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Fullback Kyle Juszczyk and tight end George Kittle are both open to Deebo Samuel returning to the San Francisco 49ers. Samuel shared an Instagram post reading, "Let the chips fall where they may," and the two All-Pros said they have guest rooms available if needed.
Naturally, this added more intrigue to the ongoing conversation surrounding the wide receiver's future.
Their response sparked further speculation among fans about what could happen next between Samuel and the 49ers.
A poll posted on X asked fans whether the 49ers should consider bringing back the former wide receiver, and 54% said they should.
Samuel made a splash with the team and the fan base during his rookie year, recording 802 receiving yards and three touchdowns, and helped the 49ers return to the Super Bowl.
In six seasons with San Francisco, Deebo recorded 4,792 receiving yards, 1,218 rushing yards, and 43 total touchdowns, earning first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors.
Since earning All-Pro honors in 2021, Samuel has been solid but has not matched the elite level of production he had that season. He finished with 632 receiving yards in 2022, followed by 892 yards in 2023 and 670 yards in 2024.
Deebo left the 49ers on less-than-ideal terms with much of the fan base.
His lack of production in the 2024 postseason, including Super Bowl LVIII, drew criticism. Still, one of the defining moments came the next season when he had a heated sideline confrontation with then-second-year kicker Jake Moody and long snapper Taybor Pepper.
The incident occurred after Moody missed three field goals, including a 44-yard attempt in the fourth quarter as the 49ers clung to a 20-17 lead over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
This video shows Samuel grabbing Pepper's neck and shoving Moody.
The 49ers selected the former South Carolina Gamecock in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft, and he was traded to the Washington Commanders last offseason in exchange for a fifth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Despite dealing with inconsistent quarterback play, Samuel put together a productive season, recording 72 receptions for 727 yards and five touchdowns.
The 49ers overhauled their wide receiver room after a disappointing 2025 season in which the position group struggled to produce consistently, signing longtime Buccaneer Mike Evans and veteran Christian Kirk in free agency and selecting De'Zhaun Stribling in the second round of the NFL Draft, giving the offense a much-needed infusion of talent and depth.
49ers are also hoping third-year receivers Ricky Pearsall and Jacob Cowing can stay healthy, and last year's fourth-round pick, Jordan Watkins, can get on the field after playing in just four games.
A return to San Francisco could benefit Deebo Samuel for several reasons because he is already familiar with Kyle Shanahan's offensive system and has proven to be one of the NFL's most dangerous playmakers after the catch. His ability to generate yards after the catch (YAC) is something the 49ers sorely missed last season, as the team finished 28th in the league in that category.
Samuel also provides versatility that few players in the NFL can match.
In addition to lining up at wide receiver, he can be used in the backfield and on a variety of gadget plays that have become a staple of the 49ers' offense.
Following his All-Pro season, Samuel was widely regarded as one of the league's most dangerous offensive weapons because of the countless ways the 49ers utilized him. Whether it was handoffs, end-arounds, wide receiver screens, or traditional passing plays, San Francisco consistently found creative ways to get the ball in his hands.
Combined with his ability as a polished route runner and his elite yards-after-the-catch skills, Samuel became one of the NFL's most difficult players for opposing defenses to contain.
Finally, a reunion with Samuel would provide the 49ers with much-needed stability at the wide receiver position.
Last season, outside of Jauan Jennings, who started 15 games, the next most-used wide receiver made just nine starts, leaving the offense without consistent production from the position.
Samuel appeared in 16 games and made 12 starts for the Washington Commanders, showing he can still be a reliable contributor when healthy.
Over the past three seasons, he has missed just five games due to injury, demonstrating that durability has been less of an issue, and adding a proven veteran with his versatility and availability could give San Francisco a dependable playmaker while strengthening the depth of its receiving corps.
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