The San Francisco 49ers just pulled off a huge trade for Keenan Allen at the deadline on Tuesday, bolting up their receiving corps, but what they *really* did was reunite two star wideouts who absolutely had it out online back in the day. Our NFC West rivals just added a whole new layer of drama to their locker room, and frankly, you love to see it for our Hawks.
Remember 2020? Yeah, It Got Personal For These Guys
Flash back to 2020, just a few months after the NFL said “full steam ahead” on the season despite everything. Allen, rocking a Chargers uniform then, was *furious* about his ranking on the annual NFL Top 100 list. We’re talking No. 77! He wasn’t having it. So what does he do? He jumps on Twitter and tags players he thought he was clearly better than, including Tyreek Hill, Chris Godwin, and yes, Mike Evans. He didn’t mince words either.
“Ok I’m tired of biten my tongue…@cheetah @MikeEvans13_ @chrisgoodwin… (and the list goes on) ARE NOT a better reciever than me! Faster than me…every day of the week but separation..CHILD PLEASE!” Allen tweeted. You can feel the heat radiating off that post, right? He was No. 38 the year before, so yeah, the drop probably stung. He even got the wrong Chris Godwin, but who cares, the message was loud and clear. Evans, bless his heart, wasn’t letting that slide.
“You tagged the wrong Chris Godwin lol and don’t be mad at us we ain’t make the rankings or care about em,” Evans fired back. “I like the confidence but be realistic you not on my level bro.” Ouch. Allen didn’t respond directly, but he did double down with, “IM THE BEST WR IN THE AFC WEST!!! Without question!!!” You gotta respect the confidence, even if the stats that year told a different story.
So, Who *Was* On Whose Level? The Numbers Don’t Lie
Look, trash talk is one thing, but the game is played on the field. That 2020 season, Evans absolutely cooked. He snagged 70 receptions for 1,006 yards and a monster 13 touchdowns, and oh yeah, his Tom Brady-led Buccaneers went and won the Super Bowl. Allen still had a phenomenal year himself, pulling in 100 catches in 14 games for 992 yards and eight touchdowns. So, he wasn’t exactly slouching. But statistically, Evans definitely came out on top in that particular season. It’s not like six years ago was yesterday, but that kind of competitive fire, that blunt “not on my level bro” from Evans, you don’t just forget that.
Our rival just pulled off a trade that puts two highly competitive, top-tier receivers in the same huddle, after one told the other he wasn’t “on his level.” This is the same Mike Evans who was just in Seattle, speaking at a news conference after beating our Seahawks on Sunday, October 11, 2026. Now he’s got to line up next to a guy he publicly beefed with. If both Allen and Evans can harness that intensity that fueled their amazing 2020 seasons, that could be one hell of a receiving duo for the Niners. How they manage that old bad blood, though? That’s going to be something to watch, and we’ll be watching our rivals closely.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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