Mike Evans has had a relatively quiet start to the 2025 season, his 12th in the NFL. Plenty of time remains for him to continue his streak of 1,000-yard campaigns, though. 
If Evans is able to reach that threshold this year, he will break a tie with Jerry Rice for the most consecutive seasons of 1,000 or more receiving yards in NFL history. Doing so would add further to his legacy and no doubt help Tampa Bay enjoy another successful campaign. Given his age, however, questions continue to be asked about how much longer Evans will continue playing.
“I plan on having one of my best seasons,” the 32-year-old said about the current campaign during an interview with The Athletic’s Zak Keefer (subscription required). “And if I retire after this year, I don’t think it’ll be a shock to people. I’m close to the end, that’s all I’ll say.”
Last spring, a free agent departure loomed as a possibility. Evans said Kansas City and Houston represented attractive landing spots, but in the end he remained in place on a two-year, $41MM pact. He is thus a pending free agent, and an extension would ensure the six-time Pro Bowler’s career finishes in Tampa Bay. Another new pact may not wind up being possible, depending on how Evans views his future following the 2025 season.
The Texas A&M product is on the verge of reaching the top 20 in all-time receiving yardage, and he has amassed roughly $134MM (and counting) in career earnings. With a Super Bowl title to his name, Evans is certainly not lacking in accomplishments at the NFL level. As a result, a retirement call after the 2025 season has finished would be feasible.
The Bucs have Chris Godwin in the fold through 2027 after he re-signed this offseason. Tampa Bay’s receiving corps also contains 2024 third-rounder Jalen McMillan and first-round rookie Emeka Egbuka, who has enjoyed an impressive start to his career. Those three will be counted on as key figures in the passing game for the 2026 campaign, but it is unclear if Evans will join them.
It’s really ridiculous these days how people just expect players to retire as soon as they hit 30.
Then it becomes a thing every offseason.
“When will this player retire?”. “IF he comes back for his age 31 season”. “So and so likely to retire”
Give it a rest already. That’s projection.
Did you miss the part where Evans literally said himself it probably wouldn’t shock people if he did retire at the end of the year and he’s close to the end?
And to talk about projection lol
Any Bucs fan knows he has been talking retirement for a couple of years now. He even said he will likely be retired by that Olympic flag football team and that is why he would play in it.
He’s not just 30. He’ll be 33 soon. He’s had a Hall of Fame career. Bucs have a chance to make it back to the Super Bowl this year, so he could get a chance to go out on top.
Evans may be old enough to join Washington’s latest version of the Over The Hill Gang…so he probably won’t retire just yet.
I’m so impressed even at 32 years old he’s still one of the best WR’s in the game.
With Mayfield, he will want to keep playing, plus he knows more TD catches will put him in the HOF … just needs to stay healthy. Mayfield needs to get the team a divisional playoff win. Can he do it?
He’s accomplished enough to be a shoe in 1st ballot HOF. Retire young man and enjoy the fruits of your labor!
He’s already in. He’s done something that only Jerry Rice did, and he’s been a stud from day one.
Watching Mike Evans play football is a treat and a pleasure. One of the rare WRs that still possess and produce as they keep getting up in age.
1st ballot HOF no doubt in my mind.
Evans is a smart guy to take care of his money and not spend his next contract and be able to retire before he takes some career ending hits.
It’s not the same to recover from a smashmouth hit over the middle at thirty-three that it is at twenty-five. The chances of serious knee injury just get worse.