After requesting a trade last year and ultimately being dealt to the Washington Commanders, a reunion between Samuel and the 49ers appeared unlikely. However, tight end George Kittle recently suggested the door may not be completely closed.
Speaking with Sports Illustrated, Kittle hinted that San Francisco could welcome back familiar faces.
"My one message for Niners fans: Hey, if a rebuild year got us 13 wins and a win in the wild card—that's pretty good," Kittle said. "It's only gonna get a little bit better from that, and all the boys are coming back again. And who knows? We might add some past friends."
When asked to clarify who those "past friends" might be, Kittle replied, "I don't know. I hung out with Deebo last night. That was fun."
Pressed on whether he would like to see Samuel return to the 49ers, Kittle simply stated, "I love Deebo. That's all. I love Deebo."
Samuel requested a trade out of the Bay Area last offseason, and San Francisco ultimately sent him to Washington in exchange for a fifth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
In 2025, Samuel recorded 72 receptions for 727 receiving yards and five touchdowns, while adding 75 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown. He has not surpassed 900 receiving yards since his All-Pro 2021 season, when he totaled 1,405 receiving yards and 365 rushing yards.
According to Spotrac, Samuel's projected annual market value sits at $13.3 million. Whether the 49ers would commit that level of investment to the 30-year-old wideout remains uncertain. The team might prefer to find a younger and more impactful playmaker in free agency or the draft.
Kittle is not alone in publicly endorsing a potential reunion with Samuel.
"Deebo's one of my favorite guys I've ever played with," running back Christian McCaffrey said last week. "We all love Deebo. Our whole staff loves Deebo. All of the players on the team love Deebo. We love Deebo."
When asked if the locker room would welcome Samuel back despite last year's offseason drama, McCaffrey said, "I think, yeah, there's no question that he would be welcomed back."
McCaffrey also emphasized Samuel's unique impact on the 49ers' offense.
"He has such good energy," McCaffrey added. "He's somebody that, when the ball's in his hands, you can see, a lot of times, the fear in defenses. And he was such a great component to our offense because you can get him the ball in so many different ways.
"He's like an enforcer on the offense, in ways. He'll run through your face, he can catch the ball, he can run the ball, he can run any route in the route tree, and if you want to tackle him, it comes with consequences. So he's just a great guy to have on your team, and I appreciated the time I got to play with him."
H/t to Kyle Madson of Niners Wire for the find.
Related News
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
Analyst warns 49ers against potential Deebo Samuel reunion
Former San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel remains a free agent, fueling speculation about a possible return to the team. Two of his former teammates—tight end George Kittle and fullback Kyle Juszczyk—have already made it clear they would welcome a... -
Should the 49ers bring back Deebo Samuel? Pros and cons of a reunion
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,... -
49ers stars lobby for reunion with former teammate
Former San Francisco 49ers and Washington Commanders wide receiver Deebo Samuel remains a free agent, and it's unclear where he will play during the 2026 season. However, if it were up to two of his former teammates, Samuel would return to the team that selected him in the... -
49ers insider believes Deebo Samuel wanted a return to San Francisco
Former San Francisco 49ers and Washington Commanders wide receiver Deebo Samuel remains a free agent as training camps begin across the NFL. However, the veteran playmaker still hopes to continue his career in 2026. Last offseason, Samuel expressed his desire to move on from...