TAMPA BAY, Fla. – The connection between Tom Brady and Mike Evans was easy to see in every game during their three years together in Tampa, but what Evans didn’t expect was the bond they would develop off the field.

“It’s crazy that we had a relationship like that,” the five-time Pro Bowl receiver told FOX Sports after practice on Wednesday. “We were a lot closer than I expected. He still stays in touch even though he is one of the biggest stars in the world. He’s just a down-to-earth guy. I only see who he is outside of football. I.” got to know his family and his children.

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Brady retired after the 2022 season and he returns to Tampa on Sunday. As FOX Sports’ lead NFL analyst, he will join Kevin Burkhardt, Erin Andrews and Tom Rinaldi in covering the Bucs’ home game against the Eagles.

Bucs fans will undoubtedly love seeing Brady again, and he will be excited to see his old teammates again, especially his former WR1. When Brady named his 3 Week 1 stars 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 began perfectly when the Bucs defeated the Chiefs and won Super Bowl LV on their home field.

Tampa Bay would win two more division titles in 2021 and 2022, with Brady leading a realignment of the franchise identity. Prior to his arrival, the Bucs had missed the playoffs for 12 consecutive years, but now have a streak of four consecutive postseason appearances, a franchise record.

“I didn’t know him when he was in New England and he was plying his trade here, but you could see a lighter side to him,” Evans said. “I went to fights with him and hung out with him outside. He’s just a great guy and he loves his family.”

Evans, 31, is in his 11th NFL season, and even though he and Brady only played together for three years, no other quarterback has thrown more touchdown passes to him – 32 of his 96. Even though Brady played that long in New England, Evans ranks second fifth in all-time Brady touchdowns, behind Rob Gronkowski, Randy Moss, Julian Edelman and Wes Welker.

Late in Brady’s final season, when the Bucs needed a win to clinch the NFC South, he and Evans came together for one of their best games together. In a win over Carolina in Week 17, Evans had 10 catches, 207 yards and three touchdowns.

“Mike played great, as always,” Brady said that day. “I love playing with him out there. He’s a great player.”

Tom Brady and Mike Evans scored 32 touchdowns in their three seasons together in Tampa, and their bond extended beyond the field. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Evans said he remembers how well Brady found ways to connect with younger teammates, and the two quickly developed a friendship. NFL rosters can change quickly, but there are still 24 players on the Bucs’ current 53-man roster who played with Brady in Tampa.

Which Brady touchdown is Evans’ favorite? You might think it was the first hit of the 2020 NFC Championship Game in Green Bay or one of the many acrobatic full-extension catches Evans is famous for, but his favorite is actually one of the easiest he’s caught.

(Behind the scenes with the FOX NFL crew: Tom Brady makes his way to the locker room)

It’s not their first game together – that came in the first game, a road loss to the Saints – but it was their first home game together, against Carolina on September 20, 2020. In the first quarter, with 4:38 left on the clock At the Panthers’ 23, Evans dropped a stop-start play to Carolina corner Donte Jackson and Brady faked it. Evans raced down the left sideline and turned just a split second before the pass hit him in the stomach.

“I wasn’t expecting the placement of the ball, but it was so good I had to catch it,” Evans said. “Receivers love these simple ones. Donte Jackson covered it great, but (Brady) threw it right in my gut and I caught it.

Greg Auman is an NFL reporter for FOX Sports. He previously spent a decade reporting on it privateer for the Tampa Bay Times and The Athletic. You can follow him on Twitter at @gregauman.

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