The Bucs let Mike Evans get his bonus in garbage time, and celebrated it like a championship.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had already wrapped up a Week 18 victory over the New Orleans Saints, to go along with the NFC South championship. They still chose to take a timeout in the final seconds and run a play for wide receiver Mike Evans, in an attempt to get the veteran wide receiver some bonus money while extending a streak that ties an NFL record.
In the final seconds of their victory, the Bucs found Evans for a short pass that put him over the 1,000 yard mark on the season. It’s the 11th straight seasons Evans has gone over 1,000 yards, which ties Jerry Rice for the longest streak of such seasons in NFL history. By going over 1,000 yards, Evans also earned a $3 million bonus.
Evans celebrated the catch like the Bucs just won the Super Bowl. That’s that $3 million feeling. Watch the play here:
MIKE EVANS. 1,000 YARDS ONCE AGAIN. pic.twitter.com/V4S7S8APUX
— NFL (@NFL) January 5, 2025
The Bucs could have just kneeled the ball to run out the clock, and save ownership some money. Instead, the coaching staff ran a play for their star veteran, and earned him a big bonus while extending his streak.
The Bucs were earning props from football fans all over the country for getting Evans the ball in that situation.
Congrats to MIKE EVANS, 11 straight seasons w 1,000 yds.
Kudos to Baker & the Bucs staff for getting it done & him getting $3 million dollar bonus when they could/should have kneeled out the win, up 8 playoffs on the line. #Bucs
— David Todd (@DavidMTodd) January 5, 2025
Liam Coen calling a pass instead to get Mike Evans his $3 mil bonus instead of kneeling it to guarantee the playoffs, never seen anything like it!
— Cam Dickens (@CoachCam05) January 5, 2025
With a last second play, Mike Evans has surpassed 1,000 receiving yards for the season, locking in a $3M bonus.
He’ll add another $666,666 as a Top 10 WR in TDs, and can bag $500,000 per #Buccaneers playoff win
— Spotrac (@spotrac) January 5, 2025
This was actually a risky play call. Imagine a turnover in that situation that allows New Orleans to get back in the game, and negatively impacts Tampa Bay’s playoff seeding. Instead, everything worked out wonderfully, and one of the best WRs in the NFL has some more money in his pocket. He better thank his coaching staff.
