Deebo Samuel insists he feels ‘nothing but love’ for the San Francisco 49ers after he was traded to the Washington Commanders.
The wide receiver is heading to the nation’s capital in exchange for a fifth-round pick in the 2025 NFL draft – little over a year after he helped the 49ers reach the Super Bowl.
The move has sparked inevitable speculation that a rift had developed between Samuel, head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch.
But the receiver took to social media to quell any rumors of ‘bad blood’ between him and the San Francisco hierarchy.
’49ers know where I stand with them and it’s nothing but love,’ Samuel wrote on Monday night.
‘(I) love John and Kyle 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.’
Receiver Deebo Samuel insists he feels ‘nothing but love’ for the San Francisco 49ers
The 29-year-old has quelled any rumors of ‘bad blood’ between him and Kyle Shanahan
Samuel also said he loves San Francisco general manager John Lynch ‘to death’
Samuel had spent his entire professional career with the 49ers, having been selected in the second round of the 2019 Draft.
He twice helped San Francisco reach the Super Bowl, losing on both occasions to the Kansas City Chiefs.
But the 49ers struggled last season. Shanahan’s team ended with a record of 6-11 and finished bottom of the NFC West.
Samuel is now joining a franchise that reached the NFC Championship game, led by brilliant young quarterback Jayden Daniels.
In exchange, the Commanders traded back a fifth-round pick in the first major team swap of the NFL offseason. Samuel is slated to be the No 2 receiver on the Commanders behind Terry McLaurin.