Bucs' Mike Evans does not rule out retirement in interview with Kay Adams
But as he enters his 12th NFL season, Evans made headlines with a revealing comment about his future.
In a recent interview on Up & Adams with Kay Adams, the 31-year-old admitted that retirement is a possibility once the 2025 season ends. 'Retirement at the end of this season isn't off the table and playing for 2‑5 more years isn't off the table either,' Evans told Adams. 'I know I'm not playing five more years… but it's easy for me to say I could play another two or three.' While Evans stopped short of making any firm declarations, the tone of his comments hinted at a player who is beginning to weigh the future seriously. He also revealed that he doesn't see himself playing much longer beyond the next few seasons.
Evans enters the 2025 season tied with Jerry Rice for the most consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons in NFL history (11). That kind of historic company puts his career firmly in Hall of Fame territory and adds a bit more intrigue to what his final seasons might be. Yet, through it all, Evans has remained loyal to Tampa Bay, the franchise that drafted him seventh overall in 2014. 'I'm a Buc for life, no matter what,' he said during the interview.
Evans' current contract expires after this season. Whether he decides to retire, return on a short-term deal, or test free agency again will be one of the Buccaneers' biggest offseason storylines.
Evans also mentioned an interest in participating in flag football during the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles a hint that his NFL career could wrap up before then. 'Most likely I'll be retired by 2028,' Evans said, while expressing excitement about potentially representing Team USA on the Olympic stage. The NFL legend's comments suggest a growing openness to life after football, though not necessarily an imminent exit. Still, the Bucs and their fans may want to start preparing for the eventual reality of football without their most iconic receiver.
If 2025 does turn out to be Evans' swan song, he'll leave the Buccaneers with one of the most decorated and loyal careers in franchise history. From his record-breaking consistency to his pivotal role in the team's 2020 Super Bowl run, Evans has been the face of the organization through multiple eras. For now, though, he's focused on the task at hand: helping Tampa Bay compete in what could be a final chapter of a legendary career.
Whether 2025 is the end or just the next step, Mike Evans has made one thing clear: he'll be walking away on his own terms, and always as a Buccaneer.
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