Mike Evans will play football in 2026.
Agents for the longtime Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver tell ESPN’s Kimberly A. Martin that he will return next season and plans to explore his options in free agency.
WR Mike Evans WILL return in 2026.
His agents Deryk Gilmore + Darren Jones tell me the future HOFer will play this upcoming season — and *will* explore his free agency options.
One of the league’s most consistent playmakers will be back — but we’ll see if it’ll be w/ the #Bucs
— Kimberley A. Martin (@ByKimberleyA) February 17, 2026
The 32-year-old Evans has spent the entirety of his 12-year career with the Bucs after being taken with the seventh overall selection of the 2014 NFL Draft out of Texas A&M.
The 2025 season marked the first time in his career that the Galveston, TX native failed to reach the 1,000-yards receiving mark, ending his record streak at 11 seasons. After missing three games with a hamstring injury, Evans broke his collarbone in an Oct. 20 game against the Detroit Lions, ending his season at eight games played. He finished his campaign with 30 catches for 362 yards and three touchdowns.
For his career, Evans has 13,052 yards on 866 receptions with 108 TDs. Evans is 21st all-time in receiving yards and second among active players behind only DeAndre Hopkins (13,295).
NFL free agency’s “legal tampering” window opens on Mar. 9 with free agency officially opening on Mar. 11. Teams can begin designating franchise or transition tags as of earlier on Tuesday.