Bucs GM: I Didn’t Want To Hold Mike Evans “Hostage”
March 18th, 2026
Candid stuff today from Buccaneers Ring of Honor general manager Jason Licht, who said he has not yet had a phone conversation with departed Bucs legend Mike Evans since he agreed to sign with the 49ers.
Licht did confirm he and Evans have texted and noted he expects to talk to Evans at some point.
Joe thinks that indicates just how emotional Evans’ departure has been for all parties.
Could Evans leaving Tampa Bay have been prevented in March of 2024 or after the 2024 season? That was addressed when Licht was at a conference table with Joe this afternoon.
Here was the exchange:
JoeBucsFan.com: Do you feel like two years ago when Mike was saying, ‘I want to be a Buc for life,’ and maybe after 2024 when there was the big finish to the season and he got 1,000 yards [in the final game], that those were times when you could have added an extra year to his contract? That he would have been ready for it? Do you have any regret on those fronts?
Jason Licht: There’s a lot of hypotheticals you could say here. He knew that we had a verbal agreement that he could be here as long as he wants. And he understood that. There was never any clamoring on his part to add years to it. I also don’t want to hold him hostage, either. I really don’t have any regret about it.
Evans simply wanted to leave. He sort of had a blank check from the Bucs to re-sign in free agency, Licht revealed, and a “verbal agreement” to be a career Buccaneer.
It’s a been a challenging week for Bucs fans wanting to blame anyone but Evans for bolting for the 49ers.