Baker and Bowles don’t win at least a playoff game this year, they’re both out, and you’re starting a rebuild in any case – so the cap hit won’t mean as much.
Also keep in mind the cap has gone up, what, like 40% in the last 5 years – so what was a huge hit a few years ago, is a lot less of a charge now.
Anywho, people mistake my hate of the Baker Boi(s) and think I hate Baker. I think Baker can do OK when everything is right around him – as you said most NFL QBs are that way. And also if Baker got hot right when the playoffs started, who knows what could happen. Last year, I kept waiting for that to happen, and it never did – instead Baker fell flat on his face. The fact people pretend like that didn’t happen is the part I can’t tolerate, and why I feel the need to point it out.
March 18th, 2026 at 12:54 pm
And why did he not think the Bucs could bounce back from their challenging and ugly 8-9 season?
BAKER!!!!…LOL…
Baker is more likely to lead the NFL in INTs and Fumbles AGAIN vs winning a playoff game
GO BUCS!!!!
March 18th, 2026 at 1:30 pm
Rod Munch Says: “Baker is what he is, and people can’t accept that. Instead of admitting he’s a more boring and unlikeable Jameis Winston – people instead claim he’s MVP and a HOF’er. It’s nutjob level stuff.
Defense Rules Says: “He’s not the QB IMO who can put the team on his back & pull out victory after victory if things are going poorly around him.”
VERY “nut job” level stuff, Rod. Especially, for an ADULT. Seriously. I cannot comprehend it. I can’t see where he is ‘likable’ even, at all. Though, I can ‘see-it’ with certain types of individuals, who always fall for that type of garbage (with his antics – total douche stuff). It’s all VERY weird. I’m not getting into all of it now, but the bottomline being it’s all smoke and mirrors. He makes THEM ‘think’ HE is a strong leader, when he is NOT.
He ‘uplifts’ NO ONE. It’s ALL always about Baker, at ALL times. He has them completely fooled. True “LEADERS” elevate EVERYONE on the team, and THEY WIN. It’s the biggest difference between Baker and Sam Darnold. Sam WINS, and HE ELEVATES his teammates. Even, his defense. They LOVE HIM and really like him as a dude. It’s just not the a case with Baker. You can easily see it, if you’re not blind. Baker is all about BAKER. He Is Selfish. Sam is not AND he wins. Now, THAT is a true “franchise” QB.
March 18th, 2026 at 1:40 pm
@ Brandon Says: “Licht comes from the Belichek/Pats family where they believe it is better to let go of a player a year too early than a year too late.”
That is complete total BULLSH!T. That is NOT what Lickt has done in ANY WAY. So, GTFO. That’s ‘delusional’ talk. And, Mike decided HIMSELF, to leave on HIS OWN. Lickt tried and wanted him back. Tell me WHO all these players are that YOU speak of that LICKT has offloaded!? Who… Chris Godwin Lmao. And, EVEN IF he did want Mike gone… Tell ME again, WHAT did he get back for him!? Hmmmm… If what YOU are saying had actually been true… Then, he would’ve traded Mike away LAST YEAR instead, and actually gotten something back in return. I swear, some of you people live in a freaking FANTASYLAND, inside of your own head. It’s not even close to being in reality. Patriots-Way… YES 💯. The “LICKT-WAY” – Not. Even. CLOSE. Get the hell outta here with that complete NONSENSE.
March 18th, 2026 at 3:40 pm
“The 49ers won six games in 2024. Did that not bother Evans? And why did he not think the Bucs could bounce back from their challenging and ugly 8-9 season?”
The reason is Todd Bowels.
March 18th, 2026 at 9:36 pm
Rod Munch:
I watched Baker and Jamis both play for my Browns. Baker is better than Jamis. Jamis is turnover machine. Nice guy though.
I new you didn’t like Baker. Don’t have to rehash your reasons. But I wanted to know who you would have put in kis place. Crickets? Sometimes the girl you got is better than the girl want. Baker made the Bucs competitive. Baker also beat Darnold in Seattle last season, and head to head in Carolina and in the 2018 draft. Baker never saw “ghost” and Baker never blew up in the playoffs like Darnold did in Minnesota one year before his SUper Bowl run.