Deebo Samuel Sr. Bio
Tyshun Raequan “Deebo” Samuel Sr. (born January 15, 1996) is an American professional football wide receiver and kick returner for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the South Carolina Gamecocks and was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the second round of the 2019 NFL draft. Samuel received first-team All-Pro honors with the 49ers in 2021 and was traded to the Washington Commanders in 2025. He is the only wide receiver in NFL history to record at least 20 receiving touchdowns and 20 rushing touchdowns.
Early Life and Background
Tyshun Raequan Samuel Sr. was born on January 15, 1996, in Inman, South Carolina. He grew up in the same small South Carolina community and attended Chapman High School, where he quickly developed into a multi-purpose football talent. As a senior, he led his team to the semifinals of the AAA playoffs and finished with a school-record 53 career touchdowns, including 166 catches for 2,751 yards and 36 touchdowns through the air, 133 rushes for 898 yards and 13 scores on the ground, and 12 interceptions on defense. His all-around production earned him the High School Sports Report Class AAA Offensive Player of the Year award and a selection to the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas, a high-school all-star game featuring top players from North and South Carolina.
Coming out of high school, Samuel was rated as a three-star recruit in the 2014 college football recruiting class. He chose to play for the University of South Carolina over offers from Appalachian State, Charlotte, East Carolina, Maryland, NC State, North Carolina, Old Dominion, and Vanderbilt. He was given the nickname “Deebo” by his father, after the bully character played by Tiny Lister Jr. in the 1995 film Friday, and the moniker has followed him through every level of the sport.
Path to American Football
Samuel arrived at South Carolina in 2014 and redshirted during his true freshman season. As a sophomore, he broke out with 59 receptions for 783 yards, and added 15 rushes for 98 yards and six touchdowns, including 14 catches for 190 yards in the Birmingham Bowl against South Florida. He opened the 2017 season with back-to-back kickoff-return touchdowns against NC State and Missouri, but suffered a broken right fibula in the third game against Kentucky after an awkward tackle by Derrick Baity Jr. The injury forced him to miss the rest of the year.
Samuel returned for his senior season in 2018 and produced his most complete college year, finishing with 882 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns. His best game came against rival Clemson, when he caught 10 passes for 210 yards and three touchdowns. He chose to skip the Gamecocks’ Belk Bowl, and was later selected to the 2019 Senior Bowl. He was named a first-team All-American and first-team All-SEC in 2018, which set the stage for the San Francisco 49ers to make him the 36th overall pick in the 2019 NFL draft.
Deebo Samuel Sr. Career
Early Career (2019–2020)
Samuel signed a four-year rookie contract with the 49ers on July 25, 2019, and made his NFL debut against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He notched his first career touchdown a week later against the Cincinnati Bengals, and finished his rookie season with a strong Super Bowl LIV appearance, rushing twice for 53 yards and catching five passes for 39 yards in a 31–20 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. His 53 rushing yards stood as the most by a wide receiver in Super Bowl history.
The 2020 season was disrupted by injuries, a stint on the reserve/COVID-19 list, and time on injured reserve, but he still produced a memorable 11-catch, 133-yard game against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 12. He finished the year with 33 receptions for 391 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown, and began laying the foundation for a more versatile role the following season.
San Francisco 49ers Breakthrough (2021–2024)
The 2021 season marked Samuel’s true arrival as a star. He opened the year with a nine-catch, 189-yard, one-touchdown performance against the Detroit Lions, later earned NFC Offensive Player of the Week twice, and threw a 24-yard touchdown pass against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 18. The 49ers used him in the backfield about 11 percent of his snaps, and he finished the regular season with 77 receptions for 1,405 receiving yards and six receiving touchdowns, plus 59 carries for 365 yards and eight rushing touchdowns, the most ever by a wide receiver in a single season. He was named first-team All-Pro and was elected to the Pro Bowl.
In 2022, Samuel coined the term “wide back” to describe his hybrid role during the Pro Bowl. He signed a three-year, $73.5 million contract extension with $58.1 million guaranteed in late July, then battled hamstring and ankle injuries but still played in all three of the 49ers’ postseason games. He rebounded in 2023 with 60 receptions for 892 yards and seven receiving touchdowns, plus 37 carries for 225 yards and five rushing scores, while also crossing 1,000 career rushing yards in Week 18. He joined Charley Taylor as the only players in NFL history to reach 4,000 receiving yards and 1,000 rushing yards within their first five seasons, and appeared in Super Bowl LVIII, a 25–22 overtime loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Before the 2024 season, Samuel changed his jersey number to 1 and added “Sr.” to his last name to honor his son, Tyshun Samuel Jr. He opened the year with a two-yard rushing touchdown against the New York Jets on Monday Night Football, then posted a 102-yard game with a 76-yard receiving score from Brock Purdy against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 5. He finished 2024 with 51 receptions for 670 yards and three receiving touchdowns, plus 42 carries for 136 yards and one rushing touchdown.
