In the final week of the NFL regular season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers ended the season with a 27-19 win over the New Orleans Saints.
Unfortunately, the Buccaneers missed out on the playoffs despite a 10-7 record.
At the end of the win on Sunday, the Buccaneers put together a heartwarming moment with star wide receiver Mike Evans.
Evans needed just 85 yards in Week 18 to notch his 11th consecutive 1,000-yard season. The only other play to do so was Jerry Rice, although Evans is the first ever to do it in his first 11 years in the league.
With less than a minute remaining, Evans needed just five yards to get the record. Instead of kneeling, the Buccaneers drew up a pass play to Evans and that catch put him over the 1,000-yard mark as well as earning him a $3 million bonus.
On Monday, a video surfaced of Evans and his teammates reacting to the catch, and it is certainly a neat moment.
.@MikeEvans13_ was mic'd up for his record-breaking catch and it's incredible 🔊 pic.twitter.com/AfvoV0Vp73
— NFL (@NFL) January 6, 2025
"Let's go!" Evans said after the catch. He then ran to the sidelines and was mobbed by his teammates in a wholehearted celebration.
It was a classy gesture by the Buccaneers, who could've run down the clock with a kneel but chose to pass the ball to Evans to get him the incentive and the record.
Evans admitted it "means a lot" to be in the same club as Rice, who has 14 total 1,000-yard seasons in his legendary NFL career.
Evans finished the year with 1,004 yards and 11 touchdowns on 74 receptions. Although Tampa Bay isn't going to the postseason, ending the year on a positive note such as this is a neat story for everyone in the organization.
