Mike Evans credits George Kittle's sales pitch, Kyle Shanahan's scheme for selling him on 49ers

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — George Kittle was at his first Pro Bowl in 2018 when he shared a seat next to wide receiver Mike Evans on their bus ride through Orlando, Fla.

That was the start of a friendship that paid off this week for the 49ers, who officially signed Evans to a three-year contract on Thursday, three days after agreeing to a deal that could reach $60 million but calls for just $16.3 million guaranteed this season.

“I’ve had five Tampa Bay players reach out and say, ‘Take care of him,' ” Kittle said in an exclusive phone interview with this news organization. “He’s the man. I’m looking forward to it.”

Evans was won over by more than coach Kyle Shanahan, general manager John Lynch and the 49ers’ passion to end a Lombardi Trophy drought spanning 31 years.

“George was the biggest salesman. I mean, George sold it big time,” Evans said. “He’s a big reason why I’m here, just because of the type of player and teammate he is.”

Kittle, a nine-year veteran tight end, said his sales pitch was simply to relay the 49ers’ virtues — and their collective goal of winning the Super Bowl next Valentine’s Day at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood.

“I was as honest as I could be about the type of team we have and the type of franchise we have,” Kittle said from his Nashville, Tenn.-area home, where he’s rehabilitating a right Achilles repair. “The biggest thing I’m proud of as a Niner is how much the ownership puts back into the team and players, from how we travel to how they take care of us with body therapy. I think that’s unique and how every team should be, but not every team does that.

“And I told him we have one thing in mind — to win a Super Bowl, and that’s a culture people want to be around.”

Evans, 32, spent the past 12 seasons becoming the Tampa Bay Buccaneers most prolific receiver of all time, and he ranks 10th all time in NFL history with 108 touchdown receptions. His 13,052 yards put him 38 shy of surpassing Steve Largent for No. 20 on the NFL’s all-time receiving list.

It’s now Brock Purdy’s pleasure to send those yards Evans’ way.

“He’s a true professional. A really, really underrated player,” Evans said of Purdy. “His first start was against my Buccaneers back in 2022. I saw right then and there that, if I played with him, I felt I could help him out a lot.

“He’s already a really good player,” Evans added. “I just hope I can help him get to where he wants to go in his career and that’s be a Super Bowl champion, a potential MVP and have a great career here in San Francisco.”

Evans became a Super Bowl champion on the 2020 Buccaneers quarterbacked by Tom Brady in his first year out of New England.

Evans’ exit strategy out of Tampa Bay revolved around finding a contender with a good quarterback in need of a No. 1 receiver, so he said he focused on the 49ers and the Buffalo Bills.

“I’ve always loved the way Kyle calls games,” Evans said of Shanahan. “… This was my No. 1 spot on my own. I talked to John and Kyle and it solidified it for me. Always been a fan of Kyle, and he talked about how he sees me in this offense. It just made me even happier and it was a no-brainer after I got off the phone with him.”

The 49ers have gone to the playoffs five of the past seven seasons, with their 2019 and ’23 teams falling in the Super Bowl to the Kansas City Chiefs, who Evans and the 2020 Bucs beat in Super Bowl LV in Tampa.

Evans appreciated how the 49ers “went about their business” on the field, and he was well aware how last season’s team overcame injuries to star players and still reached the NFC divisional round.

“I feel they were one piece away, and I think I’m that piece,” Evans said. “I look forward to coming here and proving that.”

As for all that bluster about whether the electrical substation next to the 49ers’ practice field might impact health and scare away free agents, Kittle said Evans didn’t ask about it. (Kittle, by the way, said his surgeon, physical therapist and the 49ers are “happy” with his Achilles recovery. He has shed an orthopedic boot and plans to attend this spring’s organized team activities, with hopes of an earlier than expected debut this coming season.)

While Evans is a six-time Pro Bowler, Kittle has earned that honor seven times. Thus, their paths have crossed plenty, aside from 49ers-Bucs games over the years.

“He gave me one of his game jerseys and said it was ‘just because I’m a nice kid,' ” Kittle said. “He’s only one month older than me but he’s been in the league three more years.”

Now Evans’ path leads to the 49ers, who didn’t have to spend an exorbitant amount for his services.

“I mean, I love money, obviously, like everybody else. But that’s true, the money was not the biggest factor for me,” Evans said. “It was just football and something I can be excited about.

“Every time I come to Levi’s Stadium and see how the crowd is and the energy they bring and the rich history of the San Francisco 49ers, it just excites me,” Evans added. “I feel it’s giving me a second wind in my career, and that’s why I chose to come here.”