Chris Godwin Thinks Mike Evans 49ers Exit Was AI

Tampa Bay Buccaneers receiver Chris Godwin initially did not believe reports that longtime teammate Mike Evans had signed with the San Francisco 49ers, suspecting the news was AI-generated, according to ESPN. Godwin said he first saw it on social media and was skeptical, noting "there's a bunch of stuff on the internet that you can't really believe, a lot of AI stuff." ESPN reports he texted quarterback Baker Mayfield asking whether it was real, and accepted the news only when Mayfield replied with a sad-face emoji. Evans and Godwin had played together for nine seasons in Tampa, where Evans mentored Godwin after he entered the league as a 2017 third-round pick. Evans signed a three-year deal with the 49ers at the start of unrestricted free agency in March, ESPN reports. The anecdote has drawn attention as an example of growing skepticism toward online sports news in an era of AI-generated content.