Mike Evans has done little but impress since arriving in Tampa Bay in 2014 from Texas A&M, but he can write himself into the annals of NFL history in 2025 by breaking a record many thought would never be touched.
Evans has acquired numerous accolades since his arrival in Florida, contributing to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers‘ success by earning six Pro Bowl selections and becoming a second-team All-Pro twice, as well as securing a Super Bowl ring in Super Bowl LV, part of his successful partnership with Tom Brady.
Now, 836 catches, 12000 yards, and 105 receiving touchdowns later, Evans stands on the precipice of breaking a record that many thought would never be broken.
Mike Evans closes in on Jerry Rice’s record
With another 1,000 receiving yard season in 2025, Evans will set a remarkable record — that of setting the most consecutive 1,000 yard seasons. The new record would be an astonishing twelve consecutive seasons, with one other player on eleven, who may be the greatest of all time at Evans’ position.
MIKE EVANS. 1,000 YARDS ONCE AGAIN. pic.twitter.com/V4S7S8APUX
— NFL (@NFL) January 5, 2025
That player is Jerry Rice, the long-time San Francisco 49ers stalwart and Hall of Famer. Not bad company, all things considered.
Where Evans has Rice beaten is that Evans has pulled this off in his first 11 seasons consecutively, whereas Rice just fell short of the mark in his 1985 rookie season, racking up 927 yards, although he did only start four games, due in large part to joining an established wide receiver corps.
Rice would then go on to record his eleven seasons between 1986 and 1996, winning three Super Bowls in the process. His run came to an end due to a ghastly knee injury in 1997, but he would still record three more across the end of his career with San Francisco and a spell with the then-cross-town Las Vegas Raiders.
Buccaneers week.
On this day in 1993, #49ers WR Jerry Rice scores four TDs against the #Buccaneers on 8 catches for 172 yards.
(Via @NFLLegacy) #Random49ers #FTTB pic.twitter.com/cguwNcUDns— #Random49ers (@Random49ers) November 14, 2023
Evans, on the other hand, has shown both longevity and durability throughout his career, missing only a handful of possible games through injury in his eleven-year career, which has allowed him to keep chasing this record as well as setting one of his own.
Where Rice does edge out Evans, though, is in touchdown numbers, where Rice is still the runaway leader, with 197 in all compared to Evans’ 105. Consequently, Rice has the record for receiving touchdowns, while Evans sits a creditable 9th on the list, one of two current players in the top 10 along with Davante Adams.
Mike Evans is a future Hall of Famer
Few would back against Evans, who remains the #1 option in a high-powered offense, being the person to break this record, and if he does, it’s worthy of some acclaim. Almost all of Rice’s records seem barely reachable by any NFL player, so one falling would be very notable, even in today’s pass-happy league.
Should that be the case, Evans will (and arguably already does) merit Hall Of Fame consideration, as he’s consistently produced incredible football throughout his NFL career. While he’s unlikely to play in his 40s like Rice did, he’s still only 31, suggesting that he may still have the ability to rack up statistics for several more years before he’s through. However that turns out, he should end his career as one of the most decorated receivers of all time, and seems certain to end up enshrined in Canton.
