TAMPA BAY, Fla. — The connection between Tom Brady and Mike Evans was easy to see in any game during their three years together in Tampa, but what Evans didn’t expect going in was the bond they would develop off the field.
“It’s crazy that we had the relationship that we did,” the five-time Pro Bowl receiver told FOX Sports on Wednesday after practice. “We were way closer than I expected us to be. He still keeps in touch, even though he’s one of the biggest stars in the world. He’s just a down-to-earth guy. Just seeing who he is outside of football. I got to know his family, his kids.”
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Brady retired after the 2022 season, and Sunday marks his return to Tampa. As FOX Sports’ Lead NFL Analyst, he’ll call the Bucs’ home game against the Eagles along with Kevin Burkhardt, Erin Andrews and Tom Rinaldi.
Bucs fans will no doubt love to see Brady back, and he’ll be happy to see his old teammates, especially his former WR1. When Brady named his 3 Stars of Week 1 and included Tampa quarterback Baker Mayfield, he referred to Evans as “my boy” in the announcement.
Brady took a leap when he left the Patriots in 2020 after 20 years and six Super Bowl championships, but his second chapter started off perfectly, with the Bucs beating the Chiefs to win Super Bowl LV on their home field.
Tampa Bay would win two more division titles in 2021 and 2022, with Brady leading a reset of the franchise’s identity. Before his arrival, the Bucs had missed the playoffs 12 straight years, but now they have a streak of four straight postseason appearances, matching a franchise record.
“I didn’t know him when he was in New England, and he was about his business here, but you saw a lighter side to him,” Evans said. “I’ve been to fights with him, hung out with him outside of here. He’s just a great dude, and he loves his family.”
Evans, 31, is in his 11th NFL season, and while he and Brady…
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Publish date : 2024-09-26 15:29:33
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