The Tampa Bay Buccaneers initially had just two players selected for the Pro Bowl Games when the roster was announced on January 2 — a surprisingly low number for one of the NFL’s most potent offenses. However, the team added a third representative when star wide receiver Mike Evans was named as a replacement for the injured Dallas Cowboys receiver CeeDee Lamb. The Pro Bowl Games are scheduled to take place from January 30 to February 2 in Orlando, Florida. Offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs and defensive tackle Vita Vea join Evans as Tampa Bay’s Pro Bowl selections.
Evans’ latest Pro Bowl appearance is historic, tying him with Buccaneers legend Mike Alstott for the most Pro Bowl selections by an offensive player in franchise history. Only Hall of Fame defenders Derrick Brooks (11) and Warren Sapp (seven) have more selections. Evans has now been voted to the Pro Bowl in five of the past seven seasons.
Tampa Bay’s season came to a close following a 23-20 loss to the Washington Commanders in the NFC Wild Card Round on January 12. However, Evans achieved a significant personal milestone during the 2024 season, tying Hall of Famer Jerry Rice’s NFL record of 11 consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons. He secured the feat during the Buccaneers’ playoff-clinching 27-19 win over the New Orleans Saints in the regular-season finale, finishing the season with 1,004 receiving yards. The achievement also earned Evans a $3 million bonus.
Evans’ road to this accomplishment was challenging, as he missed three full games and most of another due to a hamstring injury against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 7. Despite the setback, Evans returned to lead the Buccaneers’ remarkable turnaround from a 4-6 start to a 10-7 finish, clinching a playoff berth for the fifth consecutive season. Since being drafted seventh overall in 2014, Evans has maintained an impressive streak of 1,000-yard seasons — an unprecedented feat in NFL history. Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team highlighted this accomplishment on X, noting, “No player in NFL history has had more than six consecutive seasons. Elite.”
On the flip side, Lamb’s 2024 season was tumultuous despite his third consecutive All-Pro selection and Pro Bowl appearance. He finished with 101 receptions for 1,194 yards and six touchdowns, despite a shoulder injury that cut his season short by two games. The Cowboys struggled to a 7-10 record after three straight 12-5 seasons, largely due to the loss of starting quarterback Dak Prescott to a hamstring injury in Week 9. In a surprising turn of events, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones allowed head coach Mike McCarthy’s contract to expire and promoted offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer to head coach on January 24, a decision met with widespread criticism.
