Mike Evans coup by 49ers initially had Chris Godwin blaming AI

The San Francisco 49ers are ready for the 2026 season. San Fran made a surprising playoff run in 2025 despite losing multiple players to significant injuries. The 49ers reloaded during the offseason, adding multiple veteran players on the offensive side of the ball. One of those additions was truly shocking to the player’s former teammates.

Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin admitted that he thought Mike Evans signing with the 49ers was not real.

“Honestly, I didn’t believe it,” Godwin said on Tuesday, per ESPN’s Jenna Laine. “I mean, there’s a bunch of stuff on the internet that you can’t really believe, a lot of AI stuff. So I didn’t really believe it. And then I texted [Baker Mayfield]. I was like, ‘Yo, is this for real?’ And he was like, ‘Sad face [emoji].'”

Godwin and Evans spent nine season together with the Buccaneers. Both players’ names are littered across Tampa’s franchise record books, with Evans being the team’s all-time leading scorer. It stands to reason that his decision to leave Tampa was so surprising.

The 49ers signed Evans to a three-year contract worth $60.4 million during NFL free agency in March. He joins alongside Christian Kirk to give San Francisco more firepower on offense.

Evans took a step back in 2025 after breaking his collarbone on Monday Night Football against the Lions.

He finished the season with just 30 receptions for 368 receiving yards and three touchdowns. It was the first time in his professional career that Evans did not eclipse 1,000 receiving yards.

But now Evans finds himself with one of the NFL’s best play callers in Kyle Shanahan. He is positioned well to have a bounce-back season in 2026.

It will be exciting to see how Evans fits into San Francisco’s offense later this fall.

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