Jason Licht Not Shamed By Ex-Bucs Talking About Winning Rings With New Teams
March 23rd, 2026
Responds to ex-Bucs’ remarks.
The thing that sticks in Joe’s craw about the first couple of days of legal tampering earlier this month — not craw, craw! — is the backhanded slaps at the Bucs.
When both Mike Evans, the best offensive player the Bucs ever drafted, and Jamel Dean, the Bucs’ best corner, bolted for San Francisco and Pittsburgh, respectively, they talked about winning a ring with their new teams and implied their new teams gave them the best chance to do that.
Um, what about the Bucs? Say what you will about the 49ers and their offensive wizard of a coach, Kyle Shanahan, the Bucs beat the 49ers last year. Without Evans.
The Steelers? They’re banking on a has-been Hall of Famer who is closer to collecting Social Security than he is to his peak playing days.
What the hell gives? Just on face value, Joe thought that was major shade both players threw at the Bucs. Besides, both teams play in significantly tougher divisions.
So last week when Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht had a sitdown at One Buc Palace for select media, Joe asked him if the comments from Evans and/or Dean that they can win a Super Bowl with their new teams ticked him off or embarrassed him. And how did those comments float at One Buc Palace.
Licht waved it off as empty talk.
“I think when you go back and look at any quote from any player that leaves and goes somewhere, they say the same thing,” Licht said. “So, I know Mike, definitely in our conversations, thinks we have a shot.”
That is the peculiar thing about the Evans and Dean exits. Surely Evans saw his Bucs teammates beat San Francisco. It was a solid win. No fluke. How could he think he had a better shot in a tougher division to get another ring?
Same with Dean. It’s not like the Steelers are some juggernaut. They’re a far cry from what they had been for the past 50-some years.
So it sounds like both Licht and the rest of the Bucs’ front office wasn’t as irked about Evans and Dean indirectly calling the Bucs a non-contender as Joe took it.
March 23rd, 2026 at 7:10 am
With everyone healthy, Bucs are certainly a contender. Need to improve starters in the front 7 and depth in O-line, front 7 and secondary. We have to be able to cover injuries since several will happen over that long of a season. Let’s hope we are able to achieve all that!
March 23rd, 2026 at 7:12 am
Where do we sit on our cap for this year @joe?
As usual, cap is only an issue for the Bucs if they want it to be. Plenty of options to restructure to create space, as they did earlier this month. –Joe
March 23rd, 2026 at 7:14 am
Lichtbrain cannot come out and say that ME13 and Dean left because both believe that Bowles will not be able to lead Bucs to the playoffs, because Lichtbrain is the primary reason Todd still has a job and our coach is NOT named Harbaugh or McDermott.
March 23rd, 2026 at 7:23 am
It’s Todd!
The players quit on the dude last year and the guys who could get out did.
Licht is safe, if the Bucs wanted him out or were considering it Harbaough would be here new GM.
No Licht will be back in 2027 and thankfully a new HC that isn’t clueless.
March 23rd, 2026 at 7:37 am
I mean it’s easy to see why Mike thinks the 49ers have a better shot. They came in 3rd place in the hardest division and still made the playoffs. The Bucs meanwhile were in the worst division, missed the playoffs, and are rolling in 2026 with a lame duck coach
March 23rd, 2026 at 7:46 am
Our win vs the 9ers was a fluke…they were missing Prudy and Fred went out that game….
9ers had more injures than the BUCS and still won 12games in the toughest division…
that explains why Mike bolted…along with Bakers 4th quarter INTs in DEC
GO BUCS!!!!
March 23rd, 2026 at 7:51 am
People will say if the Bucs are healthy they’re contenders, which is just delusional at best. The Bucs were healthy for the season opener last season and needed the Falcons to miss a GW FG to win. The Bucs were healthy in the playoffs at home and lost a few yrs ago. Funny how other teams can navigate injuries but not the Bucs. The Bucs get more excuses.
This team isn’t a contender. If you’re contending your best offensive player doesn’t leave for less pay. If you’re contending then you spend money in FA on the best players at positions of need. If you’re contending you dont go 2-7 down the stretch and miss the playoffs.
The architect of the roster, the main decision maker and the person who touches the ball every offensive play is returning. Based off what they’ve done the past 3 years, what could possibly change for the better?
March 23rd, 2026 at 7:54 am
Dean is a nice guy but he’s not the sharpest knife in the drawer. The Steelers are not a Super Bowl team. Evans is old and only has a year or two left and the 49ers are a better team. Change is inevitable, let it go…..
March 23rd, 2026 at 8:05 am
“The Steelers? They’re banking on a has-been Hall of Famer who is closer to collecting Social Security than he is to his peak playing days.”
Nice post J…but is this a reference to Aaron Rodgers or Mike McCarthy? Inquiring minds want to know.
March 23rd, 2026 at 8:06 am
Another Evans Post. Take a shot
March 23rd, 2026 at 8:08 am
Once they restructured Dean’s salary he was gone. I just can’t see a prideful individual staying after that. Of course munch would stay.
March 23rd, 2026 at 8:13 am
Optimism. Sometimes it can make you blind.
