TAMPA, Fla. — The NFL announced on Wednesday that Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans is headed to the Pro Bowl for the fifth time in his 10 NFL seasons.
Evans first made the Pro Bowl in 2016, during his third season in the league, and then again in 2018, 2019 and 2021. His five career Pro Bowl selections surpass Jimmie Giles, who has four, for the second-most in franchise history by an offensive player. Mike Alstott holds onto the record with six Pro Bowl selections.
Evans was the sole player from Tampa Bay selected for the 2024 Pro Bowl, which came as a shock to some who were all but certain to see at least one other Buccaneer on the roster.
"We all thought Antoine Winfield Jr. was a no-brainer selection as well, but somehow he didn't make it. He has five sacks, seven takeaways and five forced fumbles this year — no DB in this millennium has at least five sacks and five forced fumbles other than Antoine Winfield Jr.," 10 Tampa Bay Sports Director Evan Closky said. "There is zero logical or statistical reasoning for this snub."
Winfield Jr. was named a first alternate along with Tristan Wirfs. Baker Mayfield was named a third alternate while Vita Vea was named a fifth alternate.
Evans currently leads the NFL with 13 touchdown receptions this season and has surpassed the 1,000-yard receiving mark in each of his 10 career seasons – the longest such streak in NFL history to begin a player’s career.
He trails only Pro Football Hall of Famer Jerry Rice’s 11 consecutive 1,000-yard seasons.
Evans became the first player in league history to amass 60 or more receptions in each of his first 10 career seasons. He's also the Buccaneers' all-time leader in receptions (759), receiving yards (11,658), receiving touchdowns (94), scrimmage yards (11,668) and scrimmage touchdowns (95).
The 2024 Pro Bowl Games are set to take place Feb. 1-4 in Orlando. They will be broadcast on ESPN, ABC, Disney XD, ESPN+, ESPN Deportes and NFL+.