Mike Evans’ departure from Tampa Bay sent shockwaves through the region and inspired the same in the Bay Area.
He’s also happy because San Francisco is where he wanted to be.
“I feel like they were one piece away, and I’m one piece away,” Evans said at his introductory news conference Thursday in Santa Clara, Calif.
Evans’ logic, while initially surprising, makes a lot of sense. He wanted to join a contender (San Francisco finished 12-5 in 2025), considered a “team with a good quarterback” (hello, Brock Purdy), and because he’s a fan of 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan’s offensive style, Evans landed on San Francisco as his top destination.
“It was always going to be tough to leave Tampa,” the wide receiver admitted. “Football-wise, it was the best place for me. I’ve always appreciated the way the Niners went about their business on the football field.”