There were likely many reasons why Mike Evans decided to sign with the San Francisco 49ers this offseason. He gets the chance to play for a contending team with a great head coach and a solid supporting cast. It helps, too, that he’ll play a lot of games in California and will likely be the team’s top target in 2026.
But another crucial reason Evans was interested in signing with the 49ers was quarterback Brock Purdy.
“I love Brock, man,” Evans said this past week. “He’s a big reason why I came here, and I said that in my initial Zoom call with you guys. He throws a really great ball. I’m getting the timing down with him now. He’s super smart. He’s about his business. … I look forward to having a great connection with him this year.”
The 2025 season was Evans’ first career year with fewer than 1,000 receiving yards, as injuries limited him to eight games.
Now healthy and settled into a new environment, Evans enters the offseason as the clear-cut WR1 on the depth chart. He joins Christian Kirk and Ricky Pearsall as the team’s three primary wide receivers, with Evans’ arrival allowing Pearsall to settle into a No. 2 role rather than carrying the top spot. The 49ers also selected Ole Miss wideout De’Zhaun Stribling in the first round of the 2026 draft, adding another option to the mix.
Evans, if anything, is just happy to be in San Francisco. Now the 49ers want to see that enthusiasm translate onto the field.
This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: Mike Evans explains the ‘big’ reason he joined the 49ers
Reporting by Oliver G., Niners Wire / Niners Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Oliver G., Niners Wire | USA TODAY Network
