NFL Legend Sends Clear Message to $155 Million Buccaneers Superstar

When Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley seemed headed toward breaking Pro Football Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson’s single season NFL rushing record in 2024, the response from Dickerson was pretty icy.

You’ll find no such saltiness as Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans tries to break Hall of Famer Jerry Rice’s NFL record of 11 consecutive 1,000 yard receiving seasons in 2025.

It’s the opposite, in fact, with Rice telling Evans “You know that I’m pulling for you, right?” in a conversation between the 2 legends posted on YouTube by The Players’ Tribune.

Were Evans to notch that 12th consecutive 1,000 yard season in 2025, he’ll do it with Rice firmly in his corner.

“Evans already has the record for the most consecutive 1,000-yard seasons to start a career at 11 — Randy Moss is next at six — but as far as the most 1,000-yard seasons in a career, Evans broke a tie with Moss for second last season and sits behind Rice’s 14,” ESPN’s Jenna Laine wrote on July 4. “Rice and Evans had met briefly in 2018, but this was their first time sitting down for an extensive conversation.”

Evans missed 3 games due to a hamstring injury in 2024 and didn’t crack 1,000 yards receiving until the final offensive play of the regular season. Evans is in the final year of the 2-year, $52 million contract he signed in March 2024, which will bring his career earnings to approximately $155 million following the 2025 season.

Evans Tied Rice’s Record In Dramatic Fashion

Evans’ pursuit of tying Rice’s record in 2024 was symbolic of how the season went for the Buccaneers.

After Evans and fellow star wide receiver Chris Godwin were both hurt in a Week 7 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, Tampa Bay saw its record drop to 4-6 before Evans returned to lead a late season surge that saw his team finish 10-7 and make the playoffs for the fifth consecutive season by winning the NFC South Division.

Evans’ hopes of tying Rice seemed lost when Tampa Bay rookie running back Bucky Irving scored a touchdown with 1:51 left in the fourth quarter of a Week 18 game agains the New Orleans Saints, but the Buccaneers’ defense got the ball back to the offense with 44 seconds left and Evans 5 yards short of 1,000 yards.

Instead of just taking a knee, the Buccaneers ran one more play and got the ball to Evans on a 9-yard catch and run on a pass from Baker Mayfield to Evans, giving the 2-time NFL All-Pro 1,004 receiving yards on the season — and cashing in a $3 million bonus.

“#Bucs WR Mike Evans has now started his NFL career with 11 straight 1,000-yard seasons, extending his own record,” The 33rd Team’s Ari Meirov wrote on his official X account. “No player in NFL history has had more than 6. Elite.”

Evans Will Need Young Receivers to Develop

Evans, who turns 32 years old in August, is still facing double teams even late in his career and will need a talented group of wide receivers to perform and free him up to go over the top.

That group is led by Godwin, who signed a 3-year, $66 million contract this offseason but is coming off a dislocated left ankle, second-year wide receiver Jalen McMillan and Tampa Bay’s first round pick, wide receiver Emeka Egbuka.