Deebo Samuel is having his storybook moment.
The veteran receiver Samuel is reuniting with the San Francisco 49ers as a free agent, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported on Thursday. Samuel is returning to the 49ers on one-year deal worth up to $7 million, Rapoport adds.
Now 30 years old, Samuel began his career with San Francisco in 2019 when they picked him in the second round of the NFL Draft (No. 36 overall). Over the next six seasons for the 49ers, Samuel developed into one of the most versatile offensive weapons in the league.
Utilized as both as traditional wide receiver and occasionally as a running back in certain packages, Samuel became a Pro Bowler as well as a First Team All-Pro selection during the 2021 season (in which he put up 1,405 receiving yards and six receiving touchdowns plus an additional 385 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns). Samuel proved to be an extremely trusted offensive centerpiece as the 49ers made four NFC title games and two Super Bowl appearances during his first stint.
But after the 2024 campaign, Samuel was traded away to the Washington Commanders in exchange for only a fifth-round draft pick. Last season for the Commanders, Samuel struggled to find his footing a bit with 727 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns but only very few touches as a runner.
Now though, Samuel is getting a chance to run it back with his longtime head coach Kyle Shanahan and his longtime quarterback Brock Purdy in San Francisco. While few had a reunion with the 49ers on their bingo cards (especially after Samuel demanded a trade the first time around), he now returns to a San Francisco team to provide additional support at wideout with Brandon Aiyuk no longer on the active roster and Ricky Pearsall nursing a PCL injury in training camp.
