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new era of San Francisco 49ers football is starting. Despite coming off of a promising 12-5 season and returning to the playoffs after a one year absence, the 49ers dealt with severe injury issues that prevented them from reaching their full potential, instead seeing their season come to a crashing end in the divisional round of the playoffs. And determined to get back to the top in 2026, the 49ers have wasted no time this offseason on acquiring new talent that is the key to their resurgence. Bringing in several new players, the most notable signing this offseason for the 49ers is wide receiver Mike Evans.
Evans, a future Hall of Famer, comes to the 49ers after spending the first 12 seasons of his career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers where he recorded 11-straight 1,000 yard seasons and evolved into one of the best receivers in the league. While in Tampa Bay, Evans wore the jersey number 13– which became synonymous with the superstar pass catcher. But in San Francisco, that number is worn by quarterback Brock Purdy, forcing Evans to change things up. And on Wednesday, April 15, Evans answered the question many have had since his arrival– the number he will wear while on the 49ers.
Evans Chooses His Number
Evans wore No. 13 both in college and for the first 12 seasons of his career, so changing it is a big deal. While Evans certainly has the pedigree, swapping numbers with Purdy, the team’s star quarterback, is unlikely which means that Evans will wear a number he has never worn in the league. Taking to 49ers’ linebacker Fred Warner‘s podcast, Real Ones: The League, Evans revealed his new number for the 49ers– returning to his high school and grade school jersey, No. 5.
“I’m gonna be No. 5,” Evans told Warner. “That’s my high school football number, my little league number, and my middle school number.”
Evans will be the most notable player to wear No. 5 for the 49ers in a long time, even with all the players who have donned that red and gold jersey. Notably worn by quarterback Jeff Garcia from 1999-03, players in recent seasons who have worn the number include Trey Lance, Demarcus Robinson and Josh Dobbs.
Evans’ Role in 2026
Evans has endured a couple of injury prone seasons, but while healthy last season, he showed that he still has plenty left in the tank. And for the 49ers, a team that desperately needed a bonafide No. 1 receiver, Evans figures to be that guy and be a top weapon for Purdy. Signing a three-year deal with the team that essentially functions as a one-year deal, Evans hopes he can return to being that elite wide receiver he once was and prove that he truly is the missing piece to the team’s Super Bowl championship aspirations.
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