History of Deebo Samuel in Timeline

Deebo Samuel is a professional American football wide receiver, notable for his versatility. Drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in 2019 after playing college football at the University of South Carolina, he earned first-team All-Pro honors in 2021 with the 49ers. In 2025, he was traded to the Washington Commanders. Samuel holds the distinction of being the only wide receiver in NFL history to achieve 20 receiving and 20 rushing touchdowns, highlighting his impact both as a receiver and a rusher.

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Full Timeline

1995: Nickname Origin

In 1995, Deebo Samuel was given the nickname "Deebo" by his father, inspired by the character Deebo from the film Friday, played by Tiny Lister Jr.

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January 15, 1996: Deebo Samuel's Birth

On January 15, 1996, Tyshun Raequan "Deebo" Samuel Sr. was born. He would later become a professional football wide receiver.

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2014: Redshirted Freshman Year

In 2014, Deebo Samuel redshirted during his true freshman year at the University of South Carolina, delaying his participation in games.

2014: College Recruitment and Commitment

In 2014, Deebo Samuel, rated as a three-star recruit, committed to the University of South Carolina for college football, choosing them over several other university offers.

November 5, 2017: Announcement of Senior Season Return

On November 5, 2017, Deebo Samuel announced his decision to return for his senior season at the University of South Carolina.

2018: Successful College Season

In the 2018 season, Deebo Samuel had a successful college football season, finishing with 882 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns. His best performance was against Clemson, where he caught 10 passes for 210 yards and three touchdowns.

July 25, 2019: Signed with the 49ers

On July 25, 2019, Deebo Samuel signed a four-year contract with the San Francisco 49ers after being drafted.

2019: Drafted by San Francisco 49ers

In 2019, Deebo Samuel was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the second round of the NFL draft, marking a significant milestone in his career.

2019: Senior Bowl Selection

In 2019, Deebo Samuel was selected to play in the Senior Bowl, marking a significant achievement before entering the NFL.

July 28, 2020: Placed on Non-Football Injury List

On July 28, 2020, Deebo Samuel was placed on the non-football injury list at the start of training camp.

2021: All-Pro Honors with 49ers

In 2021, Deebo Samuel received first-team All-Pro honors with the San Francisco 49ers, acknowledging his outstanding performance during the season.

2021: Position Evolution

In 2021, Deebo Samuel's position evolved when he started playing running back midway through the NFL season, leading to the coining of the term "wide back" in 2022.

2021: Increased Backfield Usage and Pro Bowl Selection

In 2021, the 49ers increasingly utilized Deebo Samuel in the backfield, leading to his election to the Pro Bowl. He set a record with 8 rushing touchdowns, the most ever by a wide receiver in a single season. He also had 77 receptions for 1,405 receiving yards and six receiving touchdowns, and was named a First Team All-Pro.

July 31, 2022: Contract Extension with 49ers

On July 31, 2022, Deebo Samuel signed a three-year, $73.5 million contract extension with the San Francisco 49ers, including $58.1 million guaranteed, after trade request reports.

2022: "Wide Back" Term Coined

At the 2022 Pro Bowl, Deebo Samuel coined the term "wide back" to describe his position, which evolved during the 2021 NFL season, as a wide receiver who also plays as a running back.

2022: Season Performance and Injury

In 2022, Deebo Samuel had six catches for 115 yards and a touchdown against the Rams in Week 4. He sustained a hamstring injury after Week 7 and later injured his ankle in Week 14. He finished the season with 56 receptions for 632 yards and two receiving touchdowns, along with 42 rushing attempts for 232 yards and three rushing touchdowns.

2023: 2023 Season Highlights

In 2023, Deebo Samuel had a productive season, including a standout performance in Week 13 against the Philadelphia Eagles, earning him NFC Offensive Player of the Week. He finished the season with 60 receptions for 892 receiving yards and seven receiving touchdowns, along with 37 rushing attempts for 225 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns. He also became the second player in NFL history to have 4,000 receiving yards and 1,000 rushing yards in their first five seasons.

2023: NFL Top 100 Ranking

In 2023, Deebo Samuel was ranked 61st by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players list.

2024: NFL Top 100 Ranking

In 2024, Deebo Samuel was ranked 30th by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players list.

2024: Contract Guaranteed

In 2024, after being traded, the Washington Commanders guaranteed Deebo Samuel's $17 million base salary and included an additional $3 million in incentives.

2024: Jersey Changes and Season Performance

Prior to the 2024 season, Deebo Samuel changed his jersey number from 19 to 1 and added "Sr." to his name. He finished the season with 51 receptions for 670 yards and three receiving touchdowns, along with 42 carries for 136 yards and a rushing touchdown.

March 12, 2025: Traded to Commanders

On March 12, 2025, Deebo Samuel was traded to the Washington Commanders for a fifth-round selection in the 2025 NFL draft.

2025: 2025 Season with Commanders

Deebo Samuel finished the 2025 season with the Washington Commanders with 72 receptions for 727 yards and five receiving touchdowns to go with a rushing touchdown.