Heath Evans

Bryan Heath Evans (born December 30, 1978 in West Palm Beach, Florida) is a former American football fullback. He was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the third round of the 2001 NFL Draft. He played college football at Auburn.

Evans has also played for the Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, and New Orleans Saints.

Early years
While attending the King's Academy in West Palm Beach, Evans lettered in football and basketball. In football, he was a two-time All-State selection as a tailback.

College career
Evans attended Auburn University. In football, he finished his three-year career with 149 rushing attempts for 626 yards (4.2 yards per rush) and six touchdowns, and 30 receptions for 354 yards (11.8 yards per reception) and a touchdown.

Seattle Seahawks
Evans was the first fullback taken in the 2001 NFL Draft, with the Seahawks selecting him in the third round (82nd overall). Evans spent four years in Seattle blocking for running back Shaun Alexander.

Miami Dolphins
Evans signed with the Miami Dolphins in the spring of 2005. While in Miami, Evans was re-united with former Auburn tailback Ronnie Brown (with whom he was a team-mate in 2000), but was cut six weeks into the season.

New England Patriots
One week later, the New England Patriots signed Evans for the remainder of the 2005 season. On November 16, he filled in for an injured Corey Dillon at tailback against his former team and rushed for 84 yards on 17 carries and caught 3 passes for 18 yards, subsequently leading the Patriots to victory. On March 23, 2006, the Patriots re-signed Evans as an unrestricted free agent to another one-year contract.

During the 2006 season, Evans ran for 117 yards on 27 carries. He also caught 7 passes for 34 yards. In week 5 against the Dolphins, Evans scored his first career touchdown on a 1-yard reception from Tom Brady. Two weeks later against the Minnesota Vikings, Evans recorded his career long carry of 35 yards. Against the San Diego Chargers in the playoffs, Evans recorded 3 special team tackles in the Patriots' 24-21 upset. Evans caught 4 passes in the AFC Championship loss to the Colts.

On February 24, 2007, the Patriots announced that Evans signed a two-year contract extension, keeping him off the free agent market. Evans also rushed for a 2-yard touchdown against the New York Jets in a 38-14 victory in the opening game of the 2007 season.

New Orleans Saints
An unrestricted free agent in the 2009 offseason, Evans was signed by the New Orleans Saints on March 5. Upon the signing, the team released incumbent fullback Mike Karney. Evans played in the Saints' first six games, scoring three touchdowns, but he suffered a season-ending knee injury in their October 25 game against the Miami Dolphins and was placed on the injured reserve list.

Retirement
On August 24, 2011, Evans announced via Twitter that he had decided to retire from the NFL after 10 seasons, agreeing to a multi-year contract to become an analyst for the NFL Network.

Broadcasting career
Evans is an analyst on NFL Network and joined the NFL on Fox as a game analyst in 2012 with Sam Rosen. He was supposed join Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston, and Tony Siragusa as a sideline reporter for the NFC Divisional Playoff game only starting in 2013, however that changed when Erin Andrews came to Fox as a studio host for Fox College Football and a sideline reporter for MLB on Fox for the All-Star Game and the postseason and the NFL on Fox with Joe Buck and Troy Aikman as a sideline reporter for Thanksgiving Classic and the NFC postseason. Chris Myers would join Laura Okmin as a sideline reporter for the 2013 NFC Divisional Playoff game with Thom Brennaman and Brian Billick instead of Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston, and Tony Siragusa. Thom Brennaman, Brian Billick, Laura Okmin, and Chris Myers called the Seahawks-Falcons Divisional Round instead of Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston, and Tony Siragusa.

Personal
Evans is well known for his Christianity and is the founder of the Heath Evans Foundation, a foundation for abused children. He and his wife Beth Ann have two daughters, Ava and Naomi; during the offseason they reside in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Evans has expressed interest in opening Dunkin Donuts franchises in Alabama.