Brad Evans

Evans was born to Tom and Dawn Grippando in Phoenix, Arizona, where he was raised with his brother and two sisters. Evans attended Mountain Pointe High School and played 4 seasons for the school's team, scoring 54 goals. He was named all-state and team captain during his junior and senior seasons. He also played 10 seasons for the Tempe Warriors youth club. He is married to wife Becky, supports Liverpool, and admires Zinedine Zidane. The midfielder attended the University of California, Irvine and majored in social sciences with a minor in education while playing college soccer. Playing for the UC Irvine Anteaters, Evans scored a record 31 goals during his four-year career and graduated as the school's career leader in total points, at 73. He won Big West Offensive Player of the Year in 2005 and 2006 and was an All-American in 2006. Evans played with Orange County Blue Star in the Premier Development League during the college off-season alongside future Sierra Leonean international Kei Kamara and future U.S. international Sacha Kljestan. Evans played 6 matches during the 2004 season and scored 4 goals. He played a single match during the 2005 season, scoring in a 1–0 win over the San Diego Gauchos at UC Irvine. Evans appeared 8 times during his final season with Blue Star, scoring twice in wins over Los Angeles and Bakersfield.

Columbus Crew

During the 2007 MLS SuperDraft, Evans was drafted by the Columbus Crew in the second round (15th overall). Coach Sigi Schmid described him as versatile and Columbus' fortune that Evans only played the first of three combine games due to injury. The midfielder made his MLS debut on April 7 against the New York Red Bulls, and appeared for 3 more matches without scoring a goal in the 2007 season. Evans played in 26 games for the Crew during the 2008 season and scored the final goal in a 3–2 win over the San Jose Earthquakes in May for his first MLS goal. The midfielder went on to score 4 more goals, including the MLS Goal of the Week during the final week of the regular season in a 1–0 win over D.C. United. He helped Columbus win the MLS Cup, starting in all 4 playoff games and scoring in a 2–0 win over the Kansas City Wizards in the Conference Semifinals. Evans started and played minutes during the MLS Cup final, a 3–1 win over the New York Red Bulls on November 23.

Seattle Sounders FC

Three days after winning the MLS Cup, Evans was selected by Seattle Sounders FC with the tenth pick in the Expansion Draft, later being reunited with coach Sigi Schmid. He started the first match in club history on March 19, a 3–0 win over the New York Red Bulls as he scored the second goal in the 24th minute from a Fredy Montero pass, finishing between the legs of New York goalkeeper Danny Cepero to begin the 2009 season. Evans became a regular starter for the…

Evans was a member of the U-20 national team that competed at the 2005 FIFA U-20 World Cup under Sigi Schmid, being used as a substitute in a 0–0 draw with Germany and starting at right back in a 1–0 win over Egypt in Group D. He was an unused substitute during the 3–1 Round of 16 loss to Italy weeks later. Evans was called up to the senior team for the 2009 Gold Cup, which had an opening group match at Qwest Field in Seattle. He entered the 4–0 win over Grenada on July 4 in the 63rd minute and received an immediate yellow card for coming on too early, and Evans did not play in a 2–0 win over Honduras, but played in a 2–2 draw with Haiti. Evans played in the knockout stages, coming on in the 110th minute during a 2–1 quarterfinal win over Panama on July 18. He was an unused substitute in the 2–0 semifinal win over Honduras on July 23 and the 5–0 loss to Mexico in the Gold Cup final on July 26. Evans appeared in a 2–1 friendly win against El Salvador in February 2010, and did not play in 2011. He was a second-half substitute in 1–0 friendly wins over Venezuela in his hometown of Phoenix, Arizona and Panama in January 2012. Evans was named to the January 2013 training camp for the national team and played in a 0–0 friendly against Canada at BBVA Compass Stadium. He was later called to play during 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification, being an unused substitute in a loss to Honduras. United States coach Jürgen Klinsmann added Evans to his camp roster for May and June, where he…

After his retirement, Evans joined the Sounders in 2020 as a club ambassador and also worked in various broadcast roles. He co-hosted a podcast with Steve Zakuani, which included interviews of MLS and Sounders players. In 2023, Evans was named the color commentator for KJR radio broadcasts of Sounders matches. He replaced Kasey Keller, who had been in the role for television and most radio broadcasts.