Mike Evans, an American professional football wide receiver for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, lost his father, Mickey Evans, after his uncle, Sam Kilgore, shot him in 2002.
Mickey had a history of abusing his wife, Heather Kilgore, who gave birth to Mike when she was only 14.
Highlights
- Mike Evans’ father often abused his mother and punched a beer can into her mouth, causing her lips to open.
- Sam was in a rage because of his sister’s suffering and shot Mickey Evans in 2002.
- Mike founded the Mike Evans Family Foundation in December 2017 to help victims of domestic violence.
Michael Lynn Evans III was into sports while attending Ball High School, but he played football only in his senior year. He was more into basketball and ran track for the Tors athletic teams.
Later, he joined Texas A&M University and played for the Aggies football team. The league’s coaches awarded him freshman All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) honors.
Mike entered the 2014 NFL draft after forgoing his two seasons of collegiate eligibility, and Sports Illustrated ranked him the top wide receiver in the draft.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected him with the seventh overall pick in the 2014 NFL draft and signed a four-year rookie contract worth $14.6 million.
He holds nearly every major Buccaneers franchise receiving record and has been selected to the Pro Bowl five times. He earned his first Super Bowl championship in Super Bowl LV over the Kansas City Chiefs.
On March 4, 2024, Mike signed a two-year contract extension worth $52 million, becoming the eleventh player in NFL history to have at least 100 career receiving touchdowns.
Mike Evans’ Father Reportedly Abused His Mom, Heather
Born on August 21, 1993, Mike Evans lost his father when he was only 9. His father, Mickey, often physically abused his mother, Heather.
Later, his maternal uncle, Sam, who was living with them after his release from prison, was furious over the mistreatment his sister had endured and took Mickey’s life.
Mickey shared a close bond with his children but had a bad temper. Thus, he had to spend three years in prison.
His abuse went unnoticed until the day he punched a beer can into Heather’s mouth, opening her lips. Thus, he was arrested for 30 days.
However, Sam was in a rage because of his sister’s suffering and tried to entice Mickey into a fight. However, Mickey was babysitting Mike and brushed him off, not engaging with him.
Later, Sam went to the bedroom to get his gun and fired at him. Mickey jumped through the window, but Sam followed him with his pocket knife.
Sam took Mickey’s life in the street while Mike was sleeping upstairs at that time.
An E:60 segment told about their family incident regarding the horrific night. Afterward, Heather solely raised Mike and his sister, Kia.
Despite the traumatic events, Mike has shown incredible resilience and became one of the NFL’s top wide receivers.
Mike Evans Founded The Mike Evans Family Foundation
In December 2017, the wide receiver Mike Evans founded a family foundation alongside his wife, Ashli, to help victims of domestic violence.
Their foundation focuses on standing against domestic violence, encouraging education, and empowering youth.
Mike Evans Family Foundation football camp in Galveston, TX was a hot one ☀️ We love seeing the kids interact with Mike and the impact he makes. #TeamCSE
— Capture Sports & Entertainment (@CaptureSportEnt) July 5, 2023
📸: @jchumleyphotog1 pic.twitter.com/Bc6AMNMYkz
Mike knew there was more to life than football and had the gift of having a platform to help others. He is passionate about making a difference in others’ lives and creating a safer world for their children.
He wasn’t blessed with the talents to excel on the football field, and he recognizes that he would have been in the same position as others who attend college and then have the burden of debt.
Mike Evans Family Foundation creates unforgettable holiday experiences for Tampa Bay children and awards scholarships to hard-working and resilient students.
They have donated items to community organizations based on the athlete’s on-field performance.
Similarly, their foundation hosted free football and basketball camps for children in his hometown of Galveston County.
Additional Information
- During high school, Mike Evans competed in track and field jumping events and recorded personal best leaps of 14.11 meters in the triple jump and 6.28 meters in the long jump.
- He was a first-team All-SEC selection in 2013 and was selected to the 2013 Associated Press All-America Team, First-team on December 17, 2013.
- He recorded five receptions for 37 yards in his professional regular season debut against the Carolina Panthers on September 7, 2014.
- His net worth is estimated at $25 million as of 2024.