March 23rd, 2026 at 8:14 am
Joe, if you had to put your rent money up who would you bet on the 49rs or the Bucs. I’ll take the 49rs.
March 23rd, 2026 at 8:30 am
I think it was more a matter of the usual player speak when they go to a new team. They’re not going to say, “Well, I certainly did not come to win a ring.”
March 23rd, 2026 at 8:30 am
The more I hear JL talk about Evans the more convinced I am that he bolted for his own offensive stats and place in NFL history. It looks like he is the #1 in SF and thinks more balls will be thrown his way because of Kittle and MC being there to free him up. I don’t see SF as a major SB talent, and certainly not the Steelers. I don’t lose any sleep over Dean leaving, it’s more about ME bolting. After a week I’m over them. Wish Mike well until we play them but he’s the only 1.
March 23rd, 2026 at 8:34 am
49ers will never win a superbowl… it has to eat shannahan alive after all these years of making it to the superbowl, just to see 2 teams in your division actually win it. I love how bucs fans praise the 9ers for winning all these games every year.
When at the end of the day if the bucs under todd bowles won 11 games per year, they would still want him fired. So mike evans went from 3-28 to 28-3
March 23rd, 2026 at 8:34 am
Whatevs Says:
“Another Evans Post. Take a shot”
Dude, if you think you can do better, then start your own blog.
The Joes generate things to read multiple times every day. You think it’s so easy, then start doing it yourself.
March 23rd, 2026 at 8:35 am
941bucsfan, there was a time when the same was said of the Bucs. Never say never.
March 23rd, 2026 at 8:37 am
Both Evans and Dean are at the twilight of their careers. It not we lost 25/26 year old stars and in their prime years. The media is starved for stories so take their stories as blowing these loses as hyped up media fringezzy.
It helps save money on overpaying veterans. Remember football is a business.
March 23rd, 2026 at 8:43 am
To be fair to them, almost ANY positive thing you say about your new team will look like a dis to your former team. As far as Evans, he’s desperate to get on the H.O.F., and getting 7 targets for 35 yards every game doesn’t accomplish that.
March 23rd, 2026 at 8:47 am
We beat the 49’ers in part because they watched the star of their defense suffer a gruesome season ending injury (much like when Bucs players saw Godwin’s foot pointing in an unnatural direction in that Ravens game). It can take the wind out of a team’s sails seeing a team Captain/star player suffer that kind of serious injury, so I’m not totally shocked the Bucs won that game. Unlike a Bowles led Bucs team the 49’ers managed to find a way to stay competitive for the rest of the season (coaching and roster depth!) and were within one game of winning the NFC West (where teams with 12 wins were wildcards in the playoffs). Regardless they went on the road and beat the defending NFL champs (Eagles) before getting mauled by the Seahawks (while missing Kittle). Based on last season anyone being real can safely say the 49’ers look to be a far better team overall than Tampa…it hurts, but it’s true. However things can change fast in the NFL, injuries to key players, success/failure of draft picks and free agents, locker room distractions, saying goes “that’s why they play the game”
March 23rd, 2026 at 8:50 am
Does anyone say I am leaving to go to a 9-8 team …Evans left as well because of the youth at WR on this team.. He said he thought he could help the 49ers as they have squat at WR.. His agent said he wanted to go somewhere to get a ton of targets and be the man
March 23rd, 2026 at 8:57 am
Kind of the script every FA says when moving to a new team. If the Bucs really wanted to be a contender they would have done more to get premier defensive FA’s this year. The draft rarely seems to work for Jason with respect to Edge Rushers. I fear the Bucs won’t be much better on defense this season and letting Bowles remain as DC will not help the situation.
Evans left because the defense has been horrible and it’s not getting better. The look on his face on TV after 3rd and 28 says it all. 4th and 14, same story. Putrid defense that is not getting better, just swapping players. Lack of depth remains.
March 23rd, 2026 at 8:59 am
Evans has 7 games in his 12year career with 10+ Receptions ..Puka Nacua already has 11 in 3 seasons , Jamar Chase has 16 in season…I think that is what he wants to try
March 23rd, 2026 at 9:00 am
Rodgers, or course. LOL Ira probably spit coffee through his nose from someone asking if McCarthy is a Hall of Fame coach. 🙂
March 23rd, 2026 at 9:02 am
2 less injuries the Bucs have to worry about this season.
March 23rd, 2026 at 9:07 am
It’s actually not about Evans. Thanks for reading, though.
And no, don’t expect any stories on Elijah Klein or J.J. Roberts. And yes, Joe believes in writing about the stars. That will never change.
And if you think Joe can forget the greatest offensive player who the Bucs ever drafted, well, you can forget that.
March 23rd, 2026 at 9:09 am
Mike wanted a SB contender and I think was also tired of TB?
March 23rd, 2026 at 9:18 am
Players play and coaches coach. No one in the coaches room or in management is asking a player about how best to construct a team. I had 400 employees who knew how to run my business better than me. Put your suggestion in the box or drop a comment on a website, the decision makers will move on, with or without you.
