The 49ers are in a strange place. After injuries wrecked their 2024 season and left them outside the playoff picture, San Francisco looks more like a team hitting the reset button than one making a final push. And nothing screams ‘new era’ louder than trading away Deebo Samuel—the heart, soul, and occasional bulldozer of their offense.

As for all those of you who thought an overweight 29-year-old Deebo would be a liability… Well, well, well, the Cinderella Commanders have come knocking at his door to add him to their fairytale rebuild.

Now, Deebo isn’t just switching jerseys; he’s reuniting with Commanders GM Adam Peters, the man who once helped bring him to the Bay. Washington is getting a receiver, a running back, and a certified headache for defenses all in one. But this move isn’t just about X’s and O’s.

It’s about relationships, loyalty, and trust. If you ask Deebo himself, one coach who could go from ready to “knock my head off” to hyping him up in seconds. Yeah, we’re talking about Kyle Shanahan. Deebo’s Player’s Tribune farewell wasn’t your standard PR-scripted goodbye.

It was raw, emotional, and gave fans a front-row seat to the unique bond between player and coach. “The relationship that me and Kyle got is ridiculous,” Deebo wrote. “One minute, he wanna knock my head off, and the next he’s just going crazy, excited at something I’m doing.”

When a weapon who fueled fire into the Niners offense is talking about love, you know it goes deeper than a few cryptic posts here and there. So, that “Not struggling at all just not getting the b-ll!” post? It was Samuel just making sure he lets his fans know that the problem is deeper than just his mediocre season—51 recs for 670 yds and 3 TDs.

Let’s be real, now, shall we? We are not amateurs who should be basing it off of a low season. Yes, Samuel wasn’t his best. But like he said, there’s a reason Kyle believed in him. After all, under Shanahan, Samuel was as thrilling as any WR in league.

Fun Fact: He is the only wideout in the league’s history with 20+ career rush TDs and 20+ career receiving scores. 

Read that. Let it sink in.

His parting note? “Love John [Lynch] and Kyle [Shanahan] to death no bad blood no way shape or form. They know I’m more than appreciative of everything they done for me as a player and a man nothing but love.” Obviously the Commanders’ move has fans either hyped or scratching their heads. 

Deebo Samuel to Commanders: Hit or miss?

Yes, Deebo Samuel is, indeed, one of the premier WRs. But what’s also a truth is that Dan Quinn’s squad is betting big on the 29-year-old receiver. And for those who love a good sports redemption arc, this one has all the makings of a blockbuster.

Washington isn’t the same team that struggled through 2023. They flipped the script last season—hiring Quinn, drafting Jayden Daniels, and storming their way to a 12-5 record. Playoff wins over Tampa Bay and Detroit proved they were legit, but Philly sent them packing. Still, it was the franchise’s deepest playoff run in over 30 years. Now, they’re adding Deebo to the mix. Sounds like a win, right? Well, not everyone is convinced.

ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky had a word of caution. “They cannot fall into the trap thinking they’re that close. Five wins in the last play of the game essentially? That’s not likely in the NFL.” Translation? Washington isn’t one Deebo Samuel away from knocking off the Eagles. They’ve got talent, but they still have holes to fill.

That said, the fit makes sense. Washington’s offense thrives on “pace and space,” as Orlovsky put it. No QB threw more perimeter screens last season than Jayden Daniels, and Deebo? He eats in those situations. Cooked by JD, served by DB. Game. Set. Match.

Meanwhile, no wonder Deebo himself is all in. “This is one of the best possible fits for me,” he wrote in The Players’ Tribune. “I got a feeling this season is about to be one of them ones.”

So, hit or miss? Washington is rolling the dice on Deebo. If he stays healthy and Quinn’s system unlocks his best, this offense could be scary.