The 49ers star tight end spoke about Deebo Samuel and the likelihood of losing him
With the news of Deebo Samuel’s trade request during his exit interviews now public, it appears the former all-pro’s time as a 49er is up. While the discussion has largely been centered around what sort of return Samuel’s services will fetch for the 49ers, one current 49er reflects on his time as Deebo’s teammate.
George Kittle appeared on USA Today’s Sports Seriously and said this about the former South Carolina receiver: “You can’t really replace Deebo. I think he’s one of the most unique players in the NFL because of what he can do. Well, one, he’s the greatest, best YAC guy besides myself — I’ll hype myself up, I’m pretty good at that, too. But he’s so good when he gets the ball in his hands. The fact that you can line him up in the slot, out wide, in the backfield and do all the fun stuff with him, and he breaks tackles, he runs like a running back, and he has the burst, he has the speed, he has the agility to get away from guys too, he’s just such a unique player.”
In 2021, Samuel was sensational, lifting the 49ers to an NFC Championship appearance from a variety of positions offensively.
Kittle continued by saying how difficult it will be for the 49ers to replace Samuel.
“I don’t think you can really replace him. We’re just going to have to build our offense a little bit differently because we don’t have that available to us. But Deebo’s a hell of a football player. I’ve loved being his teammate, I’ve loved sharing the field with him, I’ve loved going to war with him. If that is what happens and he gets traded, I’ll be very sad. But at the same time, I’m always happy for guys to get opportunities, and that’s all you can ask for in the NFL.”
The 49ers plan to continue using Jauan Jennings, Ricky Pearsall, and George Kittle as the primary pass catchers until Brandon Aiyuk returns in 2025.
Adding a veteran receiver isn’t the worst idea for the 49ers or drafting another receiver to cover themselves in case Aiyuk’s recovery time is delayed. Aiyuk figures to return mid to late season in 2025 following his devastating knee injury in 2024.
No matter the chatter around Samuel from fans or analysts, it’s clear the team will miss him and value the time they spent together in San Francisco.