Mike Evans expands on leaving Buccaneers for 49ers in free agency

After spending the first 12 seasons of his NFL career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, veteran wide receiver Mike Evans left the club to sign a three-year contract with the San Francisco 49ers this past March. 

Shortly after Evans agreed to that deal, he suggested he was excited to join a "contender" and a team with a "good quarterback." During an appearance on the "Real Ones: The League" podcast hosted by 49ers linebacker Fred Warner, Evans expanded on why he relocated to San Francisco this offseason.

Mike Evans thought about playing for 49ers "for a long time"

"I'm just excited to come out to San Francisco and play for such a historic franchise," Evans explained, per David Bonilla of 49ers WebZone. "I've been looking at that franchise for a long time, and obviously, it was hard for me to leave Tampa, but I'm super excited to come out there. And this is what I feel like I needed at this point in my career."

The perception exists that Evans left some money on the table to join the 49ers amid his pursuit of a second Super Bowl ring. During the podcast, the 32-year-old acknowledged that he is "trying to prove people wrong and prove myself right" after his streak of recording at least 1,000 receiving yards in a campaign ended at 11 seasons because he suffered a hamstring injury and then a broken collarbone in 2025.

"It was unfortunate, but it kind of gave me a second wind," Evans said about those setbacks. "I'm a little bit fresher than I have been in years past, this offseason, and I'm trying to use all the juice I've got."

Mike Evans thinking about the Hall of Fame?

Recently, 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey referred to Evans as "a first-ballot Hall of Famer." Evans suggested that possibly achieving that goal is one reason he left the Bucs for the West Coast. 

"I feel like it could help me get to where I want to go post-career," Evans added about signing with the Niners. "I never take things for granted, and never assume."

Evans hasn't yet hinted that his 49ers stint could be a one-season-and-done experience, so he will first focus on attempting to help San Francisco do more than just return to the playoffs this coming season.