The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Evans agrees to stay with Buccaneers
Team hopes deal will help ensure QB Mayfield remains too.
There’s still a chance Mike Evans could play his entire career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Instead of testing his worth in free agency this winter, the team’s career receiving leader has agreed to a two-year, $52 million contract to remain with the club that drafted him seventh overall in 2014, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press on Monday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the contract had not been finalized.
Evans, 30, is the only player in NFL history to begin a career with 10 straight seasons with 1,000-plus yards receiving and is Tampa Bay’s career leader in receptions (762), yards (11,680) and touchdowns (94).
Last summer, the five-time Pro Bowl selection unsuccessfully sought an extension on a five-year, $82.5 million contract he signed in 2018. Despite his disappointment, the 6-foot-5, 231-pound receiver remained open to the prospect of playing his entire career with the Bucs while having 79 receptions for 1,255 yards and tying Tyreek Hill for the league lead in TD catches with 13 in 2023.
The team is hopeful that re-signing Evans will help ensure quarterback Baker Mayfield remains with Tampa Bay, too. Mayfield joined the team on a one-year contract last winter and had his best season as a pro, throwing for a career-best 4,044 yards and 28 touchdowns while helping Tampa Bay capture a third straight NFC South title. Eagles: Jason Kelce has retired after 13 seasons with Philadelphia. The 36-year-old Kelce officially ended a career in which he became not only one of the great centers of his era who played a key role in the franchise’s lone Super Bowl championship, but a beloved Philly personality and popular podcast host.
“Let’s see how long this lasts,” said Kelce, wearing a sleeveless Eagles T-shirt, before he burst into tears and needed several moments to compose himself at a news conference attended by his parents, Ed and Donna, and brother Travis. Eagles coach Nick Sirianni sat behind reporters.
Kelce was a sixth-round pick out of Cincinnati in the 2011 draft. The burly, bushyhaired and bearded Kelce has been a stalwart of the offensive line since he was drafted and as an Iron Man after he missed most of the 2012 season with a partially torn MCL and torn ACL.
The moment that endeared him for life to the Philly faithful came at the Super Bowl parade following the 2017 season when he dressed as one of Philadelphia’s famed Mummers, and the ultimate underdog delivered a fiery, profane speech that whipped the crowd into a frenzy.
Kelce ended his career by making 156 straight starts, and he earned six All-Pro Team selections.