Former 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel overall had a successful six-year stint with San Francisco.<\/p>\n
Samuel quickly became one of coach Kyle Shanahan\u2019s biggest offensive weapons, with his versatility as a receiver and a rusher.<\/p>\n
After being selected by San Francisco 36th overall in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft, the one-time All-Pro wide receiver immediately found out that his new play-caller is built different.<\/p>\n
\u201cA coach walks in a meeting, and you\u2019re in a meeting full of everybody,\u201d Samuel said in the latest episode of the \u201cDowns 2 Business\u201d show<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd he\u2019s only talking to you for 30 minutes. You don\u2019t really know how fast the pace is. I\u2019m out there like going in motion, like cooling. He\u2019s like, \u2018See, this is the dumb s–t I\u2019m talking about.\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m like yo, bro\u2026Kyle is showing clip after clip. Is he going to talk about somebody else? He made the whole team meeting about one person, and I was just sitting there\u2026You know Kyle does a lot of motions. You\u2019ll go all the way over here. Then you gotta go all the way back. He does the same thing.\u201d<\/p>\n Shanahan is known as one of the best offensive minds in the entire league, including his high level of detail when it comes to watching and breaking down tape.<\/p>\n \u201cThat was my \u2018welcome to the league\u2019 moment right there,\u201d Samuel said.<\/p>\n What was Deebo Samuel\u2019s \u201cwelcome to the league\u201d moment? \ud83e\udd14<\/p>\n It was a 30-minute team meeting dedicated to his route running \ud83d\ude05 pic.twitter.com\/rT3A9hjFUx<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Downs 2 Business (@downs2business) February 25, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n In six seasons with the 49ers, Samuel recorded a total of 334 receptions, 4,792 receiving yards, 1,143 rushing yards and 42 scrimmage touchdowns.<\/p>\n Samuel then was traded to the Washington Commanders in March 2025, where he played in 16 games and finished last season with 72 receptions, 727 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns.<\/p>\n The one-time Pro Bowl selection is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent during the 2026 NFL offseason, and some 49ers players, such as Christian McCaffrey<\/a> and George Kittle<\/a>, have expressed their interest in welcoming Samuel back to Santa Clara.<\/p>\n Regardless of where he ends up in free agency, Samuel should be a strong contributor to any NFL team, especially with Shanahan helping set up a good foundation for the South Carolina native.<\/p>\n Download and follow the 49ers Talk Podcast<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t