Michael Lynn Evans III is a professional American football wide receiver for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFL.
He played college football at Texas A&M, earning consensus All-American honors.
Drafted seventh overall by the Buccaneers in 2014, Evans has been selected to the Pro Bowl five times and holds numerous franchise records.
Notably, he recently achieved over 1,000 receiving yards for the 11th consecutive season, tying Jerry Rice’s record.
Evans is also a Super Bowl champion, having won Super Bowl LV against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Parents
Mike was born to Heather Kilgore and Mike Evans Jr. in Galveston, Texas.
His mother, a teenage parent at age 14, raised him and his siblings largely on her own following the tragic murder of his father in 2002 by Evans’ uncle, Sam Kilgore.
This incident stemmed from a history of domestic abuse that Mike Jr. inflicted on Heather.
Despite these challenges, Evans credits his mother for his resilience and success in life.
Early career
Evans began his college football journey at Texas A&M University, where he played for the Aggies from 2011 to 2013.
He initially made an impact as a true freshman, recording 34 receptions for 549 yards and five touchdowns.
However, it was during his breakout season in 2013 that he truly showcased his potential as one of the top wide receivers in college football.
That year, Evans achieved impressive statistics, including 69 receptions for 1,394 yards and 12 touchdowns.
His standout performance against Auburn, where he set a single-game school record with 287 receiving yards, highlighted his ability to make big plays and underscored his size and athleticism at 6’5″ and 231 pounds.
For his efforts, Evans earned several accolades, including consensus All-American honors and a first-team All-SEC selection.
NFL career
Evans was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the seventh overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, marking the beginning of a remarkable professional career.
In his rookie season, he made an immediate impact by recording 68 receptions for 1,051 yards and 12 touchdowns, earning him the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award.
As he continued to develop, Evans established himself as one of the premier wide receivers in the league.
Over the years, he has achieved numerous milestones, including five Pro Bowl selections and being named to the Second Team All-Pro in 2016.
He also holds several franchise records for the Buccaneers in receiving yards and touchdowns.
One of the highlights of Evans’ career came in February 2021 when he played a crucial role in leading the Buccaneers to victory in Super Bowl LV against the Kansas City Chiefs.
In that game, he caught a touchdown pass from quarterback Tom Brady, contributing significantly to the team’s dominant performance.
So far, Evans has achieved over 1,000 receiving yards in each of his first eleven seasons—tying Jerry Rice’s record for consecutive seasons with at least that many yards.
