2024 was a tough year for Deebo Samuel — it began with a Super Bowl loss to Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs, and it ended with missing the playoffs for the first time since 2020. On the field, Samuel was a long way from his usual explosive self, and it’s come to light that conditioning issues may have been to blame.
Deebo Samuel Requests Trade
Samuel’s explosiveness with the ball in his hands has made him one of the most respected receivers in the NFL in recent years. Flourishing in Kyle Shanahan’s offense, his ability to take short-yardage throws and turn them into massive gains has set him apart from other wideouts in the league.
That tackle-breaking prowess has also made him a regular feature in the San Francisco 49ers’ running game. This came in particularly useful toward the end of the 2024 season as the 49ers were plagued with injuries at running back.
But it would seem as though he is set to be the odd man out in San Francisco. With a new contract for quarterback Brock Purdy on the horizon, the 49ers will have extended every key player on their roster except Samuel. This clearly hasn’t gone down well with the former first-team All-Pro, who has requested a trade from the team.
The 49ers have granted Deebo Samuel and his agent Tory Dandy permission to find a trade partner for the wide receiver, Samuel told ESPN. This comes after Samuel asked San Francisco to trade him during the players’ exit meetings after the season.
“It was a hard conversation to… pic.twitter.com/uuEsxgFHIJ
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 9, 2025
Samuel “Not in Shape”
After making three straight NFC Championship Games prior to the 2024 season, it seems crazy that things have come to this for such a fan favorite. Speaking on his podcast “The TK Show,” Tim Kawakami has suggested that Samuel’s conditioning may be to blame.
“He is not in shape. I keep hearing it: 20 pounds overweight. And that led to a lot of his lack of explosion, in their belief, his lack of ability to get through tackles, [which has] kind of been who he is. That’s why he’s so valuable. It’s not because he’s outrunning people.
“And the sense that Deebo’s, ‘Okay, you don’t think I’m that valuable? Let me get out of here.’ I think that this has come to an end. This relationship, which was great for Kyle Shanahan and Deebo. I think they’re still close, but I think had been bumpy.”
A team that seemed destined to win a Super Bowl with Samuel at the forefront now appears to be slowly unraveling.
Christian McCaffrey, one of the greatest running backs of all time, may never fully recover from an Achilles injury that wrecked his 2024 season. Star receiver Brandon Aiyuk also missed over half of the season with a torn ACL and MCL. The 49ers still have a lot of talent on their roster, but the loss of Samuel would be a further blow to a team that can’t seem to catch a break.
The impressive displays of Jauan Jennings and the late emergence of Ricky Pearsall in 2024 will likely soften the blow for Shanahan. But if what Kawakami is saying is correct, this is a move that the 49ers may even have pushed for themselves had Samuel not brought it to them first.