With over a hundred personal guests in NRG Stadium for a recent Monday Night Football showdown, Galveston’s future Hall of Fame wide receiver Mike Evans balled out of control for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Evans led receivers in the game with 56 yards off 5 tough catches in the Buccaneers’ 20-19 victory over the Houston Texans.
In 2024, Evans broke the NFL’s record for the most consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons with 11 straight. Evans has currently held nearly every record a wide receiver can hold with the Buccaneers since being drafted by the franchise as a seventh overall pick in 2014.
Mike Evans and Texans All-Pro cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. went back and forth all night and spoke about their primetime matchup Monday night.
When Stingley Jr. was asked about the matchup, Stingley Jr. stated, “It was fun. We were going at it today with a lot of opportunities, and it was a fun game.”
Stingley Jr. later described Evans when Stingley Jr. said, “He’s a vet. And like most vets that have played a long time, they know how to do certain things that knock you off just a little bit……He’s a great, and one day when he is done playing, he will get some awards.”
When Evans was asked about his one-on-one contest with Stingley Jr., Evans responded, “He’s a great player. One of the best corners in the league, who was pressing most of the night, and it was a good battle.”
The Defender spoke with Mike Evans, who has since been sidelined with injuries this season, about his approach to catching passes, his legacy, advice to the next generation, and more.
Playing in Front of Hometown Crowd
“It means a lot. This is most likely my last time playing in Houston ever, and I am an hour down the road; had a lot of family and friends come to see this electrifying win. It was loud for the Texans, but I felt the love in the stands.”
Game Winning Drive vs. Texans
“Everybody was calm, and obviously we did it last week (vs. Atlanta Falcons) in a little bit of a different scenario, but we practice two-minute religiously, and it was great for our preparation to come full circle tonight.”
Pass-Catching Process
“Just keep going. That’s all you can do. Worry about what you can control and work hard.”
Mike Evans Legacy in NFL
“A guy that played hard, made plays, and is a winner.”
Advice for Next Generation
“Be coachable, be a good teammate, work your ass off, and anything is possible.”
MIKE EVANS ACCOMPLISHMENTS (FACT BOX)
Ranked 24th in NFL Receiving Yards – 12,791 Career yards
Ranked 9th in NFL Receiving Touchdowns – 105 Career Touchdowns
1st Player to Have 11 Consecutive 1,000-yard Receiving Seasons
2x Associated Press (AP) All-Pro Selection (2016 and 2023)
6x Pro Bowl Selection
