Mike Evans Bio
Michael Lynn Evans Jr. (born August 21, 1993) is an American professional football wide receiver for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Texas A&M Aggies, earning consensus All-American honors after recording a school record of 1,394 receiving yards on 69 receptions in 2013. Evans was selected by the Buccaneers in the first round with the seventh overall pick in the 2014 NFL draft. Evans has been selected to the Pro Bowl six times and was a second-team All-Pro in 2016 and 2023. He holds nearly every major Buccaneers franchise receiving record, including career receptions, yards, and touchdowns. Evans was also a member of the team that won Super Bowl LV. He has a record 11 1,000-yard receiving seasons to start a career, and his 11 consecutive 1,000-yard seasons are tied with Jerry Rice for most by a receiver in NFL history.
Early Life and Background
Mike Evans was born in Galveston, Texas, where he attended Ball High School. During his time at Ball High School, he participated in basketball, football, and track. In basketball, he averaged 18.3 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 5.2 assists as a senior. Although he only played football during his senior year, he earned second-team District 24-4A honors after making 25 receptions for 648 yards and seven touchdowns. In track and field, Evans competed in jumping events, achieving personal-best leaps of 14.11 meters in the triple jump and 6.28 meters in the long jump. He was recruited by Texas A&M University to play as a wide receiver and signed to join the Aggies.
Path to American Football
At Texas A&M University, Evans played for the Texas A&M Aggies football team from 2011 to 2013. After being redshirted as a freshman, he had an impressive sophomore season in 2013, recording 69 receptions for 1,394 yards and 12 touchdowns. His standout performance included a school-record 287 receiving yards in a single game against Auburn. Following his successful college career, Evans announced on January 2, 2014, that he would forgo his final two seasons of eligibility to enter the NFL draft. He was projected to be a top 10 pick and was ultimately selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the seventh overall pick in the 2014 NFL draft.
Mike Evans Career
Early Career (2014-2016)
Evans made his professional debut on September 7, 2014, against the Carolina Panthers, logging five receptions for 37 yards. He quickly made a name for himself, becoming the first rookie receiver to have three consecutive games of 100 yards and at least one touchdown since Randy Moss in 1998. In his rookie season, he finished with 68 receptions for 1,051 yards and 12 touchdowns, setting franchise records and earning a spot on the PFWA All-Rookie Team. He was also ranked 75th by his peers on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2015.
Breakthrough (2016-2018)
Evans’ breakout season came in 2016 when he recorded 96 receptions for 1,321 yards and 12 touchdowns. He was selected to his first Pro Bowl and became the first player in Buccaneers history to catch a touchdown pass in three consecutive games to start a season. In 2018, Evans signed a five-year, $82.5 million contract extension with the Buccaneers. He finished the season with 86 receptions for a career-high 1,524 yards and nine touchdowns, becoming the first Buccaneers wide receiver to be selected to multiple Pro Bowls.
Notable Works and Milestones
Evans has set numerous records throughout his career, including being the first player in NFL history to achieve 11 consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons. He has also been recognized for his contributions to the sport with multiple Pro Bowl selections and All-Pro honors.
Mike Evans Award Nominations
Throughout his career, Mike Evans has received several nominations, including multiple Pro Bowl selections and All-Pro honors, recognizing his outstanding performance on the field.
Mike Evans Awards Won
Mike Evans has won significant accolades, including being a Super Bowl champion and earning multiple Pro Bowl selections.
Mike Evans Family
Mike Evans was born to Heather Kilgore, who faced significant challenges during his childhood. His mother gave birth to him when she was just 14 years old.
Personal Life
Mike Evans is married to Ashli Evans, and together they have four children. They founded the Mike Evans Family Foundation in December 2017 to help victims of domestic violence, reflecting their commitment to giving back to the community.
