Joe Evans (American football)

Joe Evans (born June 29, 1999) is an American football linebacker for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Early life and high school
Evans attended high school at Ames. In Evans junior season after being forced to play quarterback after injuries to the starter, he completed 106 of his 178 passes for 1,276 yards and 17 touchdowns, while also adding 439 yards and five touchdowns on the ground. Coming out of high school, Evans decided to walk-on to play college football for the Iowa Hawkeyes.

College career
In Evans true freshman season in 2018, he did not appear in any games and would redshirt. In the 2019 season, Evans posted seven tackles with four being for a loss, and four sacks. During the 2020 season, Evans was put on scholarship by the Hawkeyes. In the COVID-shortened 2020 season, Evans tallied seven tackles with two going for a loss, a sack, and a pass deflection. In 2021, Evans would breakout notching 33 tackles with seven being for a loss, seven sacks, a pass deflection, and a forced fumble. In week one of the 2022 season, Evans tallied two sacks, and a safety as he helped Iowa to a 7–3 win over South Dakota State. In week eight, Evans sacked quarterback C. J. Stroud, while also forcing a fumble which he returned 12 yards for his first career touchdown against #2 Ohio State. In the 2022 season, Evans totaled 41 tackles with $8 1/2$ going for a loss, $6 1/2$ sacks, and two forced fumbles. For his performance in the 2022 season, Evans was named second team all Big-10. In week 12 of the 2023 season, Evans notched four tackles with $1 1/2$ going for a loss, a sack, a safety, and three pass deflections, as he helped the Hawkeyes beat Illinois, 15–13. In the Citrus Bowl, Evans notched a career-high four sacks in a loss to Tennessee. For the 2023 season, Evans made 46 tackles with $13 1/2$ going for a loss, $9 1/2$ sacks, four pass deflections, and a forced fumble.

Professional career
Evans signed with the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent on May 3, 2024.