When Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley looked like he might break Eric Dickerson’s single-season rushing record in 2024, the Hall of Famer’s reaction was noticeably frosty.
That’s not the case with Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans as he sets his sights on surpassing Jerry Rice’s record of 11 straight 1,000-yard receiving seasons in 2025.
Quite the opposite, in fact—Rice offered his support directly to Evans, saying, “You know that I’m pulling for you, right?” during a conversation between the two legends shared on YouTube by The Players’ Tribune.
If Evans reaches the 1,000-yard mark again in 2025 for the 12th consecutive year, he’ll do so with Rice fully backing him.
“Evans already holds the record for the most consecutive 1,000-yard seasons to begin a career with 11 — Randy Moss is second with six,” wrote ESPN’s Jenna Laine on July 4. “When it comes to most 1,000-yard seasons overall, Evans moved past Moss into second place last year and now trails only Rice, who has 14.” While the two had briefly met back in 2018, this recent sit-down marked their first extended conversation.
Evans missed three games in 2024 due to a hamstring injury and didn’t reach the 1,000-yard milestone until the final offensive play of the regular season. He’s currently in the final year of a two-year, \$52 million deal signed in March 2024, which will push his career earnings to around \$155 million by the end of the 2025 season.
Evans Tied Rice’s Record In Dramatic Fashion
Evans’ quest to match Jerry Rice’s record in 2024 mirrored the ups and downs of the Buccaneers’ season.
After both Evans and fellow standout receiver Chris Godwin suffered injuries during a Week 7 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, Tampa Bay’s record slipped to 4-6. But Evans returned to spark a late-season rally that saw the team finish 10-7 and claim the NFC South title, securing a playoff berth for the fifth straight year.
It looked like Evans might fall short of the 1,000-yard milestone in Week 18 when rookie running back Bucky Irving scored with under two minutes left against the New Orleans Saints, leaving Evans 5 yards shy of the mark. However, the Buccaneers’ defense quickly forced a stop and gave the offense one final chance with 44 seconds remaining.
Rather than kneel out the clock, the Bucs ran one last play—quarterback Baker Mayfield connected with Evans on a 9-yard catch-and-run, pushing him to 1,004 receiving yards for the season and earning him 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,” Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team posted on X. “No player in NFL history has had more than 6. Elite.”
Evans Will Need Young Receivers to Develop
Evans, who turns 32 in August, continues to draw double coverage despite being in the later stages of his career. To help create opportunities for him downfield, the Buccaneers will need strong contributions from the rest of their receiving corps.
That supporting cast is headlined by Chris Godwin, who inked a three-year, \$66 million deal this offseason but is returning from a dislocated left ankle. He’ll be joined by second-year receiver Jalen McMillan and first-round draft pick Emeka Egbuka.
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