The Bucs announced on Friday that wide receiver Mike Evans was selected as the team’s 2024 Ed Block Courage Award Winner. Evans was selected by a vote from his teammates.
The award, which is given out to a player on every NFL team, is named in honor of Ed Block, who was a trainer for the Baltimore Colts and is a humanitarian. The award is meant to symbolize professionalism, strength and dedication along with acting as a community role model. It is mean to be given to someone that best exemplifies sportsmanship and courage.
Mike Evans Deserves The Honor
Bucs WR Mike Evans – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
Mike Evans has without a doubt personifies the traits of the Ed Block Courage Award. He was able to persevere through this season despite missing three games due to a hamstring injury and still helped the Bucs reach the postseason and reach 1,000 yards receiving for the 11th year in a row, tying Jerry Rice as the only receivers to do it for that many consecutive seasons.
There was a time when many thought Evans wouldn’t be able to get 1,000 yards this season, but he went on a tremendous run down the stretch, especially in Week 13 against the Chargers where he recorded nine catches for 159 yards and two touchdowns. He broke the record in dramatic fashion with 89 yards against the Saints in Week 18.
With the game wrapped up the Bucs got the ball back up eight points with 36 seconds left but still wanted to get him the record needing five yards. Evans made a 9-yard catch-and-run as the fans in the stadium erupted with cheers and the rest of his Bucs teammates went out to celebrate with him.
Mike Evans Has Greater Impact In The Community
It’s spectacular what Mike Evans does on the field for the Bucs, but his legacy will have a lasting impact for what he does off of it. He has helped so many others in need in the Tampa Bay area, as well as his hometown in Galveston, Texas time and time again.
Evans has been able to support others through his charity, the Mike Evans Family Foundation. Alongside his wife Ashli, they founded the foundation in 2017 with the mission to make a difference in the lives of children and families in need. In doing so, he has established programming designed to empower youth, encourage education and stand against domestic violence.
Every year, the Mike Evans Family Foundation awards college scholarships to seniors in high school. This year in 2024, the foundation gave out over $170,000 in scholarships to 15 students. Evans has established a number of other programs, too, including Catch For Kids. For every yard he earns during the season, one essential item is donated to help others, and for every touchdown he scores, 13 additional items are donated.
Bucs WR Mike Evans – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR
Since the program was established, nearly 5,000 essential items have been donated to organizations based in Tampa as well as his hometown of Galveston, Texas.
Mike Evans is committed to helping kids succeed on the field as well, hosting the Mike Evans Family Foundation Youth Football Camp annually in Galveston. Working with his former high school coaches, local businesses and community members, Evans hosts the camp free of charge and this year even expanded outside the sport of football and hosted a youth basketball league.
And throughout the holiday season, Evans continues to give. Annually, the foundation hosts a variety of events including the “Catch for Christmas,” a holiday effort that raises money for victims of domestic violence, provides gifts for local children and helps fund college scholarships for students – a tradition they are continuing this December.
When difficult times have unexpectedly showed up, Evans has showcased his commitment to helping others. Following the devastating impacts of Hurricanes Helene and Milton on the Tampa Bay area, the Mike Evans Family Foundation donated $50,000 to aid in relief efforts.
Evans is also the Bucs’ nominee for the Walter Payton Man Of The Year Award, which will be announced next month by the NFL. He will be back for his 12th season it what could be another historic year. He could break Rice’s record and etch his name into the NFL history books with that accomplishment, which will also get him one step closer to a gold jacket and a spot in the Pro Football Hall Of Fame.
And given how the Bucs’ offense has played, Evans could be the catalyst for a run at another Super Bowl, too.
