Chris Evans’ mom is ‘not surprised at all’ her son won ‘Sexiest Man Alive’ and neither are we

There are years when PEOPLE’s “Sexiest Man Alive” choice will make you go, “HUH?!” and there are years where the winner comes as no surprise to anyone. The “Sexiest Man Alive 2022” is definitely in the latter category, as Chris Evans is basically a universal fan favorite.

The best part of him winning? How Evans, 41, predicted his mother would react to the news (Spoiler: he’s right.)

“My mom will be so happy,” he says. “She’s proud of everything I do but this is something she can really brag about.”

Evans, who remains a down-to-earth kinda guy despite being an A-lister and renowned superhero, is expecting a little bit of good-natured teasing from his friends about his new title.

“Really this will just be a point of bullying,” he jokes. “It’s ripe for harassment.”

Related: Chris Evans has some words for those bothered by the same-sex kiss in ‘Lightyear’

And honestly, anyone with a smidge of self-awareness would feel the same way. It’s a delightful, if lighthearted, honor based mostly on appearance but also likability (and, let’s be real, whatever PR thing the winner is keyed up to promote). And because popular culture is so insistent on focusing on women’s looks and likability, the “Sexiest Man Alive” thing is a breath of fresh air in a way.

“This whole thing is tough to be interviewed about,” he tells PEOPLE. “It feels like a weird form of humble bragging.”

It is. And that’s OK. You’re Captain America, you look amazing in an Irish fisherman’s sweater, and you’re basically the most well-liked Chris of all the Chrises. ENJOY IT.

His mom, Lisa (who accompanied her son for the photo shoot), is for sure proud of her son—for everything, but definitely this: “I am not surprised at all. Our family will be beside themselves.”

While Evans has been in-demand at the box office for years and likely will be for a long time, he admits he’s happy slowing things down and becoming a bit more of a homebody these days.

Related: Ryan Reynolds on being a working dad: ‘I don’t want to miss this time with my kids’

“When it comes to seeking out the people I play it’s more of an issue of where the movie shoots,” he says. “I’m too old to be living out of a suitcase for six months and I’ve settled into a nicer phase where I’m just happy being at home.”

RELATABLE. Oh, also, for any singletons out there hoping Chris Evans himself is interested in the whole kit and caboodle of “settling down” or if he’s determined to be an “eternal bachelor” like other movie stars—it’s the former on this one.

“That’s absolutely something I want.”