Key facts
- Deebo Samuel Sr. has rejoined the San Francisco 49ers and reclaimed jersey No. 19, which he wore from 2019-2023.
- Samuel had spent the 2024 season away from the 49ers before this reunion.
- Linebacker Dre Greenlaw also returned to the 49ers after a year away from the team.
- Coach Kyle Shanahan said Samuel’s return is unrelated to receiver Ricky Pearsall’s season-ending injury.
- Shanahan said past contract-negotiation tension with Samuel, dating to 2022 OTAs, has been resolved and is no longer relevant.
- The 49ers are set to compete with the Rams and Seahawks in the NFC West.
Wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. is back with the San Francisco 49ers and has reclaimed the No. 19 jersey he wore from 2019 through 2023, after spending the 2024 season elsewhere. Linebacker Dre Greenlaw has also returned to the team following a year away.
Shanahan addresses the old contract tension
Speaking to reporters on a Saturday, 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan downplayed any lingering friction from Samuel’s past contract negotiations, calling it a non-issue now that Samuel is back. Shanahan said Samuel has long been one of the players he’s been closest to on a personal level. He suggested that during Samuel’s contract talks, Samuel may have found it useful to project the appearance of a dispute with the team, saying that approach doesn’t always work out but can sometimes be advantageous in negotiations.
Shanahan recalled visiting Samuel’s house during the eighth day of organized team activities in 2022 and telling him directly that the negotiating drama was overblown. He said Samuel then attended minicamp, the two had a good summer together, and Samuel signed his contract on the first day back at training camp that year. Shanahan acknowledged there were moments during the April negotiating period that left him puzzled about what was happening, but said those issues were resolved once he and Samuel spoke face to face during OTAs.
No connection to the Ricky Pearsall injury
Shanahan also stated that Samuel’s return to the 49ers had nothing to do with the team losing receiver Ricky Pearsall for the entire season. He described Samuel and Pearsall as completely different types of players. According to Shanahan, the team had hoped for a long time that a reunion with Samuel could work out depending on his other opportunities, and that outcome was already in motion separate from Pearsall’s injury.
What Shanahan expects going forward
Shanahan said that despite being away from the team for a year, both Samuel and Greenlaw looked to him like the same players he remembered once he saw them back on the field. He indicated their return should benefit the 49ers as the team looks to compete against the Rams and Seahawks in the NFC West.
Sources
Featured photo: All-Pro Reels via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)