Mike Evans makes NFL history, as Tampa Bay clinches NFC South and #4 NFC Seed

Evans ties NFL record, Bucs clinch playoffs

Mike Evans secured his place in NFL history during Tampa Bay’s 27-19 win over the New Orleans Saints. The Buccaneers not only clinched their fourth consecutive NFC South title but also watched Evans tie Jerry Rice’s record for 11 consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons—the most in league history.

Mike Evans secures 11th consecutive 1,000-yard season, ties Jerry Rice’s historic record

With less than 40 seconds left, the Buccaneers’ defense forced the Saints to turn the ball over on downs. Evans needed five more yards to hit the 1,000-yard milestone for the season. Quarterback Baker Mayfield immediately targeted Evans, who caught a nine-yard pass, pushing his season total to 1,004 yards. The play was met with roaring cheers at Raymond James Stadium.

Mike Evans receiving yards by year:

2014 – 1051 yards
2015 – 1206 yards
2016 – 1321 yards
2017 – 1001 yards
2018 – 1524 yards
2019 – 1157 yards
2020 – 1006 yards
2021 – 1035 yards
2022 – 1124 yards
2023 – 1255 yards
2024 – 1004 yards

the streak is ALIVE. pic.twitter.com/9uO23qfQtZ
— IcyVert (@IcyVert) January 5, 2025

Tom Brady, Evans’ former teammate and legendary quarterback, was on the call for Fox. He described the moment as “one of the greatest things” he had seen. Teammates rushed to celebrate with Evans, recognizing the significance of his accomplishment.

Evans, now the only player in NFL history to achieve 1,000 receiving yards in his first 11 seasons, also earned a $3 million bonus, according to Spotrac.

How Tampa Bay’s final play was designed to make NFL history

After the game, Evans shared his thoughts: “I was hoping we got a stop because I can’t pass up history. It’s hard to do for 11 straight years. To be tied with one of, if not the greatest receiver of all time, it means a lot to me and my family.”

Head Coach Todd Bowles and Offensive Coordinator Liam Coen decided not to kneel out the clock, scripting the final play to give Evans the chance to make history. Baker Mayfield explained the thought process: “We couldn’t turn the ball over, but we wanted to give Mike the ball where he couldn’t be double-covered. He did the rest. He deserves that. This guy does so much for the community, this team, and this organization.”

Evans’ incredible resilience

Evans overcame significant hurdles to achieve the record. After missing three games earlier in the season due to a hamstring injury, he returned in Week 12, needing 665 yards over seven games. In Week 18 against the Saints, he finished with nine catches, including the historic one that etched his name alongside Jerry Rice.

MIKE EVANS. 1,000 YARDS ONCE AGAIN. pic.twitter.com/V4S7S8APUX
— NFL (@NFL) January 5, 2025

Evans joins an elite group of players—Marvin Harrison, Randy Moss, and Jerry Rice—as one of four receivers in history with over 11,000 receiving yards and 90 touchdowns in their first 10 seasons.

The $3 million payday: Incentives tied to Evans’ record-breaking season

Mike Evans not only made history but also achieved financial milestones during the 2024 season. His dramatic final-play reception to surpass 1,000 receiving yards for the 11th consecutive season earned him a $3 million bonus. Additionally, Evans secured $666,666 for finishing in the top 10 in receiving touchdowns, recording 11 for the year.

What the win over the Saints means for Tampa Bay’s playoff positioning

The victory secured Tampa Bay the NFC South title and the #4 NFC seed. They will host the Washington Commanders in the wild card round on January 12 at 8 p.m. ET. The win also eliminated the Atlanta Falcons from playoff contention after their overtime loss to the Panthers.

Instead of kneeling, the Bucs threw to Mike Evans to put him over 1,000 yards receiving—giving him a $3 million bonus.

The team's celebration with him:pic.twitter.com/jpA1kBaDyt
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) January 5, 2025

As Mayfield summed up, “You saw the stadium erupt. You saw the sideline erupt. You can tell how much people care about Mike and what this means for everyone.”

Image: Instagram (Mike Evans)

Mike Evans

Natasha Bose

I write about sports because, well, it brings in the big bucks! I’m not some lifelong analyst or stats guru, truth being told, you’ve probably never heard of me!—I just know how to research, write, and make things sound good. That’s the job!
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