Washington Commanders Era (2025–Present)
On March 12, 2025, Samuel was traded to the Washington Commanders for a fifth-round pick in the 2025 NFL draft. A week later, the Commanders guaranteed his $17 million base salary and added $3 million in incentives, signaling a featured role in their new-look offense. He started the season with a win over the New York Giants in Week 1, capping the game with a 19-yard rushing touchdown, and followed up with another score the next week against the Green Bay Packers. He later caught a touchdown pass from backup quarterback Marcus Mariota in a loss to the Atlanta Falcons, and closed out a Week 5 win over the Los Angeles Chargers with a late receiving score.
He finished his first year in Washington with 72 receptions for 727 yards and five receiving touchdowns, along with one rushing touchdown. The move gave the Commanders a proven dual-threat playmaker as they built around returning quarterback Jayden Daniels and remained in playoff contention.
Driving Style and Strengths
Samuel is at his best when offensive coordinators use him in space, whether split out wide, in the slot, or lined up in the backfield. He combines strong run-after-catch ability with enough toughness to handle inside runs, which is why San Francisco used him as a runner on roughly 11 percent of his snaps in 2021. His knack for breaking tackles and producing explosive plays is matched by sharp route running, allowing quarterbacks to rely on him on slants, crossers, and back-shoulder throws.
Notable Events and Milestones
Samuel’s career is full of signature moments, from 53 rushing yards in Super Bowl LIV to his record-setting eight rushing touchdowns by a wide receiver in a single season in 2021. He joined Charley Taylor as the only players to reach 4,000 receiving yards and 1,000 rushing yards in their first five NFL seasons, and he remains the only wide receiver in league history to combine 20 receiving and 20 rushing touchdowns. His 2025 trade to Washington opened a new chapter while adding to an already historic résumé.
Deebo Samuel Sr. Career Wins
While football is a team sport without traditional win totals, Samuel’s career is measured by production, accolades, and postseason appearances. Through the 2025 season, he has been selected to one Pro Bowl, earned one first-team All-Pro selection, and helped the 49ers reach two Super Bowls. He has also been a First-team All-American and First-team All-SEC selection during his college career at South Carolina.
NFL Highlights
Samuel’s most decorated NFL season came in 2021, when he was named first-team All-Pro, voted to the Pro Bowl, and set the single-season record for rushing touchdowns by a wide receiver with eight. He posted 1,405 receiving yards and 365 rushing yards that year, a stat line that captured his rare dual-threat value. In the postseason, he added a rushing touchdown in the 49ers’ Wild Card win over the Dallas Cowboys.
Other Wins and Performances
At South Carolina, Samuel was a first-team All-American and first-team All-SEC selection in 2018, and he earned High School Sports Report Class AAA Offensive Player of the Year honors at Chapman High School. He was also selected to the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas, a high-school all-star game, capping a decorated path from Inman to the NFL.
Deebo Samuel Sr. Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Samuel does not come from a documented family of professional athletes, but his father played a central role in shaping his identity. He gave his son the nickname “Deebo” after the intimidating character from the 1995 film Friday, a name that has stayed with him through high school, college, and the NFL. The bond between father and son remains one of the most personal pieces of his story.
Personal Life
Before the 2024 season, Samuel added “Sr.” to the back of his jersey to reflect the birth of his son, Tyshun Samuel Jr. The decision was a public tribute to the newest member of his family and a sign of how central fatherhood has become to his life. He continues to be active with fans on social media through his official Instagram account.
2025 Season Performance
Samuel’s first season in Washington was a story of fresh opportunity. Traded from the 49ers in March 2025 for a fifth-round pick, he stepped into a Commanders offense that leaned heavily on his versatility, using him as both a receiver and a runner out of the backfield. He opened the year with a 19-yard rushing touchdown against the New York Giants in Week 1 and quickly built a rapport with both starting quarterback Jayden Daniels and backup Marcus Mariota.
While the Commanders battled injuries, including time missed by Daniels, Samuel remained a steady source of production. He scored against the Green Bay Packers in Week 2, posted a touchdown catch from Mariota in a loss to the Atlanta Falcons, and finished a Week 5 win over the Los Angeles Chargers with a late receiving score. He closed the year with 72 receptions for 727 yards and five receiving touchdowns, plus one rushing touchdown, giving Washington exactly the kind of playmaker it had hoped to add.
Heading into 2026, Samuel’s role in Washington looks secure. With a guaranteed salary and incentives in place, the Commanders are expected to continue building their offense around his unique skill set, using him as a receiver, runner, and occasional creative weapon in the screen game. The partnership between Samuel, Daniels, and head coach Dan Quinn will be a key storyline to watch as Washington tries to climb back into the NFC playoff picture.
