Deebo Samuel is headed back to San Francisco, bringing one of the most recognizable faces of the 49ers’ recent era back just as the team’s receiver room is getting tested in training camp. The reunion gives Brock Purdy another veteran weapon and gives Bay Area fans a familiar name to argue about all over again.
Sources told NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, according to ABC7 Bay Area, that Samuel is signing a one-year contract worth up to $7 million. The 49ers drafted Samuel in the second round in 2019, and he spent six seasons with San Francisco before playing for the Washington Commanders in 2025.
Why San Francisco Made The Move Now
The timing comes during a training camp in which San Francisco is already managing receiver-related uncertainty. The team’s official camp update listed Christian Kirk with a calf strain, while ABC7 reported injuries involving Kirk and Ricky Pearsall.
Samuel gives the 49ers a player who can line up outside, work from the slot, take handoffs and contribute in the return game. That versatility was a defining part of his first run in Kyle Shanahan’s offense, even if his role became less expansive during his lone season in Washington.
Samuel still produced in 2025, catching 72 passes for 727 yards and five touchdowns for the Commanders, according to the NFL’s career stats. He also handled 17 rushing attempts and returned 15 kickoffs for 452 yards, averaging 30.1 yards per return.
A Reunion With A Very Different Deebo
Samuel’s San Francisco peak came in 2021, when he piled up 1,405 receiving yards and 365 rushing yards while earning Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro honors, the Commanders’ trade announcement noted. He finished that season with 1,770 yards from scrimmage, helping cement the “wide-back” label that followed him around the league.
His broader career numbers remain impressive: 406 receptions for 5,519 yards and 27 receiving touchdowns, plus 1,218 rushing yards and 21 rushing scores. But the one-year contract also reflects a more measured bet than the massive extension he signed with San Francisco after that breakout season.
For the 49ers, the move is less about recreating 2021 than adding a proven, flexible option before the season begins. Samuel knows the system, the quarterback and the building, and now he gets one more chance to turn a familiar comeback story into a productive second act.
