March 20, 2026, 4:25 p.m. ET
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers continue to address questions surrounding Mike Evans’ departure this offseason. According to ESPN’s Jenna Laine, general manager Jason Licht pushed back on the idea that a late-season loss to the Atlanta Falcons played a role in Evans’ decision to leave.
Licht made it clear that while emotions were high following the game, he does not believe that moment had any lasting impact on Evans’ future with the team.
“I feel pretty strongly that — I’ve seen that theory — but that’s not it,” Licht said. “A lot of people were frustrated and Mike was frustrated, as competitive as he is, but nothing was ever directed.”
Tampa Bay’s 2025 season included its share of ups and downs, particularly late in the year. The Buccaneers were in control of the NFC South for much of the season before stumbling down the stretch, ultimately finishing 9-8. That late skid opened the door for a three-way tie atop the division with the Falcons and Panthers, with Carolina ultimately claiming the division title via tiebreaker.
The Buccaneers’ loss to Atlanta after holding a 14-point lead became one of the defining moments of that stretch, but as Licht noted, moments like that are part of every season and not the sole reason behind roster decisions.
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He added that emotional moments like that are common across teams and emphasized that the situation was not unique to Tampa Bay.
“There’s a lot of things — every team I’ve been a part of there’s instances like that where players get emotional,” Licht said. “That had zero to do with it.”
Evans, who spent over a decade with the Buccaneers, leaves behind a significant legacy after being one of the most productive and consistent receivers in franchise history.
While speculation may continue, Tampa Bay’s front office appears firm in its stance that Evans’ decision to move on to “Gold Country” was not tied to a single moment late in the season.