Samuel requested a trade last offseason, leading to a one-year stint with the Washington Commanders. While he posted a respectable 802 scrimmage yards and six total touchdowns in 2025, his production has consistently fallen well short of the career-best campaign he delivered with the 49ers in 2021, when he racked up 1,770 scrimmage yards and 14 total touchdowns while earning first-team All-Pro honors.
Although Samuel isn't expected to replicate those numbers in his return to San Francisco, the 49ers believe he can provide a valuable complement to star free-agent addition Mike Evans and bolster an offense that suddenly has questions at wide receiver.
Appearing on The Pat McAfee Show, Schefter revealed that Samuel's return wasn't a last-minute development.
"The truth of the matter is Deebo had been talking to the 49ers all along, and the 49ers had told him that they were interested in bringing him back to San Francisco for weeks," Schefter said. "There were actual conversations that occurred between Kyle Shanahan and Deebo Samuel.
"And I think Deebo obviously was looking to see what kind of deal he could land on the open market, and when those deals that he was looking for don't materialize, and those conversations with San Francisco continue on, and all of a sudden there are questions about Ricky Pearsall, who by the way right now is continuing to meet with doctors—he's got another meeting planned for Monday right now with another doctor."
The timing proved significant.
Pearsall experienced swelling in his knee this week related to the PCL injury that hampered him for much of last season. There is reportedly growing concern within the organization that surgery could become necessary, which would likely sideline the young receiver for the entire 2026 season.
Those circumstances likely helped accelerate Samuel's return. The 49ers signed him to a one-year, $7 million deal.
"The 49ers have been talking to Deebo," Schefter continued. "No other offers had materialized—meaningful offers. And so, in the end, we've seen what San Francisco can do with Deebo, how the 49ers utilize him. He's dangerous in their offense, and I would imagine will be a factor again this year.
"It worked out, really, for both sides. That's really where he should be playing, and they're fortunate that nobody else stepped up and signed him. And they were there for each other when the 49ers needed to add another receiver last night."
What initially appeared to be a surprising move now seems like the outcome of weeks of communication between the two sides. With uncertainty surrounding Pearsall's availability and Samuel unable to find the contract he wanted in free agency, the reunion gives the 49ers a familiar playmaker who already knows Kyle Shanahan's offense.
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