The San Francisco 49ers head into the upcoming season with Super Bowl aspirations. They have a loaded roster, but fullback Kyle Juszczyk and tight end George Kittle aren’t done recruiting talent to the Niners just yet.
They are pushing for a reunion with Deebo Samuel Sr., who was selected by San Francisco with the 36th overall pick in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft and spent the first six years of his NFL career with the franchise.
Kyle Juszczyk, George Kittle Recruiting Deebo Samuel Sr. to San Francisco
The 49ers reshaped their wide receiver group this offseason by signing Mike Evans and Christian Kirk while also selecting De’Zhaun Stribling with the 33rd overall pick in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
However, they could still benefit from bringing back a proven playmaker like Samuel, who recorded 334 catches for 4,792 yards and scored 42 touchdowns in 81 games with the 49ers.
Speculation about a reunion intensified after Samuel shared an Instagram post reading, “Let The Chips Fall Where They May,” and former teammate Juszczyk quickly responded with a recruiting pitch.
“I have a guest house with your name on it,” Juszczyk wrote.
Kittle, who is dealing with an Achilles injury that could sideline him for part of the upcoming season, also joined the recruiting effort.
Kittle responded to Juszczyk’s message by writing: “@juicecheck44 I also have a guest house labeled ‘Deebo’s second home.'”
Would you be open to the return of Deebo Samuel to the 49ers? 👀 pic.twitter.com/m877DzWqG7
— 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙎𝙁𝙉𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙨 (@TheSFNiners) July 18, 2026
After spending the first six years of his career with the 49ers, the Washington Commanders traded for Samuel last offseason. However, the Commanders have made some major changes this offseason after a rough 2025 campaign, including moving on from Samuel.
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Though the former first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowler did not return to his peak form in Washington, he still produced solid numbers last season, appearing in 16 games while recording 72 receptions for 727 yards and 5 receiving touchdowns. He posted a 77.0 PFN WR Impact rating, which ranked No. 26 among all receivers in the NFL. His numbers were a slight improvement over his final season with the 49ers, when he finished with 51 catches for 670 yards and 3 receiving touchdowns in 2024.
Not every 49ers fan is eager to see Samuel return, but his offseason conditioning has drawn attention, with the veteran appearing to be in excellent shape. His career year came in 2021 when he totaled 1,405 receiving yards, 365 rushing yards, and 14 touchdowns.
While it’s unlikely that Samuel will produce at that level again, he still has the ability to create yards after the catch. Remaining unsigned for this long may also give Samuel a chip on his shoulder, and a motivated and in-shape Samuel could be a key contributor.
As for the 49ers, bringing Samuel back would also give them valuable depth at wide receiver, especially with ongoing concerns about the health of their pass-catching group. It remains to be seen if the front office is interested in a reunion, but the 49ers veterans certainly seem excited about the possibility.
