NFL free agency is now in full swing, and we’ve already seen plenty of big names change teams. One of the more surprising moves was star wide receiver Mike Evans leaving the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the San Francisco 49ers.
Evans spent the first 12 years of his career with the Buccaneers, earning six Pro Bowl selections and winning one Super Bowl. The franchise legend recently revealed a key reason why he decided to join the 49ers.
Mike Evans Credits George Kittle for Decision to Sign with 49ers
Evans will be 33 when the 2026 season kicks off and has only played in 8 games in 2025. However, the veteran is still a productive receiver when healthy, only finishing with fewer than 1,000 yards once in his 12-year career.
In 2025, PFSN’s WR Impact metric gave Evans a 72.1 grade for his abbreviated campaign. After a disappointing season, Evans is opting for a change of scenery, and he credits tight end George Kittle with convincing him to come to San Francisco.
“George was the biggest salesman,” Evans said of Kittle. “George sold it big-time.”
Mike Evans on George Kittle: “George was the biggest salesman. George sold it big-time.”
Evans said Kittle is a huge reason why he joined the 49ers — David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) March 12, 2026
Kittle knows the 49ers organization well, having spent his entire nine-year career with the team. He hasn’t won a Super Bowl yet, but the team could take that next step with the addition of Evans.
Evans also explained that he feels like the 49ers are “one piece away,” and he hopes he can be that one piece.
“I think [the 49ers] were one piece away, and I feel like I’m that piece,” Evans explained. “It was always going to be hard to leave Tampa, but football-wise this was going to be the best spot for me, for sure.”
Kyle Shanahan’s 49ers Aim to End Super Bowl Drought in 2026
The 49ers have had plenty of regular season success recently, but now they’re hoping to finally go all the way again. Under head coach Kyle Shanahan, the 49ers have been to two Super Bowls and lost both of them.
It won’t be easy to get back this year, though. The defending champion Seattle Seahawks and another contender, the Los Angeles Rams, are also in the NFC West. With savvy offseason moves like adding Evans and trading for defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa, plenty of people will be high on this team in 2026 anyway.
Mike Evans says he’s a big fan of Kyle Shanahan’s play calling and that he was looking at “contenders and teams with good quarterbacks”, including the Bills: “It was always going to be hard to leave Tampa, but football-wise this was going to be the best spot for me, for sure.”
— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) March 12, 2026
Evans may be past his prime, but he can still be a reliable target for Brock Purdy. Evans is seeking to win a second Super Bowl while the 49ers are looking for their first since 1994.
