San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel, who will officially be traded to the Washington Commanders on March 12, shared a heartfelt farewell to The Faithful via The Players' Tribune. In the article, Samuel reflects on his journey from Spartanburg, South Carolina, to the NFL and expresses gratitude to the 49ers, the team that drafted him in the second round in 2019.
Samuel requested a trade during his January exit interview. The 49ers' disappointing 6-11 season left them in last place in the NFC West. A team that started the season with Super Bowl aspirations struggled with injuries and costly mistakes, ultimately falling short of expectations.
His on-field production has declined in recent years, far from the high-impact playmaker who dominated during his breakout 2021 campaign. Last season, he managed just 806 scrimmage yards and four touchdowns, leading to a diminished trade value. The 49ers received only a fifth-round draft pick in return for the veteran wideout.
Samuel walked into head coach Kyle Shanahan's office in January to deliver difficult news.
"Bro, I don't think you actually know how hard it is for me to come in here and have this conversation with you," he told Shanahan.
It wasn't the first time Samuel had requested a trade. He sought a move in 2022 before ultimately signing a contract extension. Three years later, he was asking again.
"So, we talked it out," Samuel wrote. "It was hard, in its own way. But more than anything, I was just proud of the way we both handled it, as men."
Samuel wanted to be transparent with the 49ers about his mindset and why he felt a fresh start was necessary.
"After I talked with Kyle, I talked to John, and he understood where I was coming from and gave me his perspective on everything," Samuel continued. "He called me and gave me permission to seek a trade, and we talked about why we thought it was a good move for both of us. And listen, for John and Kyle to send me to a team in the NFC that was almost a Super Bowl contender, it just shows you the type of love and relationship that we have. I know at the end of the day, they didn't have to do that. So, it's not a lick of bad blood when it comes to me and that organization. It's always love."
Samuel admitted he had long considered playing elsewhere and is excited about the opportunity with Washington. Still, leaving the Bay Area and the relationships he had built was emotional.
"The memories that I got with Kyle, with [GM] John [Lynch], with [QB] Brock [Purdy], with [LT] Trent [Williams], it all came rushing back," Samuel shared.
He reflected on the whirlwind of being drafted in 2019 and adjusting to life on the West Coast. As a rookie, even small things, like California's policy of charging for grocery bags, caught him off guard. However, he managed to find humor in the differences.
The 49ers reached the Super Bowl in his first season, but the following year, COVID-19 hit, and everything changed. An injury-riddled 2020 season saw the team miss the playoffs entirely.
Four years later, Samuel and the 49ers returned to the Super Bowl, only to fall short once again to the Kansas City Chiefs.
"The second one actually hurt more because I've been in the game long enough," Samuel wrote. "And at that point, you know you're going to lose some players, key players at that. But in that moment, not only am I thinking about myself, I thought about the other players who were almost at the end of their career. Trent Williams, one of my best friends, like a big brother to me and mentor, I wanted it so bad for him. I was ready to put it all on the line to help him get his ring. I wanted that for all of us."
While he looks forward to the next chapter of his career, Samuel remains grateful for his time in San Francisco.
"At the end of the day, these guys put their trust in me to help turn their organization around, and I'll forever be grateful for that," Samuel wrote. "And thank God I was able to come in and make a difference."