History of Deebo Samuel in Timeline

Deebo Samuel is an American professional football wide receiver, notable for his dual-threat ability as both a receiver and rusher. He played college football at the University of South Carolina before being drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in 2019. He earned All-Pro honors with the 49ers in 2021. Samuel played for the Washington Commanders in 2025 after a trade. He stands out as the only wide receiver in NFL history to achieve at least 20 receiving and 20 rushing touchdowns, highlighting his unique contribution to the sport.

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Full Timeline

1995: Nickname Origin

In 1995, Deebo Samuel received his nickname "Deebo" from his father, named after the character Deebo from the movie Friday.

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January 15, 1996: Deebo Samuel's Birth

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

Others born on this day/year

2014: College Recruitment and Commitment

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

2014: Redshirt Year

In 2014, Samuel redshirted in his true freshman year at the University of South Carolina.

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 recorded 882 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns. His best game was against Clemson, where he had 10 receptions for 210 yards and three touchdowns. He chose not to play in the 2018 Belk Bowl.

July 25, 2019: Signing 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 the 49ers

In 2019, Deebo Samuel was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the second round of the NFL draft.

2019: Selection for Senior Bowl

In 2019, Deebo Samuel was selected to play in the Senior Bowl.

July 28, 2020: Injury List Placement

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

2021: "Wide Back" Position Creation

During the 2021 NFL season, Deebo Samuel started playing running back and that led to him creating the term "wide back".

2021: Increased Backfield Usage and Pro Bowl Selection

During the 2021 season, the 49ers used Deebo Samuel as a running back more frequently and he was selected for the Pro Bowl. He set a record for most rushing touchdowns by a wide receiver in a single season, with 8, and was named first-team All-Pro.

2021: All-Pro Honors

In 2021, Deebo Samuel received first-team All-Pro honors with the San Francisco 49ers.

July 31, 2022: Contract Extension with the 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.

2022: "Wide Back" Term Coined

At the 2022 Pro Bowl, Deebo Samuel created the term "wide back" to describe his role, which began during the 2021 NFL season. He was also ranked 19th on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2022 list.

2022: 2022 NFL Season

In 2022, Samuel had a season with notable performances, including a game against the Rams with 6 catches for 115 yards and a touchdown. He dealt with a hamstring and ankle injury, which impacted his playing time. He finished the season with 56 receptions for 632 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns.

2023: NFL Top 100 Ranking

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

2023: 2023 NFL Season

In 2023, Samuel had a successful season with multiple touchdowns and over 1,000 career rushing yards, making him the second player in NFL history to achieve 4,000 receiving yards and 1,000 rushing yards in their first five seasons. He also lost Super Bowl LVIII to the Chiefs. He trash talked Eagles cornerback James Bradberry.

2024: Jersey Number Change and "Sr." Addition

In 2024, Deebo Samuel changed his jersey number from 19 to 1 and added "Sr." to his last name. He also scored his first touchdown of the season in Week 1 against the Jets. In Week 5 against the Seahawks, Samuel scored his first receiving touchdown of the season. In Week 13 against the Bills, Samuel had six kickoff returns for 208 return yards. He finished the 2024 season with 51 receptions for 670 yards and three receiving touchdowns to go with 42 carries for 136 yards and a rushing touchdown.

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 Guarantee

In 2024, the Washington Commanders guaranteed Deebo Samuel's $17 million base salary and included an additional $3 million in incentives as part of the trade.