When you become the second player in NFL history to record over 1,000 receiving yards in 11 consecutive seasons, and earn a massive performance bonus in the process, there’s really only one place to celebrate, right?
Evans announced after his record-tying game against the New Orleans Saints that he planned to celebrate his big achievement by going to the casino with his family to play Blackjack and watch sports.
Mike Evans knows that the best way to celebrate another 1,000-yard season is at the casino. 🎰
— DraftKings Casino (@DKCasino) January 6, 2025
He got a big laugh when he shut down the notion of any Bucs fans who may have been thinking about joining him. When asked if was worried about being followed he said, "They can't get where I'm going."
This probably meant he reserved a private area or was planning to play at a very high-stakes table, but he definitely seemed intent on having some privacy.
Evans Sets Record And Cashes In
Evans started the game with 915 receiving yards and needed 85 more to reach 1,000 yards for the 11th straight season. Only Hall of Famer Jerry Rice has achieved this before.
Late in the fourth quarter, Evans had 80 receiving yards. Tampa Bay was leading by eight, and forced the Saints to turn the ball over on downs. The Buccaneers took possession at their own 36-yard line with 36 seconds remaining.
They had the option to kneel and secure their playoff spot on the last play. Instead, they chose to focus on helping the veteran receiver reach his goal.
Quarterback Baker Mayfield threw a short pass to Evans, who gained nine yards. This put him over the 1,000-yard mark for the season and gave him 89 yards for the game.
The decision also allowed him to earn his $3 million bonus and match Rice’s record.
Catch Also Cashes Bettors’ Tickets
Evans wasn’t the only one who cashed in on “the catch.” Millions of dollars were paid out to bettors who figured he would get the record. All of the major online sportsbooks, and the traditional casino sportsbooks for that matter, waited to see if he'd get the record.
ESPN reported that amid the heavy betting interest, the price to bet over 80 yards for Evans grew from -210 to -325 at ESPN BET. Some sites even jacked the lowest yardage up to 90, so anyone who took that bet, missed it by one yard.
The big takeaway is that Week 18 may become incentives week. Since there are a lot of teams (who are already in the playoffs or looking ahead to next season) that rest the regulars and let the backups play, the incentives gave football fans a reason to watch, and bet.
It just goes to show that there never is a dull moment when the NFL is involved.
By the way, there's no word on if Evans actually did go play some cards, but one thing is for sure, Tampa will host the Washington Commanders in the NFL Wild Card, Sunday Night at 8 p.m.