March 23rd, 2026 at 9:26 am
M1K3, wanted a Better QB, and He Deserves It!!! Let’s Go Bucs!!!
March 23rd, 2026 at 9:34 am
can we get Rich McKay back ? and you know what would be really great ? In 3 years the stadium lease will be up and maybe the Glazers decide to sell the team – then we get a younger wealthier owner who really wants to win – what little research I have done suggests that the Glazers contemplated a lot of bone-headed moves back when they bought the team and the years thereafter and Rich McKay rescued them every time until he left / got fired – I think we have to face the fact that we have mediocre owners a mediocre GM and HC – but maybe there is hope someday in the future
March 23rd, 2026 at 9:45 am
All roads lead to retaining Bowles being a terrible decision. Unless, of course, your goal is 8-9. Then it’s a brilliant decision!
March 23rd, 2026 at 9:50 am
The biggest problem with the Bucs is Number 1 the head coach and Number 2 the defense which is probably more on the head coach than the players. We lack talent at LB and Edge on the defense. So once you get some good players for those positions and a new coach who knows how to coach defense then boom your back in the playoffs and contending for championships. It is really that simple.
March 23rd, 2026 at 10:24 am
None of our recently signed players said that. Licht is drowning in his own ineptitude.
March 23rd, 2026 at 10:31 am
Bee and heavy E are out of market trolls with socio political agendas. You can’t really say anything about this team till Labor day. So many surprises between now and then.
March 23rd, 2026 at 10:33 am
This is the last season for JL and TB. I don’t think the fan base will accept another mediocre season with slumps, losing streaks, uninspired play, poor defense and just plain bad football. It would either take a deep playoff run or one hell of a season 14-3 or 13-4 record to consider keeping this group. I haven’t been this discouraged and not looking forward to next season in a long time. And we’ve had some bad teams the last 35 plus years in my time.
March 23rd, 2026 at 10:34 am
Yay! More Super…Super Bowl Hype.
March 23rd, 2026 at 10:37 am
I see nothing sociopolitical in Bee’s post.
Pretty well stated actually.
If the Glazers have any sense at all Bowles and Licht are living on borrowed time.
The jig is up.
March 23rd, 2026 at 10:41 am
I have always backed Jason Licht, but the arrogance is scaring me. He can say all this publicly, but boy, I sure hope he doesn’t believe it.
Evan’s should of retired a buc but they broke him. There is no spin on it otherwise. I like Evan’s believe more in Shannahan than I do Bowles they are not even in the same league as far as caliber.
When Bowles became the bucs HC I gave him the benefit of the doubt with his record with the Jets because it’s the Jets rarely is anyone successful there. BUT given his body of work with the Jets as HC and his body of work now I cannot understand how Jason Licht can’t sit there and pretend like things will get better.
It’s now an undeniable fact that in 9 years as a HC, Bowles barley can go 9-8. Hes not a total dumpster fire, but he’s never really going to get much out of your team. He needs everything to run absolutely perfectly to go 10-6.
People have even started to blame Licht & maybe he does deserve a shared blame, but again in 8 years, Bowles has never really done anything. He has 3 winning seasons in 8 years 3… 10-6 in 2015, 9-8 in 2023, and 10-7 in 2024. The rest of his seasons hes gone 8-9, 5-11, 5-11, 4-12… In all seriousness what are the chances he gets 12 wins and actually puts together a great season? I think we are a lot further away from competing than JL will admit.
March 23rd, 2026 at 10:45 am
Licht says Evans still thought they had a shot based on their conversations. That is a statement that cannot be verified and I do NOT believe there is any truth to it.
If Licht and the front office isn’t embarrassed by the exodus of players and the reasons they gave for going elsewhere, they sure should be.
March 23rd, 2026 at 10:50 am
It comes down to whether Mike wanted to leave +to+ get another ring, or he wanted to leave for other reasons, and looked for a team where he +could+ get another ring.
March 23rd, 2026 at 10:59 am
Get- Rid… that is an interesting point you bring up about the upcoming stadium lease expiration.. But I tend to think the Glazers would move the team rather than sell it. I can see them pitting Orlando and Tampa against each other as leverage to get the new stadium they will want.
March 23rd, 2026 at 11:06 am
Anyone in this forum that thinks that this team is a contender is delusional. Anyone saying that without injuries we’d be contenders is not reading the room. This team is poorly coached and poorly put together. Bowles is not being helped by poor drafting by Licht. Comments about us having a lot of drafted players playing for us is a joke. Licht’s players are JV players that wouldn’t start for other teams. Has anyone noticed that the Bucs NEVER have Compensatory picks while teams like San Fran, that drafts FAR better than the Bucs, have multiple?
Licht needs to be canned.
March 23rd, 2026 at 11:21 am
Ballwasher61 Says:
March 23rd, 2026 at 8:30 am
The more I hear JL talk about Evans the more convinced I am that he bolted for his own offensive stats and place in NFL history. It looks like he is the #1 in SF and thinks more balls will be thrown his way because of Kittle and MC being there to free him up.
___________
It’s all about ME for ME.
March 23rd, 2026 at 12:03 pm
Denial is a killer.