Buccaneers' Todd Bowles Reflects on Losing Star Receiver Mike Evans

Tampa Bay coach says goodbye to one of the best players in franchise history.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 9:07pm by Ben Kaplan

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a football player in mid-catch, with the player's form broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of color representing the Buccaneers' red and pewter uniforms and the 49ers' red and gold.The departure of star receiver Mike Evans leaves the Buccaneers' offense in flux, as they seek to rebuild their passing attack around new playmakers.San Francisco Today

Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles expressed his sadness over the departure of star wide receiver Mike Evans, who signed with the San Francisco 49ers in free agency. Bowles praised Evans' on-field talent and off-field character, calling him 'the best of the best.' The Buccaneers will now have to find a way to replace Evans' production, with Chris Godwin, Emeka Egbuka, Jalen McMillan, and Tez Johnson expected to be quarterback Baker Mayfield's top targets.

Why it matters

Mike Evans was one of the most dominant and consistent wide receivers in the NFL during his tenure with the Buccaneers, making the Pro Bowl seven times. His departure leaves a significant hole in Tampa Bay's offense that the team will need to address through free agency and the draft.

The details

Evans, who spent his entire 9-year NFL career with the Buccaneers, signed a lucrative free agent contract with the San Francisco 49ers. Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles expressed his sadness over losing Evans, praising the receiver's talent and character. The Buccaneers will now have to rely on a group of younger receivers, including Chris Godwin, Emeka Egbuka, Jalen McMillan, and Tez Johnson, to fill the void left by Evans' departure.

  • Evans signed with the 49ers on March 15, 2026, the first day of NFL free agency.
  • Bowles made his comments about Evans' departure on March 30, 2026, during an appearance on Good Morning Football.

The players

Todd Bowles

The head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who expressed his sadness over losing star wide receiver Mike Evans in free agency.

Mike Evans

A seven-time Pro Bowl wide receiver who spent his entire 9-year NFL career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before signing with the San Francisco 49ers in free agency.

Baker Mayfield

The starting quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who will need to find new top targets in the passing game following Evans' departure.

Chris Godwin

A wide receiver for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers who is expected to be one of Mayfield's top targets in the passing game.

Emeka Egbuka

A wide receiver for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers who is expected to play a larger role in the offense following Evans' departure.

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What they’re saying

“Oh man, that was tough. He's the best of the best on and off the field. I can't say enough good things about him. They got a great one as they know, we know how great he was. Very hard to see him leave sentimentally and professionally from that standpoint for me and everybody else involved.”

— Todd Bowles, Head Coach, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

What’s next

The Buccaneers will need to address the loss of Mike Evans through the 2026 NFL Draft and free agency, as they look to rebuild their receiving corps around Chris Godwin and the team's other young pass-catchers.

The takeaway

The departure of Mike Evans, one of the Buccaneers' all-time great players, will leave a significant void in Tampa Bay's offense. While the team has other talented receivers, replacing a player of Evans' caliber will be a major challenge for the Buccaneers as they look to remain competitive in the NFC South.