John Romano: Mike Evans looks like his old self, and Tampa Bay has a whiff of karma

John Romano, Tampa Bay Times on Oct 14, 2026

Published in Football

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TAMPA, Fla. — There are plausible explanations for that 1-4 record. Of course, there are.

Penalties and turnovers. Breakdowns and injuries. Play-calling and underperforming.

There is also this:

The football gods have a wicked sense of humor.

Yes, karma is coming home to roost.

Think about the most future-altering circumstance of Tampa Bay’s past decade. It was the moment a certain Hall of Famer made the unthinkable decision to leave the only franchise he knew, the place he was adored, to shockingly sign with the Buccaneers. Ten months later, Tom Brady and Tampa Bay celebrated a Super Bowl while New England crashed in the AFC East.

And now think about what happened at One Buc Place last offseason. A certain Hall of Famer made the unthinkable decision to leave the only franchise he knew, the place he was adored, to shockingly sign with a team other than the Bucs. Seven months later, Mike Evans and the 49ers are 5-0 while Tampa Bay has landed with a 1-4 thud.

Coincidence? If you want to be sensible, that’s the safest explanation.

But, tell me, where’s the fun in that?

We, as sports fans, are a notoriously unhinged bunch. We see omens. We look for portents. We review, recite and recalibrate history whenever it suits our warped purposes. And right now, the departure of Mike Evans feels like irony making an open-field tackle.

Have you seen what he’s done in San Francisco? He has more receptions, more receiving yards, more touchdowns than anyone on the Tampa Bay roster. His trash-talking game was so next-level against the Seahawks on Sunday that he’s already become a social media meme. And he’s got everyone in that other bay area singing his praises.

“He’s unreal,” 49ers linebacker Fred Warner told reporters after the comeback win against Seattle. “He really doesn’t say anything. He just shows up every week and just works and then goes out there on Sunday and just dominates you. So, it’s unbelievable. He’s great.”

Oh, and did we mention Evans is playing with fractured ribs?

“He fights through stuff. He’s competitive as heck, and he’s going to go out there and obviously give the team every chance or everything that he’s got, even if he’s going through stuff,” quarterback Brock Purdy said. “It’s early in the season, (and) for a guy like him and where he’s at in his career, to keep showing up for the team and myself? It’s just a testament to his character and who he is.”

Sounds like Evans is leading by example. Sounds like his presence and dedication have turned heads in the locker room. Sounds like he has raised the bar.

Hmm, can you remember anyone doing something like that in the Bucs locker room in 2020?

Look, I realize there is no mystical connection between two free-agent decisions made by separate people six years apart. I understand there is no such thing as cosmic payback, and that transmigration does not exist on the NFL’s waiver wire.

But there is a teensy part of this story that makes the comparison more than just a random quirk of fate.

For the past five years, we have heard Evans talk about the impact Brady had on him and the Bucs culture. It was Brady who turned Evans on to better nutritional and workout routines and helped him add strength while losing weight. And it was Brady who demanded a level of professionalism from everyone around him.

So what if Brady also helped Evans leave Tampa Bay?

Oh, I’m not suggesting Brady recruited Evans to his hometown 49ers. What I mean is what if Brady’s departure from New England and second-act revival in Tampa Bay showed Evans that it could be done. Made him realize that time is precious in the NFL and putting yourself in a better position to win another Super Bowl in your 30s should be a superstar’s only motivation.

None of this means you can’t still cheer for Evans. As I recall, much of New England still viewed Brady as their “Tommy” and sided with him in the un-throupling of Brady, Bill Belichick and Robert Kraft.

Nor does this mean the Bucs are at fault. They made a more lucrative contract offer than the 49ers, but Evans evidently believed there was a greater chance of success in San Francisco than there was here. And, honestly, it’s a bit of a surprise to see Evans, at age 33, putting up numbers that rival his younger self. Particularly coming off an injury-filled season.

It’s almost as if fate had a hand in this.

As if everyone in Tampa Bay celebrated the what-goes-around part of this tale with a boat parade and are now forced to recognize the comes-around portion in stunned silence.

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