Attainable records set by Jerry Rice are few and far between, but Mike Evans has one squarely in his sights.
After extending his record of consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons at the beginning of a career to 10, the Buccaneers wide receiver is now just one more similar year away from tying Rice's all-time mark for consecutive such seasons.
“I don’t, like, list off things, but that’s one of them that’s in the back of my mind because everybody’s talking about it," Evans said Wednesday regarding Rice's record. "That’s been a record around for how many years now? Over 20 years? So, that’s something I definitely want to accomplish, and just help the team win ball games and be better than we were last year.”
Rice's record-setting streak ended with 11 straight in 1996 during his age-34 season. He remarkably played eight more years after that and surpassed 1,000 yards again in nearly half of them.
Evans (and the rest of today's wideouts) seems highly unlikely to repeat such a feat as playing to 42 years of age, but the five-time Pro Bowler does have the advantage of youth on his side relative to Rice.
Despite a decade already in the league, Evans only turns 31 in August, still well within his difference-making years -- especially for a big-bodied, contested-catch maven. He should also benefit from another year of chemistry with quarterback Baker Mayfield after both received extensions from Tampa Bay during the offseason.
Mayfield and Evans outperformed most expectations in 2023 as a pairing and in helping the Bucs capture their third consecutive NFC South title. Evans' 79 receptions and 1,255 receiving yards were both his most since 2018, and he tied for the league lead in touchdowns (13) for the first time in his career.
There are some potential speed bumps in the way of continuing momentum to notch an 11th consecutive 1,000-yard receiving season, namely Tampa Bay breaking in new offensive coordinator Liam Coen, but Evans is optimistic about the system's early returns.
“It’s a lot more movement, so defenses can’t just sit there and know what we’re doing," he said. "It’s gonna be a lot of moving, a lot of eye candy. That’s gonna help me and our team a lot.”
Should Evans and Co. find yet another offensive gear under Coen, there's nothing yet to suggest Evans is slowing down in chasing Rice.
Pursuing records such as that only serve to keep the magnificent vet going, as does contributing to Tampa Bay's push for another ring.
“I’m super competitive," Evans said. "Y’all know that about me, I’ve been competitive for a long time. I’m down on myself more than anybody else could be. There’s more for me to do in my career, there’s more that I feel I can do. I love to win, and, you know, I’m chasing history.”